ASTM C115-10

Standard Test Method for Fineness of Portland Cement by the Turbidimeter

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The purpose of this test method is to determine whether or not the hydraulic cement under test meets the Wagner turbidimetric fineness requirements of the applicable hydraulic cement specification for which the test is being made. Fineness of the cement component is only one of the many characteristics that influence the strength capabilities of concrete.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers determination of the fineness of portland cement as represented by a calculated measure of specific surface, expressed as square centimetres of total surface area per gram, or square metres of total surface area per kilogram, of cement, using the Wagner turbidimeter.  
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard. Values in SI units [or inch-pound units] shall be obtained by measurement in SI units [or inch-pound units] or by appropriate conversion, using the Rules for Conversion and Rounding given in  of measurements made in other units. Values are stated in SI units when inch-pound units are not used in practice.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jan-2010
• ICS: 91.100.10 - Cement. Gypsum. Lime. Mortar
• Technical Committee: C01 - Cement
• Drafting Committee: C01.25 - Fineness

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C115-96a(2003) - Standard Test Method for Fineness of Portland Cement by the Turbidimeter
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2010
• Replaced By: ASTM C115/C115M-10e1 - Standard Test Method for Fineness of Portland Cement by the Turbidimeter (Withdrawn 2018)
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2010

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: C115 − 10
StandardTest Method for
1
Fineness of Portland Cement by the Turbidimeter
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C115; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* C430Test Method for Fineness of Hydraulic Cement by the
45-µm (No. 325) Sieve
1.1 Thistestmethodcoversdeterminationofthefinenessof
C670Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements
portland cement as represented by a calculated measure of
for Test Methods for Construction Materials
specific surface, expressed as square centimetres of total
IEEE/ASTM SI 10American National Standard for Use of
surfaceareapergram,orsquaremetresoftotalsurfaceareaper
2 theInternationalSystemofUnits(SI):TheModernMetric
kilogram, of cement, using the Wagner turbidimeter.
System
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3. Significance and Use
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1 The purpose of this test method is to determine whether
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
or not the hydraulic cement under test meets the Wagner
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
turbidimetric fineness requirements of the applicable hydraulic
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
cementspecificationforwhichthetestisbeingmade.Fineness
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
of the cement component is only one of the many character-
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
istics that influence the strength capabilities of concrete.
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
4. Apparatus
withthestandard.ValuesinSIunits[orinch-poundunits]shall
be obtained by measurement in SI units [or inch-pound units]
4.1 Nature of Apparatus—TheWagnerturbidimeterconsists
or by appropriate conversion, using the Rules for Conversion
essentially of a source of light maintained at constant intensity
and Rounding given in IEEE/ASTM SI 10 of measurements
and adjusted so that approximately parallel rays of light pass
made in other units. Values are stated in SI units when
through a suspension of the cement to be tested and impinge
inch-pound units are not used in practice.
upon the sensitive plate of a photoelectric cell. The current
generated in the cell is measured by means of a microammeter
2. Referenced Documents
and the indicated reading is a measure of the turbidity of the
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
suspension. General considerations indicate that turbidity is in
C114Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Hydraulic
turn a measure of the surface area of the suspended sample of
Cement
cement. The apparatus shall consist specifically of the parts
described in 4.2-4.7 and shall be constructed in accordance
with the detailed design and dimensional requirements shown
1
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeC01onCement
in Fig. 1 and Table 1, except that the case may be either of
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C01.25 on Fineness.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2010. Published March 2010. Originally wood or of metal.
approvedin1934.Lastpreviouseditionapprovedin2003asC115–96a(2003).DOI:
4.2 Turbidimeter, mounted in a suitable wood or metal case
10.1520/C0115_C0115M-10.
2
The sole source of supply of the apparatus known to the committee at this time
including the following features:
is theWagner turbidimeter. If you are aware of alternative suppliers, please provide
4.2.1 Source of Light—The source of light (Fig. 1) shall
this information toASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive
1
consist of a concentrated-filament electric lamp of between 3
careful consideration at a meeting of the responsible technical committee, which
you may attend. This turbidimeter was developed by L. A. Wagner, Research
and 6 cd operated by a source of constant emf. The lamp shall
Associate of the Cement Reference Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and
be mounted rigidly in the socket. A clean, bright parabolic
Technology, Washington, DC. A description of the apparatus and the original
metallic reflector shall be rigidly mounted behind the lamp,
mathematicalderivationsofformulasusedaregiveninthepaper:Wagner,L.A.,“A
focused so that approximately parallel rays of light will pass
Rapid Method for the Determination of the Specific Surface of Portland Cement,”
Proceedings , ASTM, ASTEA, Vol 33, Part II, 1933, p. 553.
through the sedimentation tank and impinge upon the
...