ASTM C359-18

Standard Test Method for Early Stiffening of Hydraulic Cement (Mortar Method)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The purpose of this test method is to determine the degree to which a cement mortar develops early stiffening. It is intended for use by those interested in methods for determining the potential early stiffening of hydraulic cement.  
5.2 When used for estimating the relative tendency of a cement to manifest early stiffening, a judgment may be made by comparing the behavior in the penetration series (see 10.4.1 and 10.4.2) and the remix procedure (see 10.4.3) to differentiate a relatively less serious and less persistent tendency to early stiffening (false set) from one that is more persistent and, consequently, more serious (flash set).  
5.3 Severe false setting in a cement may cause difficulty from a placing and handling standpoint, but it is not likely to cause difficulties where concrete is mixed for a longer time than usual, as usually occurs in transit mixing, or where it is remixed prior to placing or transporting, in concrete pumping operations. It is most likely noticed where concrete is mixed for a short period of time in stationary mixers and transported to the forms in non-agitating equipment, as on some paving jobs, and when concrete is made in an on-site batch plant.  
5.4 Cements with severe false setting usually require slightly more mixing water to produce the same consistency, which may result in slightly lower strengths and increased drying shrinkage.  
5.5 Early stiffening resulting from false set is not likely to cause a cement to fail the applicable time of setting requirement.  
5.6 Early stiffening resulting from flash set, depending on severity, can cause a cement to fail the applicable time of setting requirement.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of early stiffening in hydraulic-cement mortar.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to inch-pound units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.3 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.  
Warning:  Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause chemical burns to skin and tissue upon prolonged exposure.2  
1.4 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Oct-2018
• ICS: 91.100.10 - Cement. Gypsum. Lime. Mortar
• Technical Committee: C01 - Cement
• Drafting Committee: C01.30 - Time of Set

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: C359 − 18
Standard Test Method for
1
Early Stiffening of Hydraulic Cement (Mortar Method)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C359; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* C187 Test Method for Amount of Water Required for Nor-
mal Consistency of Hydraulic Cement Paste
1.1 This test method covers the determination of early
C305 Practice for Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement
stiffening in hydraulic-cement mortar.
Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements
standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
for Test Methods for Construction Materials
conversions to inch-pound units that are provided for informa-
C778 Specification for Standard Sand
tion only and are not considered standard.
C1005 Specification for Reference Masses and Devices for
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the Determining Mass and Volume for Use in the Physical
Testing of Hydraulic Cements
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
E2251 Specification for Liquid-in-Glass ASTM Thermom-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. eters with Low-Hazard Precision Liquids
Warning: Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic
3. Terminology
and may cause chemical burns to skin and tissue upon
2
3.1 Definitions:
prolonged exposure.
3.1.1 early stiffening, n—the early development of stiffness
1.4 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
in the working characteristics of a hydraulic-cement paste,
which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
mortar, or concrete; varieties include false set and flash set.
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered
3.1.2 false set, n—the early development of stiffness in the
as requirements of the standard.
working characteristics of a hydraulic-cement paste, mortar, or
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
concrete without the evolution of much heat, which stiffness
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
can be dispelled and plasticity regained by further mixing
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
without addition of water; also known as “grab set,” “prema-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
ture stiffening,” “hesitation set,” and “rubber set.”
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.1.3 flash set, n—the early development of stiffness in the
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
working characteristics of a hydraulic-cement paste, mortar, or
2. Referenced Documents concrete, usually with the evolution of considerable heat,
3 which stiffness cannot be dispelled nor can the plasticity be
2.1 ASTM Standards:
regained by further mixing without addition of water; also
C183/C183M Practice for Sampling and the Amount of
known as “quick set.”
Testing of Hydraulic Cement
C185 Test Method for Air Content of Hydraulic Cement
4. Summary of Test Method
Mortar
4.1 Amortar is prepared with the cement to be tested, using
specifiedquantitiesofcement,standardsand,andanamountof
1 water that will produce a mortar with an initial penetration of
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C01 on Cement
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C01.30 on Time of Set.
46 63mm,usingthemodifiedVicatapparatus.Measurements
Current edition approved Oct. 15, 2018. Published November 2018. Originally
of penetration are made at stipulated intervals after the begin-
approved in 1955. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as C359 – 13. DOI:
ning of the mixing procedure. Upon completion of the first
10.1520/C0359-18 .
2
series of penetration measurements, the mortar is returned to
Section on Safety, Manual of Cement Testing, Annual Book of ASTM
Standards, Vol 04.01.
the mixer to be remixed. Following the remix procedure, an
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
additional penetration, termed the remix penetration, is deter-
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
mined. The report is a tabulation of the penetration measure-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. ments and the amount of mixing water used.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
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...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: C359 − 13 C359 − 18
Standard Test Method for
1
Early Stiffening of Hydraulic Cement (Mortar Method)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C359; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This test method covers the determination of early stiffening in hydraulic-cement mortar.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions
to inch-pound units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.3 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.
Warning: Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause chemical burns to skin and tissue upon prolonged
2
exposure.
1.4 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C183C183/C183M Practice for Sampling and the Amount of Testing of Hydraulic Cement
C185 Test Method for Air Content of Hydraulic Cement Mortar
C187 Test Method for Amount of Water Required for Normal Consistency of Hydraulic Cement Paste
C305 Practice for Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements for Test Methods for Construction Materials
C778 Specification for Standard Sand
C1005 Specification for Reference Masses and Devices for Determining Mass and Volume for Use in the Physical Testing of
Hydraulic Cements
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
E2251 Specification for Liquid-in-Glass ASTM Thermometers with Low-Hazard Precision Liquids
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 early stiffening, n—the early development of stiffness in the working characteristics of a hydraulic-cement paste, mortar,
or concrete; varieties include false set and flash set.
3.1.2 false set, n—the early development of stiffness in the working characteristics of a hydraulic-cement paste, mortar, or
concrete without the evolution of much heat, which stiffness can be dispelled and plasticity regained by further mixing without
addition of water; also known as “grab set,” “ premature “premature stiffening,” “hesitation set,” and “rubber set.”
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C01 on Cement and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C01.30 on Time of Set.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2013Oct. 15, 2018. Published January 2014November 2018. Originally approved in 1955. Last previous edition approved in 20082013
as C359 – 08.C359 – 13. DOI: 10.1520/C0359-13.10.1520/C0359-18 .
2
Section on Safety, Manual of Cement Testing, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.01.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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C359 − 18
3.1.3 flash set, n—the early development of stiffness in the working characteristics of a hydraulic-cement paste, mortar, or
concrete, usually with the evolution of considerable heat, which stiffness cannot be dispelled nor can the plasticity be regained by
further mixing without addition of water; also known as “quick set.”
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 A mortar is prepared with the cement to be tested, using specified quantities of cement, standard sand, and an am
...