ASTM C70-20

Standard Test Method for Surface Moisture in Fine Aggregate

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This test method is not widely used. However, it is a convenient procedure for field or plant determination of moisture content of fine aggregate if specific gravity values are known and if drying facilities are not available. It can be used to adjust the aggregate mass for moisture content and to determine surface moisture contribution to mixing water in portland cement concrete.  
4.2 The accuracy of the test method depends upon accurate information on the bulk specific gravity of the material in a saturated surface-dry condition.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers field determination of the amount of surface moisture in fine aggregate by displacement in water.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in this 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 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: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Jan-2020
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: C09 - Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
• Drafting Committee: C09.20 - Aggregates

Relations

• Referred By: ASTM C128-22 - Standard Test Method for Relative Density (Specific Gravity) and Absorption of Fine Aggregate
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2020
• Referred By: ASTM C1810/C1810M-22 - Standard Guide for Comparing Performance of Concrete-Making Materials Using Mortar Mixtures
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2020

Standards Content (Sample)

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.
Designation: C70 − 20 American Association State
Highway and Transportation Officials Standard
AASHTO No.: T142
Standard Test Method for
1
Surface Moisture in Fine Aggregate
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C70; 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.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* 3. Terminology
3.1 For definition of terms used in this test method refer to
1.1 This test method covers field determination of the
Terminology C125.
amount of surface moisture in fine aggregate by displacement
in water.
4. Significance and Use
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
4.1 This test method is not widely used. However, it is a
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
convenient procedure for field or plant determination of
standard.
moisture content of fine aggregate if specific gravity values are
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
known and if drying facilities are not available. It can be used
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
to adjust the aggregate mass for moisture content and to
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
determine surface moisture contribution to mixing water in
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
portland cement concrete.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4.2 The accuracy of the test method depends upon accurate
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
information on the bulk specific gravity of the material in a
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
saturated surface-dry condition.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
5. Apparatus
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
5.1 Balance,havingacapacityof2kgormoreandsensitive
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
to 0.5 g or less.
2. Referenced Documents 5.2 Flask—Asuitable container or flask, preferably of glass
or noncorrosive metal. The container may be a pycnometer, a
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
volumetric flask, a graduated volumetric flask, or other suitable
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Ag-
measuring device. The volume of the container shall be from
gregates
two to three times the loose volume of the sample. The
C128 Test Method for Relative Density (Specific Gravity)
container shall be so designed that it can be filled to the mark,
and Absorption of Fine Aggregate
or the volume of its contents read, within 0.5 mL or less.
C566 Test Method forTotal Evaporable Moisture Content of
5.3 Temperature Measuring Device, capable of accurately
Aggregate by Drying
measuring the temperature of the water to 60.5 °C throughout
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements
a range of 0 to 50 °C.
for Test Methods for Construction Materials
6. Sample
6.1 Selectarepresentativesampleofthefineaggregatetobe
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
tested for surface moisture content. It shall weigh not less than
Concrete and ConcreteAggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
C09.20 on Aggregates.
200 g. Larger samples will yield more accurate results.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2020. Published March 2020. Originally
approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as C70 – 13. DOI:
7. Procedure
10.1520/C0070-20.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
7.1 The surface water content may be determined either by
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
mass or volume. In each case the test shall be made at a water
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. temperature range of 18 to 29°C using potable water.
*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

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C70−20
7.2 Determination by Mass—Determine the mass of the 8.2 Calculate the percentage of surface moisture in terms of
container, in grams, filled to the mark with only water. Before dry aggregate if the absorption of the aggregate is known as
placing the sample into the container, adjust
...

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: C70 − 13 C70 − 20 American Association State
Highway and Transportation Officials Standard
AASHTO No.: T142
Standard Test Method for
1
Surface Moisture in Fine Aggregate
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C70; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope Scope*
1.1 This test method covers field determination of the amount of surface moisture in fine aggregate by displacement in water.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in this 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 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
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
C128 Test Method for Relative Density (Specific Gravity) and Absorption of Fine Aggregate
C566 Test Method for Total Evaporable Moisture Content of Aggregate by Drying
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements for Test Methods for Construction Materials
3. Terminology
3.1 For definition of terms used in this test method refer to Terminology C125.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This test method is not widely used. However, it is a convenient procedure for field or plant determination of moisture
content of fine aggregate if specific gravity values are known and if drying facilities are not available. It can be used to adjust the
aggregate mass for moisture content and to determine surface moisture contribution to mixing water in portland cement concrete.
4.2 The accuracy of the test method depends upon accurate information on the bulk specific gravity of the material in a saturated
surface-dry condition.
5. Apparatus
5.1 Balance, having a capacity of 2 kg or more and sensitive to 0.5 g or less.
5.2 Flask—A suitable container or flask, preferably of glass or noncorrosive metal. The container may be a pycnometer, a
volumetric flask, a graduated volumetric flask, or other suitable measuring device. The volume of the container shall be from two
to three times the loose volume of the sample. The container shall be so designed that it can be filled to the mark, or the volume
of its contents read, within 0.5 mL or less.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C09.20 on
Normal Weight Aggregates.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2013Feb. 1, 2020. Published February 2013March 2020. Originally approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 20062013 as
C70 – 06.C70 – 13. DOI: 10.1520/C0070-13.10.1520/C0070-20.
2
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

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C70 − 20
5.3 Temperature Measuring Device, capable of accurately measuring the temperature of the water to 60.5 °C throughout a
range of 0 to 50 °C.
6. Sample
6.1 Select a representative sample of the fine aggregate to be tested for surface moisture content. It shall weigh not less than
200 g. Larger samples will yield more accurate results.
7. Procedure
7.1 The surface water content may be determined either by mass or volume. In each case the test shall be made at a water
temperature range of 18 to 29°C.29°C using potable water.
7.2 Determination by Mass—Determine the mas
...