ASTM C860-15

Standard Test Method for Determining the Consistency of Refractory Castable Using the Ball-In-Hand Test

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 This test method is used to determine if a freshly mixed refractory castable is of the proper consistency to provide optimum performance. There are times when the manufacturer’s specified water content and consistency will purposely not lead to the correct ball in hand but should be used to provide optimum performance. Contact the manufacturer when in doubt. This test method can also be used to estimate the correct water addition rate of a castable when either the manufacturer's specified water content is not available or when unique circumstances have rendered that recommendation unusable.  
3.2 The correct water content is an important factor that must be controlled to obtain optimum castable performance. Excess water can reduce strength, increase volume shrinkage, and promote segregation of the castable ingredients. Insufficient water can produce “honeycombs” (air voids) in the castable because of the insufficient mobility during placement and in extreme cases can prevent the complete hydration of the cement (if used).  
3.3 The Ball-in-Hand test is subjective and somewhat depends on the skill of the operator. However, it is a universally accessible method due to the simplicity of the equipment required, and it is readily used in the field.  
3.4 The total wet mixing time of a castable influences the rheological and final properties and therefore should be monitored.  
3.5 This test method can be performed in a laboratory or on a job site.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the procedures for determining the consistency of a castable using the Ball-in-Hand Test. The amount of water used in a castable has a significant influence on its performance.  
1.2 This test method applies to castable refractories that are described in Classification C401. It also applies to such castables containing metal fibers.  
1.3 This test method is not intended to determine the proper consistency for gunning, pumping, or self flow applications.  
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. (See 6.2.3 for a specific safety warning.)

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2015
• ICS: 81.080 - Refractories
• Technical Committee: C08 - Refractories
• Drafting Committee: C08.09 - Monolithics

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C860-10 - Standard Test Method for Determining the Consistency of Refractory Castable Using the Ball-In-Hand Test
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Replaced By: ASTM C860-15(2019) - Standard Test Method for Determining the Consistency of Refractory Castable Using the Ball-In-Hand Test
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2019
• Referred By: ASTM C71-12(2018) - Standard Terminology Relating to Refractories
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Referred By: ASTM C1445-13(2018) - Standard Test Method for Measuring Consistency of Castable Refractory Using a Flow Table
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015

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: C860 − 15
Standard Test Method for
Determining the Consistency of Refractory Castable Using
1
the Ball-In-Hand Test
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C860; 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 er’s specified water content and consistency will purposely not
lead to the correct ball in hand but should be used to provide
1.1 This test method covers the procedures for determining
optimum performance. Contact the manufacturer when in
the consistency of a castable using the Ball-in-Hand Test. The
doubt.This test method can also be used to estimate the correct
amount of water used in a castable has a significant influence
wateradditionrateofacastablewheneitherthemanufacturer’s
on its performance.
specified water content is not available or when unique
1.2 This test method applies to castable refractories that are
circumstances have rendered that recommendation unusable.
described in Classification C401. It also applies to such
3.2 The correct water content is an important factor that
castables containing metal fibers.
must be controlled to obtain optimum castable performance.
1.3 This test method is not intended to determine the proper
Excess water can reduce strength, increase volume shrinkage,
consistency for gunning, pumping, or self flow applications.
and promote segregation of the castable ingredients. Insuffi-
cient water can produce “honeycombs” (air voids) in the
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical castable because of the insufficient mobility during placement
and in extreme cases can prevent the complete hydration of the
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
and are not considered standard. cement (if used).
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3.3 The Ball-in-Hand test is subjective and somewhat de-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
pends on the skill of the operator. However, it is a universally
responsibility of this standard to establish appropriate safety accessible method due to the simplicity of the equipment
and health practices and determine the applicability of regu-
required, and it is readily used in the field.
latory limitations prior to use. (See 6.2.3 for a specific safety
3.4 The total wet mixing time of a castable influences the
warning.)
rheological and final properties and therefore should be moni-
tored.
2. Referenced Documents
3.5 This test method can be performed in a laboratory or on
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
a job site.
C401 Classification of Alumina and Alumina-Silicate
Castable Refractories
4. Apparatus
3. Significance and Use
4.1 Castable Mixer—Either a manually or electrically oper-
ated mechanical mixer (see Fig. 1) may be used to prepare
3.1 This test method is used to determine if a freshly mixed
batches for consistency determination in a laboratory. Wet
refractory castable is of the proper consistency to provide
castable may also be obtained while in the field from the mixer
optimum performance. There are times when the manufactur-
being used for installation.
4.2 Heavy Rubber Gloves, for castables containing metal
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C08 on
fibers.
Refractories and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C08.09 on Monolith-
ics.
4.3 Clock or Watch, with a readability of 1 s.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2015. Published December 2015. Originally
approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as C860 – 10. DOI:
5. Sampling
10.1520/C0860-15.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
5.1 A representative handful of freshly mixed castable
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
should be drawn from the center of the mixer while the mixer
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. is not running.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C860 − 15
FIG. 1 Example of a Five-Quart Mechanical Mixer
6. Procedure castables containing deflocculating admixtures (to allow for
wet-out), such as low cement castables (LCC) or ultra-low
6.1 Preparation of Castable:
cement castables (ULCC).
6.1.1 Load the mixer with dry castable to an appropriate
level so as to allow proper mixing action by the mixer b
...

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: C860 − 10 C860 − 15
Standard Test Method for
Determining the Consistency of Refractory Castable Using
1
the Ball-In-Hand Test
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C860; 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
1.1 This test method covers the procedures for determining the consistency of a castable using the Ball-in-Hand Test. The
amount of water used in a castable has a significant influence on its performance.
1.2 This test method applies to regular weight castable refractories and insulating castable refractories which that are described
in Classification C401. It also applies to such castables containing metal fibers.
1.3 This test method is not intended to determine the proper consistency for gunning, pumping, or self flow applications.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior
to use. (See 6.2.3 for a specific safety warning.)
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C401 Classification of Alumina and Alumina-Silicate Castable Refractories
3. Significance and Use
3.1 This test method is used primarily to determine if a freshly mixed refractory castable is of the proper consistency and
therefore would most likely to provide optimum performance. There are times when the manufacturer’s specified water content
and consistency will purposely not lead to the correct ball in hand but should be used to provide optimum performance. It Contact
the manufacturer when in doubt. This test method can also be used to estimate the correct water addition rate of a castable when
either the manufacturer’s specified water content is not available or when unique circumstances have rendered that recommen-
dation unusable.
3.2 The correct water content is an important factor that must be controlled to obtain optimum castable performance. Excess
water can reduce strength, increase volume shrinkage, and promote segregation of the castable ingredients. Insufficient water can
produce “honeycombs” (air voids) in the castable because of the insufficient mobility during placement and in extreme cases can
prevent the complete hydration of the cement (if used).
3.3 The Ball-in-Hand test is subjective and somewhat depends on the skill of the operator. However, it is a universally accessible
method due to the simplicity of the equipment required, and it is readily used in the field.
3.4 The total wet mixing time of a castable influences the rheological and final properties and therefore should be monitored.
3.5 This test method can be performed in a laboratory or on a job site.
3.6 This test method is not intended to determine the proper consistency for gunning applications, although it may provide
information of value for interpretation by a skilled operator.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C08 on Refractories and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C08.09 on Monolithics.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2010Oct. 1, 2015. Published December 2010 December 2015. Originally approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 20052010
as C860–00 (2005). DOI: 10.1520/C0860-10. – 10. DOI: 10.1520/C0860-15.
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.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C860 − 15
4. Apparatus
4.1 Castable Mixer—Either a manually or electrically operated mechanical mixer (see Fig. 1) may be used to prepare batches
for consistency determination in a laboratory. Wet castable may also be obtained while in the field from
...