ASTM C40-04

Standard Test Method for Organic Impurities in Fine Aggregates for Concrete

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method is used in making a preliminary determination of the acceptability of fine aggregates with respect to the requirements of Specification C 33 that relate to organic impurities.  
The principal value of this test method is to furnish a warning that injurious amounts of organic impurities may be present. When a sample subjected to this test produces a color darker than the standard color it is advisable to perform the test for the effect of organic impurities on the strength of mortar in accordance with Test Method C 87.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers two procedures for an approximate determination of the presence of injurious organic impurities in fine aggregates that are to be used in hydraulic cement mortar or concrete. One procedure uses a standard color solution and the other uses a glass color standard.
1.2 The values given in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2003
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: C09 - Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
• Drafting Committee: C09.20 - Aggregates

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C40-99 - Standard Test Method for Organic Impurities in Fine Aggregates for Concrete
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2004

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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
American Association State
Designation:C40–04 Highway and Transportation Officials Standard
AASHTO No.: T 21
Standard Test Method for
1
Organic Impurities in Fine Aggregates for Concrete
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C40; 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 Department of Defense.
1. Scope 3.2 The principal value of this test method is to furnish a
warning that injurious amounts of organic impurities may be
1.1 This test method covers two procedures for an approxi-
present. When a sample subjected to this test produces a color
mate determination of the presence of injurious organic impu-
darker than the standard color it is advisable to perform the test
rities in fine aggregates that are to be used in hydraulic cement
for the effect of organic impurities on the strength of mortar in
mortar or concrete. One procedure uses a standard color
accordance with Test Method C87.
solution and the other uses a glass color standard.
1.2 The values given in SI units are to be regarded as the
4. Apparatus
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
4.1 Glass Bottles—Colorless glass graduated bottles, ap-
only.
proximately 240 to 470-mL (8 to 16-oz) nominal capacity,
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
equipped with watertight stoppers or caps, not soluble in the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
specified reagents. In no case shall the maximum outside
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
thickness of the bottles, measured along the line of sight used
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
for the color comparison, be greater than 63.5 mm (2.5 in.) or
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
lessthan38.1mm(1.5in.).Thegraduationsonthebottlesshall
2. Referenced Documents be in millilitres, or ounces (U.S. fluid), except that unmarked
2
bottles may be calibrated and scribed with graduations by the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
user. In such case, graduation marks are required at only three
C33 Specification for Concrete Aggregates
points as follows:
C87 Test Method for Effect of Organic Impurities in Fine
1
4.1.1 Standard Color Solution Level—75 mL (2 ⁄2 oz (U.S.
Aggregate on Strength of Mortar
fluid)),
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Ag-
1
4.1.2 Fine Aggregate Level—130 mL (4 ⁄2 oz (U.S. fluid)),
gregates
and
C702 Practice for Reducing Samples of Aggregate to Test-
4.1.3 NaOH Solution Level—200 mL (7 oz (U.S. fluid)).
ing Size
4.2 Glass Color Standard
D75 Practice for Sampling Aggregates
4.2.1 Glass standard colors shall be used as described in
D1544 Test Method for Color of Transparent Liquids
Table 1 of Test Method D1544.
(Gardner Color Scale)
NOTE 1—A suitable instrument consists of five glass color standards
3. Significance and Use
mounted in a plastic holder. Only the glass identified as Gardner Color
Standard No. 11 is to be used as the Glass Color Standard in 9.2.
3.1 This test method is used in making a preliminary
determination of the acceptability of fine aggregates with
5. Reagent and Standard Color Solution
respect to the requirements of Specification C33 that relate to
5.1 Reagent Sodium Hydroxide Solution (3%)—Dissolve 3
organic impurities.
partsbymassofreagentgradesodiumhydroxide(NaOH)in97
1 parts of water.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
5.2 Standard Color Solution—Dissolve reagent grade po-
Concrete and ConcreteAggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
C09.20 on Normal Weight Aggregates.
tassiumdichromate(K Cr O )inconcentratedsulfuricacid(sp
2 2 7
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2004. Published January 2004. Originally
gr 1.84) at the rate of 0.250 g/100 mL of acid. The solution
approved in 1921. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as C40 – 99. DOI:
must be freshly made for the color comparison using gentle
10.1520/C0040-04.
2
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C40–04
6. Sampling 9.2 Glass Color Standard Procedure—To define more pre-
cisely the color of the supernatant liquid of the test sample, five
6.1 The sample shall be
...