Version

1.0

AIM – 390

AIR PERMEABILITY
APPARATUS
(Blaine Type)

Operating Instructions
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Air Permeability Apparatus, Blaine Type

The equipment comprises of the following :

1. One Air Permeability Apparatus (Blaine Type) consisting of one Permeability Cell, one
Manometer Tube mounted on a Stand, one Perforated Metal Disc, one Plunger, one
Rubber Stopper, one Rubber Tube, twelve Filter Paper Discs and one bottle of
Dibutylphthalate Liquid.

2. One copy of Operating Instructions with General Assembly Drawing.

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Operating Instructions
Air Permeability Apparatus, Blaine Type

Introduction

The equipment meets the requirements of IS:5516. It is used for determining the fineness
of cements, pozzolanas, and other powdery materials, in terms of specific surface
expressed as total surface area in square centimeters per gram of material, as per
procedure described in IS:1727, 4031, 4825, ASTM 6204 and BS:4359 (Part II, Appendix
'A'). It carries ISI Certification Mark for quality. It is variable flow type air permeability
apparatus.

Description

The equipment is illustrated in the General Assembly Drawing attached. The numbers
given against the components of the equipment in the description below pertain to this
General Assembly Drawing.

It consists of a permeability cell (4), a perforated disc (5), manometer (2) and other
accessories.

Permeability Cell (4)

The permeability cell consists of a rigid cylinder. The top of the cell is at right angles to
the principal axis of the cell. The bottom of the cell forms an air-tight connection with the
top of the manometer. A ledge forms an integral part of the cell for support of the perforated
metallic disc. The disc is perforated with equally distributed holes. It snugly fits inside
the cell.

Plunger (6)

The plunger which fits into the cell has sharp square edges. Flat width on the side of the
plunger acts as an air vent. The top of the plunger is provided with a collar such that when
the plunger is placed in the cell and the collar brought in contact with the top of the cell,
the distance between the bottom of the plunger and the top of the perforated disc is
15 ± 1mm.

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Note : A variable flow type air permeability apparatus consists essentially of a means
for drawing definite quantity of air under falling head through a prepared bed of
powder of a definite porosity. The number and size of pores in a prepared bed of
cement of definite porosity is a function of the size of particles, and determine the
rate of flow through the bed.

Manometer (2)

The top of one arm of U-Tube manometer is fitted with a rubber stopper for an air tight
connection with the permeability cell. The manometer arm connected to the permeability
cell has lines etched around the tube and below the top of the side outlet. A side outlet
with a stop cock is provided near the top for creating vacuum in the manometer. The
manometer is mounted firmly on a wooden stand in such a manner that the arms are
vertical.

Accessories

One rubber cork (3), one tube (7), twelve filter discs and dibutylphthalate liquid in a bottle
(8) are supplied as accessories.

Setting Up

Place the perforated disc (5) inside the cell (4) resting on the ledge. Insert the plunger (6)
into the cell. Fix the cell on the rubber cork (3) on top of the manometer arm, open the
stop cock to atmosphere. Fill the manometer with dibutylphthalate to the midpoint and
close the stop-cock.

Calibration

Take a standard sample of cement at room temperature. The standard sample of cement
can be purchased from National Council for Cement & Building Materials, Ballabhgarh on
request. Determine the bulk volume of the compacted bed of powder by the mercury
displacement method as follows :

Place two filter paper discs in the permeability cell, pressing down the edges with a rod
slightly smaller than the diameter of the cell until the filter discs are flat on the perforated
metal disc. Apply oil to the interior of the cell. Then fill the cell with mercury, removing
any air bubbles adhering to the wall of the cell. Level the mercury with the top of the cell
by means of a small glass plate. Remove the mercury from the cell, weigh and record the
weight of the mercury. Remove one of the filter discs from the cell. Take 2.80 g of cement
(it is not necessary to use the standard sample for the bulk volume determination) into the

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cell and tap the bed of cement. Place a filter paper disc on top of cement bed. Insert the
plunger, compress until the plunger collar is in contact with the top of the cell. Remove
the plunger slowly. (The prepared bed of cement shall be firm. If it is too loose, or if the
cement cannot be compressed to the desired volume, adjust the trial quantity of cement
used). Fill the remaining space in the top of the cell with mercury, remove entrapped air,
and level off the top as before. Remove the mercury from the cell, weigh and record the
weight of mercury.

Calculate the bulk volume occupied by the cement to the nearest 0.005 cm³ from the formula:

Wa - Wb
V = .... (1)
D

Where

V = Bulk volume of cement in cm³

Wa = Grams of mercury required to fill cell, no cement being in cell.

Wb = Grams of mercury required to fill the portion of the cell not occupied by the
prepared bed of cement in cell.

D = Density of mercury at test temperature, in gm/cm³.

Make at least two determinations of bulk volume of cement using separate compactions
for each determination. The bulk volume value used for subsequent calculations should
be the average of two values agreeing within ± 0.005 cm³. Note the temperature in the
vicinity of the cell and record at the beginning and end of the determination.

Having determined the bulk volume of cement, in cm³, proceed with the calibration.

Take the contents of a vial of the standard cement sample in a 125 g. jar and shake
vigorously for 2 minutes to fluff the cement and break up lumps or agglomerates.
Calculate the weight of sample required such that the porosity of the bed of cement is
0.500 ± 0.005 (For values of Porosity of the cement bed, see the table attached).

W = PV ( 1-e) .... (2)

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Where

W = Sample required in grams

P = Specific gravity of test sample (for portland cement a value of 3.15 used).

V = Bulk volume of bed of cement, in cm³ as determined above.

e = Desired porosity of bed of cement (0.500 ± 0.005)

Weigh a sample to the nearest 0.001 g. Keep the perforated disc on the ledge with a filter
disc over it. Place the cement in the cell and compress as already described above.

Moisten the rubber cork before connecting the permeability cell. Attach the cell to the
manometer tube making sure that an air tight connection has been made and taking care
not to jerk or disturb the prepared bed of cement. Determine the efficiency of the
connection by stoppering the top of the cell attached to the manometer and partially
evacuating one arm of manometer then closing the stop cock. Any continous drop in the
pressure indicates a leak in the system. Evacuate the air in the arm of the manometer until
the liquid reaches the top mark and close the stop-cock. Start a stop-watch as the bottom
of the meniscus of the manometer liquid reaches the second mark (next to the top) and
stop it as the bottom of the meniscus reaches the third mark (next to the bottom). Record
the time interval in seconds. Record the temperature in degrees centigrade.

Make at least three determinations of time of flow on each of three separately prepared
beds of the standard sample. The sample may be refluffed and reused for preparation of
the test bed, provided that it is kept dry and all tests are made within 4 hours of the opening
of the sample. Use fresh filter paper discs for each determination. Calibration shall be
made by the same operator who performs the fineness test.

Recalibration

Prepare a secondary sample and use it as a fineness standard for checking the instrument
between regular calibrations with the standard cement sample.

Recalibration is required at periodic intervals to correct the possible wear on plunger or

permeability cell. Also, if any loss in manometer fluid occurs, or if a change is made in
the type of quality of the filter paper used for the test, recalibration is required.

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Specimen Preparation

Use the same weight of cement as for the calibration except that when determining the
fineness of type III cements, or other types of fine ground cements whose bulk for this
weight is so great that the ordinary thumb pressure will not cause the plunger collar to
contact the top of the cell. The weight of sample should be that required to produce a test
bed having a porosity of 0.530 ± 0.005. When this method is used for materials other than
portland cement, adjust the weight of sampler so that a firm hard bed is produced by the
compacting process. Compare the sample in the cell as described under calibration.

Test Procedure

Use the test sample instead of the standard cement samples and proceed as described
under calibration

Calculations

Calculation of specific surface value shall be made according to the following

formula :

= .... (3)

= .... (4)

=
( − )
.... (5)
( − )

=
( − )
.... (6)
( − )

=
( − )
.... (7)
( − )

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 (− ) .... (8)
=
(− )
Where

S = Specific surface in cm²/g of the test sample

Ss = Specific surface in cm2/g of the standard sample used in calibration of the

apparatus

T = Measured time interval, in seconds, of manometer drop for test sample

Ts = Measured time interval, in seconds, of manometer drop standard sample

used in calibration of the apparatus.

ns = Viscosity of air in poises at temperature of test of the standard sample used

in the calibration of the apparatus

n = Viscosity of air in poises at temperature of test of the test sample.

es = Porosity of prepared bed of standard sample used in calibration of apparatus.

e = Porosity of prepared bed of test sample.

ps = Specific gravity of standard sample used in calibration of apparatus.

p = Specific gravity of test sample (for Portland cement a value of 3.15 may be
used).

Equations 7 and 8 shall be used in calculation of fineness of materials other than portland
cement. Eq. 7 shall be used when the test temp. of the sample is within + 30 C of the
temperature of calibration test of the standard fineness sample, and Eq. 8 is used if
temperature of tests is outside of this range.

Note : Values for , and may be taken from Table 1, 2 and 3

respectively.

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Equations 3 and 4 shall be used in calculations of fineness of Portland cements
compacted to the same porosity as the standard fineness sample. Equation 3 is used if
the temperature of test of the test sample is within ± 3°C of the temperature of calibration
test of the standard fineness sample, and Equation 4 is used if the temperature of test
is outside this range.

Equations 5 and 6 shall be used in calculation of fineness of portland cements compacted

to some porosity other than that of the standard fineness sample used in the calibration
test. Equation 5 is used if the temperature of that test of the test sample is within ± 3°C
of the temperature of calibration test of the standard fineness sample, and equation 6 is
used if the temperature of the test is outside this range.

Maintenance

1. All parts of the equipment should always be kept clean.

2. Care should be taken that the perforated disc holes do not get blocked.

3. If the manometer liquid used forms a stain, the manometer should be cleaned
periodically.

TABLE 1

Density of Mercury, Viscosity of Air (n) and at given temperature.

Room Density of Viscosity of

Temperature °C Mercury g/cm³ Air, n, Poises

(1) (2) (3) (4)

16 13.56 0.0001788 0.01337

18 13.55 0.0001798 0.01341
20 13.55 0.0001808 0.01344
22 13.54 0.0001818 0.01348
24 13.54 0.0001828 0.01352
26 13.53 0.0001837 0.01355
28 13.53 0.0001847 0.01359
30 13.52 0.0001857 0.01362
32 13.52 0.0001867 0.01366
34 13.51 0.0001876 0.01369

The density of the mercury shall be determined separately.

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 TABLE 2

Values of Porosity of Cement Bed.

Porosity of Bed, e

0.495 0.348
0.496 0.349
0.497 0.350
0.498 0.351
0.499 0.352
0.500 0.354
0.501 0.355
0.502 0.356
0.503 0.357
0.504 0.358
0.505 0.359
0.506 0.360
0.507 0.361
0.508 0.362
0.509 0.363
0.510 0.364
0.525 0.380
0.526 0.381
0.527 0.383
0.528 0.384
0.529 0.385
0.530 0.386
0.531 0.387
0.532 0.388
0.533 0.389
0.534 0.390
0.535 0.391

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 TABLE 3

TIME OF AIR FLOW

T = time of air flow in seconds, and

= the factor for use in the equations

T T T

26 5.10 28.5 5.34 31 5.57

26.5 5.15 29 5.39 31.5 5.61

27 5.20 29.5 5.44 32 5.66

27.5 5.25 30 5.48 32.5 5.70

28 5.29 30.5 5.52 33 5.74

33.5 5.79 36 6.00 38.5 6.20

34 5.83 36.5 6.04 39 6.24

34.5 5.87 37 6.08 39.5 6.28

35 5.92 37.5 6.12 40 6.32

35.5 5.96 38 6.16 40.5 6.36

41 6.40 43.5 6.60 46 6.78

41.5 6.44 44 6.63 46.5 6.82

42 6.48 44.5 6.67 47 6.86

42.5 6.52 45 6.71 47.5 6.89

43 6.56 45.5 6.74 48 6.93

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T T T

48.5 6.96 51 7.14 53.5 7.31

49 7.00 51.5 7.18 54 7.35

49.5 7.04 52 7.21 54.5 7.38

50 7.07 52.5 7.24 55 7.42

50.5 7.10 53 7.28 55.5 7.45

56 7.48 58.5 7.65 61 7.81

56.5 7.51 59 7.68 61.5 7.84

57 7.55 59.5 7.71 62 7.87

57.5 7.58 60 7.75 62.5 7.90

58 7.62 60.5 7.78 63 7.94

63.5 7.96 66 8.12 68.5 8.28

64 8.00 66.5 8.16 69 8.31

64.5 8.03 67 8.19 69.5 8.34

65 8.06 67.5 8.22 70 8.37

65.5 8.09 68 8.25 70.5 8.40

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 T T T

71 8.43 73.5 8.57 76 8.72

71.5 8.46 74 8.60 76.5 8.75

72 8.49 74.5 8.63 77 8.77

72.5 8.52 75 8.66 77.5 8.80

73 8.54 75.5 8.68 78 8.83

78.5 8.86 81 9.00 83.5 9.14

79 8.89 81.5 9.03 84 9.17

79.5 8.92 82 9.06 84.5 9.20

80 8.94 82.5 9.09 85 9.22

80.5 8.97 83 9.11 85.5 9.25

86 9.27 88.5 9.41 91 9.54

86.5 9.30 89 9.43 91.5 9.57

87 9.33 89.5 9.46 92 9.59

87.5 9.36 90 9.49 92.5 9.62

88 9.38 90.5 9.51 93 9.64

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T T T

93.5 9.67 96 9.80 98.5 9.93

94 9.70 96.5 9.83 99 9.95

94.5 9.73 97 9.85 99.5 9.98

95 9.75 97.5 9.88 100 10.00

95.5 9.78 98 9.90 100.5 10.03

101 10.05 106 10.30 111 10.54

102 10.10 107 10.34 112 10.58

103 10.15 108 10.39 113 10.63

104 10.20 109 10.44 114 10.68

105 10.25 110 10.49 115 10.72

116 10.77 121 11.00 126 11.22

117 10.82 122 11.05 127 11.27

118 10.86 123 11.09 128 11.31

119 10.91 124 11.14 129 11.36

120 10.95 125 11.18 130 11.40

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 T T T

131 11.45 136 11.66 141 11.87

132 11.49 137 11.70 142 11.92

133 11.53 138 11.75 143 11.96

134 11.58 139 11.79 144 12.00

135 11.62 140 11.83 145 12.04

146 12.08 151 12.29 156 12.49

147 12.12 152 12.33 157 12.53

148 12.17 153 12.37 158 12.57

149 12.21 154 12.41 159 12.61

150 12.25 155 12.45 160 12.65

161 12.69 166 12.88 171 13.08

162 12.73 167 12.92 172 13.11

163 12.77 168 12.96 173 13.15

164 12.81 169 13.00 174 13.19

165 12.85 170 13.04 175 13.23

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T T T

176 13.27 181 13.45 186 13.64

177 13.30 182 13.49 187 13.67

178 13.34 183 13.53 188 13.71

179 13.38 184 13.56 189 13.75

180 13.42 185 13.60 190 13.78

191 13.82 196 14.00 201 14.18

192 13.86 197 14.04 202 14.21

193 13.89 198 14.07 203 14.25

194 13.93 199 14.11 204 14.28

195 13.96 200 14.14 205 14.32

206 14.35 211 14.53 216 14.70

207 14.39 212 14.56 217 14.73

208 14.42 213 14.59 218 14.76

209 14.46 214 14.63 219 14.80

210 14.49 215 14.66 220 14.83

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 T T T

222 14.90 232 15.23 242 15.56

224 14.97 234 15.30 244 15.62

226 15.03 236 15.36 246 15.68

228 15.10 238 15.43 248 15.75

230 15.17 240 15.49 250 15.81

252 15.87 262 16.19 272 16.49

254 15.94 264 16.25 274 16.55

256 16.00 266 16.31 276 16.61

258 16.06 268 16.37 278 16.67

260 16.12 270 16.43 280 16.73

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 AIM-390 AIR PERMEABILITY APPARATUS (BLAINE TYPE)

S.No. DESCRIPTION S.No. DESCRIPTION

1. WOODEN STAND 5. PERFORATED DISC
2. MANOMETER 6. PLUNGER
3. RUBBER CORK 7. TUBE
4. PERMEABILITY CELL 8. DIBUTYLPHTHALATE

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