EXPERIMENT NO.

1a
DETERMINATION OF FINENESS OF CEMENT

AIM:
To find out the fineness of the given sample of cement.
THEORY:

Fineness of cement is a relative measure of particle size. The fineness of cement has
an important bearing on the rate of hydration and hence on the rate of gain of strength and
also on the rate of evolution of heat. Finer cement offers a greater surface area for hydration
and hence the faster and greater the development of strength. Maximum number of particles
in a sample of cement should have a size less than 90 micron. The smallest particle may have
a size of 1.5 micron. Average size of the cement particles may be taken as 10 micron.

FINENESS REQUIREMENT OF CEMENT AS PER IS 269-1976

Ordinary Rapid
Port Land Hardening
After sieving the residue by
weight on an IS test sieve
No.9, not to exceed, percent 10 5

Fineness of cement is tested in two ways.

a) By sieving
b) By determination of specific surface (total surface area of all the particles in
one gram of cement) by air-permeability apparatus.
APPARATUS REQUIRED:
IS sieve No.9 (90 Microns), Trowel, sieve shaker, weighing balance.
PROCEDURE:
1. Weigh correctly 100 grams of cement
2. Take it on a standard IS sieve No. 9 (90 microns)
3. Break down the air set lumps in the sample using hand and trowel

4. Continuously sieve the sample giving circular and vertical motion for a period

of 15 minutes.

5. Weigh the Residue left on the sieve

RECORDING OF OBSERVATION:

Weight of the sample of cement (W1) =100 gram.

Weight of residue (W2) = 3.5 gram

CALCULATION: Fineness modulus of cement sample = [W2 / W1 ] x 100

RESULT:

Fineness modulus of the given cement sample = ( 3.5/100) x 100 = 3.5%

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What is the significance of this test?

2. One micron is equal to 0.001mm.
3. Mention the methods available to find out the fineness of cement?

Ans 1) Fineness test is used in checking the proper grinding of cement and measuring the
surface area of the cement particles per unit mass. As well as fineness of cement increases,
the requirement of water for workability also increases which results in a higher possibility of
dry shrinkage.

Ans 2 ) There are 2 methods :

a) By sieving
b) By determination of specific surface (total surface area of all the particles in
one gram of cement) by air-permeability apparatus.

By – TANMAYA BUTANEY
REG NO – RA2011011010023