4CE7 : CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY LAB

Experiment no.:-7

Standard: - IS 4031 (Part 3) 1988.

Object: - To determine soundness of cement by Le- Chatelier

Apparatus.

Necessity: - To determine the extent of free uncombined lime present in the

cement.
Principle: - The test is designed to accelerate this slaking process by
application of heat and to measure the extent of expansion and to
see if this expansion is less than the specified limit.
Apparatus: -
(i) Le- Chatelier Apparatus, confirm to IS 5514-1969 [ Split cylinder 30
mm. Internal dia, 30 mm height and 6.5 mm thickness Distance from
pointed end to center of cylinder is 165 mm with jaws not more than
0.5 mm apart.]
(ii) Two glass plates.
(iii) Temperature controlled water-bath, capable of raising temperature
from 27±2o C to boiling point in 27±3 minutes.
(iv) Scale.
(v) China dish to mix the paste.
(vi) Counter balance of capacity 500 gm. & sensitivity 0.01 gm.
(vii) Weight box.
(viii) Graduated cylinder.
(ix) Trowel and 850-micron IS sieve.

Brief Procedure: -
(i) Gauge 100 gm of cement with 0.78 times the water required to make
a paste of standard consistency as per IS: 4031(Part 4)1988.
(ii) Place the Le- Chatelier Apparatus. On a glass plates and fill it with
the paste and level the top surface after applying light oil.
(iii) Cover the mould with another piece of glass sheet, place a small
weight on this covering glass-sheet and immediately submerge the
whole assembly in water at a temperature of 29 ±2o C and keep there
for 24 hours.

- 1-
 4CE7 : CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY LAB
(iv) Measure the distance D1 between the indicator points after 24 hours
and again submerge the mould in water at the temperature
prescribed above.
(v) Bring the water to boiling point in 25 to 30 minutes and keep it
boiling for 3 hours.
(vi) Remove the mould from the water, allow it to cool and measure the
distance D2 between indicator points.
(vii) The difference (D2-D1) between the two measurements gives the
expansion of cement and it should not be more than 10 mm.
according to IS specifications
(IS: 269-1976)
Observation Table:-
Observation and calculations
For soundness of cement
Initial distance between indicator ends D1, mm. MEAN
Final distance between indicator ends D 2,
mm.
Cement expansion (D2- √
D1), mm.

Report:- Report the Individual & the mean results to the nearest 0.5 mm.
Results:- The expansion of given sample of cement = ……………………………mm.
Comments:-
(i) The un-aerated ordinary, rapid- hardening, and low-heat Portland
cements shall not have an expansion of more than 10 mm.
(ii) The expansion of given sample of cement is ……………..mm. which is
less than 10 mm.

Precaution: - Take care to maintain the temperature of the moulding room

dry material and water within 27±2o C and the humidity of the laboratory
within 65±5%.
Remarks:-
(i) Excess of free lime present in cement slake very slowly and cause
appreciable change in volume after setting.

- 2-
 4CE7 : CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY LAB
(ii) In consequence cracks, distortion and disintegration results, thereby
giving passage to water and atmospheric gases which may have
injurious effect on concrete and reinforcement.
(iii) The expansion is prevented by limiting the quantities of free lime
and magnesia in cement.
(iv) This test gives the extent of free lime and magnesia present in
cement.
(v) Hydration of this lime is accelerated by boiling, causing expansion.
(vi) It is this expansion which is one of the cause of cracking of cement
concrete and hence the importance of this test.
(vii) The shrinkage of this cement is kept to a minimum by immersing the
paste in water.

LE- CHATELIER MOULD

Questions:-
(i) What is meant by unsoundness? What is likely the cause of unsound
cement?
(ii) Of what importance is the soundness of cement?
(iii) How is the slacking process (i.e., hydration) accelerated in this
experiment?
(iv) What is the maximum expansion for ordinary Portland cement?
(v) Distinguish between expansion and shrinkage of cement paste?

- 3-