T 154
Standard Method of Test for
Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Gillmore Needles
1. SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the
determination of the time of setting of
hydraulic-cement paste by means of the
Gillmore needles.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be
regarded as the standard.
1.3 This standard may involve hazardous
materials, operations, and equipment.
This standard does not purport to address
all of the safety problems 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.
2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
2.1 AASHTO Standards:
M 201 Moist Cabinets, Moist
Rooms, and Water Storage
Tanks Used in the Testing of
Hydraulic Cements and
Concretes
M 210 Apparatus for Use in
Measurement of Length
Change of Hardened Cement
Paste, Mortar, and Concrete
T 107 Autoclave Expansion of
Portland Cement
T 127 Sampling and Acceptance of
Hydraulic Cement
T 129 Normal Consistency of
Hydraulic Cement
T 162 Mechanical Mixing of
Hydraulic Cement Pastes and
Mortars of Plastic
Consistency
2.2 ASTM Standards:
C 670 Practice for Preparing
Precision Statements for Test
Methods for Construction
Materials
C 1005 Specification for Weights and
Weighing Devices for Use in
the Physical Testing of
Hydraulic Cements
D 1193 Specification for Reagent
Water
METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING
AASHTO DESIGNATION: T 154-91
(ASTM DESIGNATION: C 266-89)
3. SUMMARY OF METHOD
3.1 Sufficient water is added to the
cement that is being tested to produce a
paste of normal consistency. A specimen
is molded from this paste and is tested for
setting times by means of the Gillmore
initial and final needles. The initial
setting time is the time required for the
test specimen to bear the initial Gillmore
needle without appreciable indentation,
while the time required for the test
specimen to bear the final Gillmore
needle without appreciable indentation is
the final setting time.
4. SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The purpose of this test method is to
establish whether a cement complies with
a specification limit on setting time. The
time of setting is affected not only by the
percentage and temperature of the water
used, and the amount of kneading the
paste received, but also by the
temperature and humidity of the air.
5. APPARATUS
5.1 Trowel, having a steel blade 10C to
150 mm (4 to 6 in.) in length, with a
straight edge.
5.2 Mixer, Bowl, Paddle, ano Scraper,
conforming to the requirements of T 162.
5.3 Glass Graduates, conforming to the
requirements of M 210.
5.4 Weights and Weighing Devices,
conforming to the requirements of ASTM
C 1005.
5.5 Glass Plates, flat. 102 mm (4 in.)
square.
5.6 Gillmore Needles, conforming to the
following requirements:
5.6.1 The initial setting-time needle
shall have a weight of 113.4 ± 0.5 g
(0.250 ± 0.001 lb) and a tip diameter of
2.12 - 0.05 mm (0.084 ± 0.002 in.).
5.6.2 The final setting time needle shall
have a weight of 453.6 ± 0.5 g (1.000 ±
0.001 lb) and a tip diameter of 1.06 -!-
0.05 mm (0.042 ± 0.002 in.).
5.6.3 The needle tips shall be
cylindrical for a distance of 4.8 ± 0.5 mm
(0.189 ± 0.020 in.). The needle ends shall
be plane and at right angles to the axis of
the rod and shall be maintained in a clean
condition. The Gillmore needles should
preferably be mounted as shown in
Figure 1 (b).
6. REAGENTS
6.1 Mixing Water-Potable water is
satisfactory for routine tests. For all
referee and cooperative tests, reagent
water conforming to the requirements of
ASTM D 1193 for Type III or Type IV
grade of reagent water shall be used.
7. SAMPLING
7.1 When the test is part of acceptance
testing, sample the cement in accordance
with T 127.
8. CONDITIONING
8.1 The temperature of the room, dry
materials, paddle, bowl, and glass plates
shall be maintained between 20 and
27.5°C (68 and 81.5°F). The temperature
of the mixing water shall not vary from
23°C (73.4°F) by more than ± 1.7°C (±
3°F).
8.2 The relative humidity of the
laboratory shall be not less than 50
percent.
8.3 The moist cabinet or moist room
shall conform to the requirements of M
201.
9. PROCEDURE
9.1 Preparation of Cement Paste: 9.1.1
Mix 650 g of cement with the percentage
of mixing water required for normal
consistency in accordance with T 129
following the mixing procedure for
cement pastes described in T 162.
9.1.2 A time of setting specimen and
an autoclave expansion specimen (see T
107) may be made from the same batch
of paste prepared as described in Section
9.1.1.
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T 154
9.1.3 A time of setting specimen or an
autoclave expansion specimen (see T
107) may be made from the remainder of
the batch for normal consistency (see T
129) immediately after completion of that
test.
9.2 Molding Test Specimen-From the
cement paste prepared as described in
Section 9.1, make a pat approximately 76
mm (3 in.) in diameter and approximately
13 nun (0.5 in.) in thickness at the center
with a flat top and tapering to a thin edge
(see Figure 1 (a)) on a clean glass plate.
In molding the pat, flatten the cement
paste first on the glass and then form the
pat by drawing the trowel from the outer
edge toward the center, then flattening
the top. After making, place the pat in the
moist cabinet or moist room and allow it
to remain there except when the
determinations of time of setting are
being made.
METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING
10. REPORT
10.1 The report shall show the time of
setting as follows:
Initial Time of Setting, Gillmore-min
Final Time of Setting, Gillmore-min
11. PRECISION AND BIAS
11.1 Interlaboratory test data for the
determination of statements of precision
in accordance with ASTM C 670 are
being evaluated. Statements of precision
will be included in a later revision of this
test method.
Final needle
453.6 ± 0.5 g
(1.000 ± 0.001 lb)
Tip diameter
Initial: 2.12 ± 0.05 mm
(0.084 ± 0.002 in.)
Final: 1.06 ± 0.05 mm
(0.042 ± 0.002 in.)
9.3 Time of Setting Determination-In
determining the time of setting, hold the
needles in a vertical position and apply
lightly to the surface of the pat. Consider
the cement paste to have acquired its
initial set when the pat will bear, without
appreciable indentation. the initial
Gillmore needle. The difference, in
minutes, between the time of contact of
cement and mixing water and the time
the cement paste acquires its initial set is
the initial setting time. Consider the
cement paste to have acquired its final set
when the pat will bear, without
appreciable indentation, the final
Gillmore needle. The difference, in
minutes, between the time of contact of
cement and mixing water and the time
the cement paste acquires its final set is
the final setting time.
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