Fineness of Cement

Laboratory Experiment: 6

I. Objectives:

Calculates the fineness of cement by sieving. 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.

II. Apparatus:

90 micron sieve
Lid
Weighing balance
Cement sample
Scoop
Mould / pan

III. Set – Up:

IV. Theory of Discussion:
 V. Procedure:

1. Weight accurately 100 gm of cement and place it in 90 micron sieve. Breakdown any air
lumps in a sample with fingers without rubbing them on sieve.
2. Place weigh cement on the sieve, being careful to avoid loss. Disperse any
agglomerates. Fit the lid over the sieve.
3. Continuously sieve sample by holding the sieve in both hand and giving wrist
motion until no more fine material possess through it.
4. Weigh the residue left on the sieve after sieving and note down it
5. Repeat all the process that has done in the previous steps and take average of them

VI. Data and Results:

Description Values
Weight of cement, gm 100gm
Weight of cement retained on 90 micron IS sieve, gm 3.38 gram
% weight of residue (2/1 x 100) 3.38
Average value 3.38 %

VII. Sample Computation:

% weight of residue= (2/1 x 100)

% weight of residue= (3.38 gram/100gram x 100)

% weight of residue= (0.0338gram x 100)

% weight of residue= 3.38 %

Average value= 3.38 %/1

Average value= 3.38 %
VIII. Observation and Interpretation:

As an observation, the fineness of cement is just one of the properties of cement that needs to be
observed and followed in order to maximize and to be consistent to where the cement is to be used.
And the fineness of cement is a measure of the size of the cement-particles. In the sieve analysis of the
cement, the fineness of cement is calculated by using the ratio of the weight of the cement to the
samples which are retained on the sieve with the total weight of the cement to the sample. Thus, there
is no unit in the fineness of cement. The researcher in the video we have watched found presence of
residue after sieving the sample cement within a given minute time frame. The residues appeared
larger, and varied in shape than the cement that had pass through the sieve. After the sieving, I have
also observed that the cement became smoother and finer in texture. As shown within the
computations, the weight of the residue is an essential variable to measure the fineness of the cement.
With one trial, they managed to obtain the acceptable percentages of the fineness of cement.
Additionally, I have observed that some fine cement stick to the sides of the sieve; hence, it should be
removed for the weight of the residue to not be affected which is done by the researcher. Also, no
cement leaked through the instruments because of the proper fitting of the cement. As an
interpretation, the finer the cement, the quicker it reacts to the water and it has a fast development of
strength. And the fineness of cement is a measure of the cement particle size and it is denoted as
terms of the specific surface area of the cement. The fineness test of the cement is done by sieving the
cement sample through the standard IS sieve. The weight of the particles of the cement whose sizes
are greater than the ninety-micron sieve is then determined and the percentage of the retained
cement particles are also calculated. This is known as the fineness of cement. The fineness of cement is
the property of cement which indicates the particle size of the cement and the specific surface area
and thus it is indirectly affecting the heat of the hydration. The fineness of cement affects the hydration
rate, hence the rate of the strength gained.

IX. Conclusion: