Exercise No.

5
Time of Setting of Portland Cement
Using Gillmore Needles

Date Performed : _____________________

Date Due : _____________________
Date Submitted : _____________________

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Submitted by:

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Submitted to:
SALAMEN P. MARTIN, JR.
Instructor
 Exercise No. 5
Time of Setting of Portland Cement
Using Gillmore Needles

I. Purpose: a. To determination the suitability of Portland cement for concrete works and to determine
the time that elapses before cement ceases to be fluid and plastic (initial set) and the time required for it to
harden to certain degree (final set) using Gillmore Needles.

II. Scope and Specification: The Gillmore Apparatus is used to determine initial and final set times of
Portland cement, masonry cement, hydraulic hydrated lime and certain mortars. The unit consists of two
stainless steel needles with 3/16” (4.8 mm) cylindrical flat ends. One is 1/12” (2.12 mm) dia. with A ¼ lb.
(113.4 g) weight for initial set. The second is 1/24” (1.06 mm) dia. with 1 lb. (453.6 g) weight for final
set.
The Gillmore needle is applied at certain time intervals on the surface of a 3”-diameter pat, ½”
thick and tapering to a thin outer edge, made from a neat cement paste of normal consistency. The initial
set is said to have occurred when the pat will bear without appreciable mark the small Gillmore needle
1/24” in diameter and loaded to weigh ¼ lb. and the final set when the large Gillmore needle 1/12” in
diameter and loaded to weigh ¼ lb. fails to make any appreciable mark. Knowledge of the time of setting
is of value since crystallization begins with the initial set, thus molding and placing of the mortar should
be complete before the cement begins to set. A rapid set may indicate insufficient gypsum or the presence
of soluble carbonates.
Specifications: Initial set ------------ ≥ 60 min.

Final set ------------- ≤ 600 min.

III. Materials and Equipments

1. Gillmore needles, 1/24 in. diameter, ¼ lb. and ½ in. diameter, 1 lb.
2. Graduated cylinder
3. Balance and weights
4. Glass plate
5. Spatula
6. Trowel
7. Mixing bowl

IV. Procedure
1. Weigh 500 gm of cement.
2. Prepare cement paste of normal consistency.
3. Form on a glass plate a pat about 3 inches in diameter, ½ inch thick at the center with a flat top
and tapering to a thin edge.
 4. Place pat in moist closet with a temperature of 23 ℃ and relative humidity of 90%.
5. Determine setting time by applying needles lightly on the surface of pat. The cement shall be
considered to have acquired its initial set when the pat will bear without appreciable indention the
¼ -lb. Gillmore needle, and the final set when the pat will bear without appreciable indention the
1-lb. Gillmore needle.

Test Data and Test Results:

1. Clock Time:
a. Started ----------
b. Initial Set ----------
c. Final Set ----------

2. Time:
a. Initial set, minutes,
(b) – (a) ----------
b. Final set, hours,
(c) – (a) ---------

V. Discussion and Analysis of Test Data:

a. Computation
b. Analysis and Interpretation of Test Results:
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