Sans 5839

© SABS.
This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
The standard must reside on an internal network or intranet and may only be used for reference purposes in compliance with SABS
copyright rules. The standard or parts thereof may not be distributed in any form without permission from the SABS.
ISBN 978-0-626-21776-1
SANS 5839:2008
Edition 2.2
Any reference to SABS SM 839 is deemed

to be a reference to this standard
(Government Notice No. 1373 of 8 November 2002)
SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD
Soundness of aggregates (magnesium

sulfate method)
Published by Standards South Africa

1 dr lategan road groenkloof private bag x191 pretoria 0001
tel: 012 428 7911 fax: 012 344 1568 international code + 27 12
www.stansa.co.za
© Standards South Africa
© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
SANS 5839:2008
Edition 2.2
Table of changes
Change No. Date Scope
Amdt 1 2002 Amended to update normative references.
Amdt 2 2008 Amended to change the designation of SABS standards to SANS
standards, with no technical changes.
Foreword
This South African standard was approved by National Committee StanSA SC 5120.61A, Construction
standards – Cement, lime and concrete, in accordance with procedures of Standards South Africa, in
compliance with annex 3 of the WTO/TBT agreement.
This document was published in July 2008. This document supersedes SABS SM 839:2002
(edition 2.1).
SANS 5839:2008
Edition 2.2
Contents
Page
Foreword
1 Scope and field of application ................................................................................................ 3
2 Normative references ............................................................................................................. 3
3 Reagents ................................................................................................................................ 3
3.1 Water ............................................................................................................................. 3

3.2 Magnesium sulfate solution ........................................................................................... 4
3.3 Barium chloride solution ................................................................................................ 4
4 Apparatus ............................................................................................................................... 4
5 Preparation of test specimens ................................................................................................ 4
5.1 Fine aggregate .............................................................................................................. 4

5.2 Coarse aggregate .......................................................................................................... 5
6 Procedure ............................................................................................................................... 5
7 Expression and reporting of results ........................................................................................ 7
SANS 5839:2008
Edition 2.2
This page is intentionally left blank
SANS 5839:2008
Edition 2.2
Soundness of aggregates (magnesium sulfate method)
1 Scope and field of application

This standard specifies a method for determining the soundness of aggregates. The results obtained
provide useful information for assessing the weathering properties of an aggregate intended to be used
under specific weathering conditions. The interpretation of the results should be undertaken by a person
experienced in the use of different types of aggregate, in situations where these aggregates are subject
to severe weathering.
In the case of crushed aggregate, it is recommended that specimens prepared for testing (see 5.2) be
examined under magnification for cracks caused by stresses induced during crushing. Penetration of the
sulfate solution into such cracks could cause disruptive forces, resulting in a faulty impression of the
soundness or integrity of the aggregate.
2 Normative references
The following standards contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of
this standard. All standards are subject to revision and, since any reference to a standard is deemed to
be a reference to the latest edition of that standard, parties to agreements based on this standard are
encouraged to take steps to ensure the use of the most recent editions of the standards indicated below.
Information on currently valid national and international standards can be obtained from Standards
South Africa.
SANS 197, Preparation of test samples of aggregates.
SANS 201, Sieves analysis fines, content and dust content of aggregates.
SANS 3310-1/ISO 3310-1, Test sieves – Technical requirements and testing – Part 1: Test sieves of
metal wire cloth. Amdt 1
SANS 3310-2/ISO 3310-2, Test sieves – Technical requirements and testing – Part 2: Test sieves of
perforated metal plate. Amdt 1
3 Reagents
3.1 Water
Distilled or deionized water.
SANS 5839:2008
Edition 2.2
3.2 Magnesium sulfate solution

A saturated solution prepared by dissolving magnesium sulfate (either the anhydrous form MgSO4 or the
crystalline form MgSO4·7H2O) in distilled or deionized water at a temperature of 30 °C to 35 °C, and
using enough of the salt to ensure that, when the solution is saturated, excess crystals will be present.
Cool the solution to 22 °C to 24 °C and keep it at that temperature for at least 16 h before use. Stir the
solution thoroughly immediately prior to use, and ensure that the relative density is at least 1,292. When
it is suspected that the aggregate to be tested contains calcium or magnesium carbonates, pre-treat the
solution by the addition, at least 7 d before use, of a few pieces of marble or dolomitic aggregate. Filter
the solution and check the relative density for the presence of excess crystals.
3.3 Barium chloride solution

An aqueous solution of barium chloride.
4 Apparatus
4.1 Test sieves, that comply with the requirements of SANS 3310-1 or SANS 3310-2. Amdt 1
4.2 Cloth, or wire mesh basket, of aperture size not exceeding 150 µm.
5 Preparation of test specimens

NOTE If an aggregate submitted for testing contains both coarse and fine material in appreciable amounts,
separate it into two parts by sieving on a sieve of aperture size 4 750 µm (see 4.1) and regard each part as a test
sample (both for testing and the calculation of results).
5.1 Fine aggregate
5.1.1 From a sieve analysis of the aggregate (conducted in accordance with SANS 201), determine
which of the size fractions given in table 1 each represents more than 5 % (by mass) of the aggregate.
From the test sample (see SANS 197), take a mass that is estimated to contain at least 100 g of each of
those fractions.
Table 1 — Fraction sizes
1 2
Nominal aperture size of sieve
µm
Passing Retained
9 500 4 750
4 750 2 360
2 360 1 180
1 180 600
600 300
5.1.2 Remove all fine adhering material by washing the aggregate on a sieve of aperture size not
exceeding 300 µm. Dry the material retained on the sieve at a temperature of 100 °C to 110 °C until the
decrease in mass after two successive drying periods of 4 h does not exceed 0,1 % of the total mass.
Cool to room temperature in a desiccator.
SANS 5839:2008
Edition 2.2
5.1.3 Isolate the relevant fractions by using the appropriate sieves and sieving until no more aggregate
passes each of these sieves. From each of these fractions (but excluding particles lodged in the
apertures of the sieves), take a test specimen of mass approximately 100 g and wrap each test
specimen (separately) in cloth or put it into a suitable wire mesh basket (see 4.2).
5.2 Coarse aggregate
5.2.1 From a sieve analysis of the aggregate (conducted in accordance with SANS 201), determine
which of the size fractions given in table 2 each represents more than 5 % (by mass) of the aggregate.
From the test sample (see SANS 197) take a mass that is estimated to contain at least the appropriate
minimum quantities given in column 3 of table 2 of each of these fractions.
Table 2 — Quantities of material required
1 2 3
Nominal aperture size of

sieve
Minimum quantity
mm of material
required
Retained Passing
g
53,0 37,5 2 000
37,5 26,5 1 000
26,5 19,0 600
19,0 13,2 500
13,2 9,5 400
9,5 6,7 300
6,7 4,75 200
5.2.2 Remove all fine adhering material by washing the aggregate on a sieve of aperture size not
exceeding 4 750 µm. Dry the material retained on the sieve at a temperature of 100 °C to 110 °C until
the decrease in mass after two successive drying periods of 4 h does not exceed 0,1 % of the total
mass. Cool the sample to room temperature in a desiccator.
5.2.3 Isolate the relevant fractions by using the appropriate sieves and sieving until no more aggregate
passes each of these sieves. (Fit particles larger than 9,5 mm individually through the sieve apertures by
hand but do not use excessive pressure to force aggregate through.) From each of these fractions (but
excluding particles lodged in the apertures of the sieves), take a test sample of the appropriate mass
(see table 2) and wrap each test specimen (separately) in cloth or put it into a suitable wire mesh basket
(see 4.2).
6 Procedure
NOTE Carry out steps 6.1 to 6.3 without removing the specimens from their cloth wrapper or wire mesh basket.
6.1 Place each test specimen in a separate container, add enough of the magnesium sulfate solution to
cover the specimen and leave it immersed for at least 16 h, maintaining the temperature of the solution
at 22 °C to 24 °C. Remove the test specimens from the solution and allow them to drain for
approximately 10 min and, in the case of a specimen that is wrapped in cloth, place the wrapped
specimen on a wire mesh tray, open the cloth, and spread the material out on the cloth, taking care that
no material is lost.
SANS 5839:2008
Edition 2.2
6.2 Dry the specimens for at least 8 h in a well ventilated oven maintained at a temperature of
100 °C to 110 °C. Remove the specimens from the oven at the end of the drying period, and allow them
to cool to room temperature. This process of immersion in magnesium sulfate solution followed by drying
and cooling constitutes one cycle of the soundness test.
6.3 Repeat the procedures described in 6.1 and 6.2 for the number of cycles considered necessary.
6.4 After completion of the final cycle, transfer each specimen from its wrapper to a beaker and wash
the specimen until the washings are free from magnesium sulfate (as proved by the washings' no longer
causing barium sulfate to be precipitated from an aqueous solution of barium chloride). Dry each
specimen until the decrease in mass after two successive drying periods of 4 h does not exceed 0,1 %
of the total mass. Cool the specimens to room temperature in a desiccator.
6.5 In the case of fine aggregate, sieve each specimen on the same sieve as that on which it was
retained in its preparation and continue sieving until no more material passes the sieve. In the case of
coarse aggregate, sieve each specimen as described in 5.2.3 but use a sieve of the appropriate
aperture size given in column 3 of table 3.
Table 3 — Aperture sizes of sieves
Dimensions in millimetres
1 2 3
Original size fractions of

sample Nominal aperture size of sieve
nominal sieve aperture size used to determine the loss in
material after the test
Passing Retained
53,0 37,5 31,5

37,5 26,5 22,4
26,5 19,0 16,0
19,0 13,2 11,2

13,2 9,5 8,0
9,5 6,7 5,6
6,7 4,75 4,0
6.6 Determine the mass of the material retained on each sieve and calculate the percentage loss for
each fraction tested.
7 Expression and reporting of results
7.1 Calculate the percentage representative loss RL for each fraction tested as follows:
A×B
RL =
100
where
A is the percentage loss of the fraction tested; and
SANS 5839:2008
Edition 2.2
B is the percentage representation of the fraction tested as determined in 5.1.1 or 5.2.1, as relevant,
(but, in the case of a fine aggregate in which the fractions larger than 4 750 µm represented more
than 10 % (by mass) of the aggregate, use 10 % as the value of B).
7.2 For each fraction that had a representation not exceeding 5 % (and that was, therefore, not tested),
use the average of the values of RL for the next smaller and next larger fractions tested and in the case
of the coarsest or finest fraction, use the value for the next smaller or next larger fraction, as relevant
(except that, in the case of fine aggregate, it is impracticable to test sizes finer than 300 µm, since these
are considered to have no loss).
7.3 Record and report the percentage loss of the test sample, and the sum of individual values of RL to
the nearest 1 %, calculated as described in 7.1 and 7.2.
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© SABS.

Any reference to SABS SM 839 is deemed

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD

Soundness of aggregates (magnesium

Published by Standards South Africa

1 Scope and field of application ................................................................................................ 3

2 Normative references ............................................................................................................. 3

3.1 Water ............................................................................................................................. 3

5 Preparation of test specimens ................................................................................................ 4

5.1 Fine aggregate .............................................................................................................. 4

7 Expression and reporting of results ........................................................................................ 7

This page is intentionally left blank

Soundness of aggregates (magnesium sulfate method)

1 Scope and field of application

SANS 197, Preparation of test samples of aggregates.

3.2 Magnesium sulfate solution

3.3 Barium chloride solution

5 Preparation of test specimens

5.1 Fine aggregate

Table 1 — Fraction sizes

Nominal aperture size of sieve

5.2 Coarse aggregate

Table 2 — Quantities of material required

Nominal aperture size of

Table 3 — Aperture sizes of sieves

Original size fractions of

53,0 37,5 31,5

19,0 13,2 11,2

7 Expression and reporting of results

A is the percentage loss of the fraction tested; and

© Standards South Africa

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