UET Mardan CE-112L Civil Engineering Material Lab

EXPERIMENT NO. 03 DETERMINATION OF THE INITIAL AND FINAL

SETTING TIME OF CEMENT

Standard code: ASTM C 191

Significance
Initial setting time:
The time from mixing of water to cement to such an instant at which cement paste start losing its
plasticity. Initial setting time (IST) should not be too early, so that we have sufficient time for
mixing, transportation, placing, compaction & finishing of the concrete.
According to ASTM, the time elapsed from mixing of water to cement to that time at which vicat
initial needle (Length =40 to 50 mm & Dia=1 mm) penetrates 25mm from top of mold.
Final setting time:
The time from mixing of water to cement to such an instant at which cement paste completely
loses its plasticity and harden enough. Final setting time (FST) should not be too late due to the
requirements of strength development.
According to ASTM, the time elapsed from mixing of water to cement to that time at which vicat
final needle (Length =40 to 50 mm & Dia=5 mm) does not leave a complete circular impression
on the harden cement paste.
Apparatus:
Vicat Apparatus with Initial & Final Needle, Stop Watch, Portland cement, Water.
Procedure:
 Take 400g of cement and add 0.85P water by weight, where P is the %age of water for
standard consistency. Note down the time when water is added to the cement (Let 9:00 AM).
Make a uniform cement paste & fill the vicat mould as done in the standard consistency test.
Determination of initial setting time:
 Lower the vicat initial needle gently until it comes in contact with the surface of the vicat
mold and release it.
 Take first reading of the needle penetration after 30 minutes and every 15 minutes
thereafter, until 25mm or less penetration is obtained.
UET Mardan CE-112L Civil Engineering Material Lab

 The time taken by needle to penetrate 25mm from the time of mixing of water will be the
IST of the cement.
Determination of final setting time:
 Replace the initial setting needle of the Vicat apparatus by vicat final needle.
 Release the final needle on the cement paste after every 15-minute interval of time
 The time when the vicat needle does not marks a complete circular impression on the
hard cement paste from the mixing of water will be FST of cement.
 Use interpolation manually OR in excel to find the Elapsed time (min) corresponding to
penetration of 25 mm. (that will be IST). And Elapsed time corresponding to Zero mm
penetration will be the FST.
ASTM-STANDARD:
For an ordinary Portland cement, the initial setting time should not be less than 30 minutes while
the final setting time should not be more than 600 minutes.
Observations & Calculations:
S.No Description Time Elapsed Time Penetration(mm)
(min)
0 Time (Mixing of water with cement) 9:00 AM --- ---
1 1st Reading

2 2nd Reading

3 3rd Reading

4 4th Reading

5 5th Reading

6 6th Reading

7 7th Reading

8 8th Reading

9 9th Reading

10 10th Reading

11 11th Reading
UET Mardan CE-112L Civil Engineering Material Lab

12 12th Reading

13 13th Reading

14 14th Reading

15 15th Reading

16 16th Reading

So on (Until penetration = 0 mm)

Initial Setting Time (minutes)

Final Setting Time (minutes)

Precautions:
 Note down the penetration of the vicat needle after 15 minutes of releasing.
 Make each penetration test at least 5 mm away from any previous penetration and at
Least 10 mm away from the inner side of the mold.
Comment on Result: