This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles
for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: C1897 − 20
Standard Test Methods for
Measuring the Reactivity of Supplementary Cementitious
Materials by Isothermal Calorimetry and Bound Water
Measurements1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1897; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 These two alternative test methods are used to assess the
chemical reactivity of a supplementary cementitious material
(SCM) as determined by measurements of cumulative heat
release or bound water content of hydrated pastes composed of
the SCM, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, potassium
sulfate, and potassium hydroxide cured at 40 °C for 3 and 7
days.
1.1.1 These two test methods do not distinguish between
hydraulic and pozzolanic reactivity.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard.
1.3 The text of the standard refers to notes and footnotes
that provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered
as requirements of this standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
(Warning—Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic
and may cause chemical burns to skin and tissue upon
prolonged exposure.)2
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
C09.24 on Supplementary Cementitious Materials.
Current edition approved June 1, 2020. Published August 2020. DOI: 10.1520/
C1897-20.
2
Section on Safety Precautions, Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing,
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 04.02.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:3
C114 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Hydraulic
Cement
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Ag-
gregates
C311/C311M Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Fly
Ash or Natural Pozzolans for Use in Portland-Cement
Concrete
C618 Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined
Natural Pozzolan for Use in Concrete
C989/C989M Specification for Slag Cement for Use in
Concrete and Mortars
C1240 Specification for Silica Fume Used in Cementitious
Mixtures
C1702 Test Method for Measurement of Heat of Hydration
of Hydraulic Cementitious Materials Using Isothermal
Conduction Calorimetry
C1709 Guide for Evaluation of Alternative Supplementary
Cementitious Materials (ASCM) for Use in Concrete
C1738/C1738M Practice for High-Shear Mixing of Hydrau-
lic Cement Pastes
E11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test
Sieves
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in these test methods,
refer to Terminology C125.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 chemically bound water, n—water in hardened cement
paste that has reacted and is part of the structure of hydrated
reaction products.
3.2.1.1 Discussion—In these test methods, bound water is
taken as the mass loss when a paste specimen dried previously
at 40 °C is heated in a furnace to 350 °C. Some raw natural
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
 C1897 − 20
pozzolans may contain bound water and lose mass over this
temperature range. This mass loss needs to be determined and
used to correct the bound water value for the paste.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 Method A—Isothermal calorimetry is used to determine
the heat of hydration of hydrating pastes composed of the
SCM, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, potassium
sulfate, and potassium hydroxide. The heat of hydration value
is used to determine the chemical reactivity of the SCM.
4.2 Method B—Chemically bound water of pastes com-
posed of the SCM, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate,
potassium sulfate, and potassium hydroxide is determined as a
measure of the chemical reactivity of the SCM.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 These test methods are used to assess the chemical
(pozzolanic or hydraulic) reactivity of SCMs over a curing
time of 7 days. The results of these test methods can be used to
estimate the potential contribution of a SCM to the develop-
ment of strength, or other properties such as lower
permeability, when used with portland cement. However, the
test results are not a substitute for direct measurement of the
same properties of concrete made with that SCM.
5.2 The calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, potassium
sulfate, and potassium hydroxide are combined in proportions
to provide a paste where the dissolved ions from these
components simulate the pore solution in a portland cement
system.
5.3 The pastes are cured at 40 °C to accelerate the rate of
reaction of slowly reactive SCMs.
5.4 These test methods allow for the direct measurement of
the hydraulic or pozzolanic reactivity of a potential SCM.
These test methods are also suitable for screening purposes in
the development and research of SCMs for use in portland
cement-based systems. Furthermore, these test methods may be
used in manufacturing control of portland cement-based prod-
ucts for assessing the hydraulic or pozzolanic reactivity of a
SCM component.
5.5 These test methods are based on the work by Avet et al.4
and are a result of the work of RILEM Technical Committee
267 – Tests for Reactivity of Supplementary Cementitious
Materials.5 The test methods are based on established correla-
tions between strength development and evolution of heat and
binding of water for SCMs covered by Specifications C618,
C989/C989M, and C1240, and by Guide C1709. For other
alternative SCMs, the validity of such correlations has not been
established.
5.6 There is no requirement to use Method A and Method B
for a given application. In many instances the choice is based
4
Avet, F., Snellings, R., Ben Haha, M., Alujas, A., and Scrivener, K., “Devel-
opment of a new rapid, relevant and reliable (R3) test method to evaluate the
pozzolanic reactivity of calcined kaolinitic clays,” Cement and Concrete Research,
Vol. 85, 2016, pp. 1–11.
5
Li, X., Snellings, R., Antoni, M. et al. (31 more authors), “Reactivity tests for
supplementary cementitious materials: RILEM TC 267-TRM phase 1,” Materials
and Structures, Vol 51, No. 6, 2018, pp. 151
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on the user’s determination of available equipment. Method A
can also provide an indication of rate of reactivity because
measurements are taken continuously during the test period,
while Method B provides the level of reactivity up to a single
point in time.
6. Apparatus
6.1 Apparatus for Mixing Pastes:
6.1.1 A high-shear blender, capable of maintaining a no-
load speed of at least 1600 r/min.
6.2 Apparatus for Method A (Cumulative Heat Release):
6.2.1 Isothermal calorimeter, conforming to Test Method
C1702 and calibrated for measurement at 40 °C.
6.2.2 Analytical Balance—The balance shall have a capac-
ity of 160 g, a repeatability within 0.002 g, and a readability of
0.001 g or better.
6.2.3 Calorimeter-specific specimen containers and lids that
can be sealed air-tight.
6.3 Apparatus for Method B (Bound Water Content):
6.3.1 Ventilated oven, capable of maintaining temperatures
of 40 6 2 °C.
6.3.2 Furnace, capable of maintaining temperature at 350 6
10 °C.
6.3.3 Porcelain crucibles, complying with the crucibles for
measuring loss on ignition in Test Methods C311/C311M.
6.3.4 Glass petri dishes, of at least 50 mm in diameter.
6.3.5 Analytical Balance—The balance shall have a capac-
ity of 160 g, a repeatability within 0.002 g, and a readability of
0.001 g or better.
6.3.6 Mortar and pestle, disk pulverizer, rotary mill, or
crusher, capable of decreasing the size of the paste particles to
meet the size requirements given in 9.3.3.2.
6.3.7 Desiccator, with fresh desiccant, which can be silica
gel or an alternative desiccant capable of maintaining a relative
humidity below 10 % at room temperature.
6.3.8 ASTM E11 Sieve, either 2 mm (No. 10) or 2.38 mm
(No. 8).
6.3.9 High-density polyethylene (or polycarbonate) cylin-
drical specimen containers with air-tight caps. The specimen
container volume shall not exceed three times the volume of
the 10 to 15 mL paste specimen.
7. Reagents and Materials
7.1 Purity of Reagents—Chemicals shall be reagent grade
and, unless otherwise indicated, shall conform to the specifi-
cations of the Committee on Analytical Reagents of the
American Chemical Society,6 if such specifications are avail-
able.
7.1.1 Calcium hydroxide, (Note 1);
7.1.2 Potassium hydroxide, which shall be dry (Note 2);
7.1.3 Potassium sulfate;
6
ACS Reagent Chemicals, Specifications and Procedures for Reagents and
Standard-Grade Reference Materials, American Chemical Society, Washington,
DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not listed by the American Chemical
Society, see Analar Standards for Laboratory Chemicals, BDH Ltd., Poole, Dorset,
U.K., and the United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary, U.S. Pharma-
copeial Convention, Inc. (USPC), Rockville, MD.

7.1.4 Calcium carbonate;
7.1.5 Reagent water conforming to the requirements in Test
Methods C114.
NOTE 1—The calcium hydroxide should be protected from exposure to
carbon dioxide. Material remaining in an open container after a test should
not be used for subsequent tests.
NOTE 2—Potassium hydroxide should be stored dry and protected from
exposure to moisture or humidity. Potassium hydroxide from open
containers should be dried for at least 8 h at 105 °C prior to use.
7.2 Parafilm tape for sealing containers.
8. Proportioning and Mixing Test Mixtures
8.1 Proportioning:
8.1.1 The ratio of SCM to calcium hydroxide is 1 to 3 by
mass.
8.1.2 The ratio of SCM to calcium carbonate is 2 to 1 by
mass.
8.1.3 Prepare a potassium solution by dissolving 4.00 g of
potassium hydroxide and 20.0 g of potassium sulfate in 1.00 L
of reagent water conditioned at 23 6 3 °C.
8.1.4 The ratio of potassium solution to solids (sum of the
SCM, the calcium hydroxide, and the calcium carbonate) is 1.2
by mass.
NOTE 3—Table 1 gives an example of the mixture proportions for an
SCM paste conforming to this standard. The mass ratio of the SCM in the
fresh paste is 10 g/99 g = 0.101. The required total mass to be mixed will
depend on the type and number of tests to be performed.
9. Test Procedures
9.1 Paste Mixing:
9.1.1 Weigh the designated amounts of the dry SCM,
calcium hydroxide, and calcium carbonate on weighing papers,
then combine and mix until a homogeneous color is achieved.
Mass measurements are to be accurate to 60.01 g. Store the
dry mixture in an air-tight container in a storage environment
at 40 6 2 °C until the temperature of the dry mixture is
stabilized at 40 6 2 °C.
NOTE 4—Mixing the dry mixture by hand with a spatula, passing
through sieves multiple times, or use of a gyratory type mixer until a
homogeneous color is attained, are methods that have been found to be
satisfactory. Gentle mixing is often required to avoiding creating dust.
9.1.2 Place and seal the potassium solution in an air-tight
container in a storage environment at 40 6 2 °C until the
solution is at 40 6 2 °C.
9.1.3 Mix the dry mixture and the potassium solution at
1600 6 50 r/min for 2 min using the high-shear blender so that
a homogeneous paste is achieved. Alternatively, use the pro-
cedure for mixing pastes in Practice C1738/C1738M, where
the dry mixture of solids is considered cementitious materials
or cement and the potassium solution is considered to be
mixing water. Record the time at start of mixing and use that as
time zero.
TABLE 1 Example of Proportioning of Paste Mixture
SCM Ca(OH)2 CaCO3
Potassium
Solution
Mass (grams) 10.00 30.00 5.00
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C1897 − 20
9.2 Method A, Cumulative Heat Determination by Isother-
mal Calorimetry:
9.2.1 Preparation of the Apparatus:
9.2.1.1 The calorimeter shall be set at 40 6 0.5 °C for at
least 16 h before test.
9.2.1.2 Prior to mixing the pastes (9.1), place the calorim-
eter specimen containers, lids, and pipettes in a 40 6 2 °C
storage environment until they reach 40 6 2 °C.
NOTE 5—If the isothermal calorimeter has multiple test chambers, and
a sufficient volume of paste is prepared, more than one test specimen can
be tested simultaneously. However, inserting new test specimens into the
calorimeter while other test specimens are in test may create significant
additional noise depending on the ambient temperature, the reactivity of
the materials tested, and the specific design of the calorimeter. It is not
recommended to insert new test specimens or otherwise open the
calorimeter beyond 1 h after the mix time of the first test specimens
inserted into the calorimeter.
9.2.1.3 Insert sealed, air-tight containers filled with 9.40 6
0.05 g of deionized water into the reference channels of the
calorimeter (Note 6).
NOTE 6—Because the total specimen mass to be placed in the
calorimeter specimen chamber is instrument specific, to ensure that the
thermal signal is within the measurement range of the instrument, the
manufacturer’s recommendations for reference and test specimen masses
should be followed.
9.2.2 Paste Specimen Preparation:
9.2.2.1 Determine the mass of the empty calorimeter speci-
men container to the nearest 0.01 g. Cast 15.0 g of the freshly
mixed paste in the specimen container (Note 6). Record the
mass (mp) of the paste to the nearest 0.01 g.
9.2.2.2 When placing the paste into the calorimeter speci-
men container, avoid spilling paste on the opening and outer
sides of the container.
9.2.3 Measurement of Heat Release:
9.2.3.1 Place each sealed, air-tight calorimeter specimen
into the calorimeter measurement chambers within 10 min of
the start of mixing and record the heat release at 40 6 0.5 °C
for 168 h (7 days) after mixing.
9.2.4 Calculations:
9.2.4.1 Calculate the cumulative heat release (H) from 75
min until 3 days (72 h 6 10 min) and 7 days (168 h 6 10 min)
after start of mixing (time zero) by integration of the recorded
heat release (see Note 5). Calculate the cumulative heat release
in units of J/(g of SCM) using Eq 1:
H
H SCM 5 (1)
~ m p 3 0.101!
where:
H = cumulative heat release (H) from 75 min until 3
days (72 h 6 10 min) and 7 days (168 h 6 10 min)
after start of mixing,
mp = the mass of the paste, and
0.101 = mass fraction of the SCM in the paste specimen
NOTE 7—Calculation of cumulative heat release is started at 75 min
after mixing to allow enough time for the paste and container to
equilibrate at 40 6 0.5 °C inside the calorimeter.
54.00
9.3 Method B, Bound Water Content Determination:
9.3.1 For each paste specimen cast, perform the following:
 C1897 − 20
9.3.1.1 Within 5 min after the start of mixing, cast 15 6 2 desiccant for 1 hour 6 5 min. Record the total mass of the
g of paste into an air-tight specimen container. Cast at least two heated paste and crucible (wh) to the nearest 0.001 g within 10
paste specimens in separate containers for each curing age. min after taking the heated paste out of the desiccator.
9.3.5 Calculations:
NOTE 8—Parafilm may be used before placing the lid to help seal the
container. 9.3.5.1 Calculate the chemically bound water content, in g
per 100 g of paste dried at 40 °C, using Eq 2.
9.3.2 Paste Specimen Curing:
9.3.2.1 Store the sealed paste specimens at 40 6 2 °C for w0 2 wh
H 2 O bound,dried 5 3 100 (2)
168 h (7 days) 6 3 h. If additional curing ages are to be w0 2 wc
examined, separate sealed specimens for each curing age shall where:
be prepared and stored at 40 6 2 °C for those times. w0 = total mass of the dried specimen and crucible,
9.3.2.2 At the required curing age, remove the paste speci- wc = mass of the cooled, empty crucible, and
men from the container, and cut off and discard the top portion wh = total mass of the heated paste and crucible.
of the specimen so that at least 10 g of specimen remains for
bound water measurements (9.3.4). 9.3.5.2 The average bound water content for two replicate
(1) Alternatively, use a water-cooled trim saw to cut off the measurements shall be reported to the nearest 0.1 g per 100 g
top portion of the specimen before removal from the container. of dried paste.
(2) A hammer can be used to break up the remaining 9.3.6 Correction for SCM Containing Bound Water:
hardened paste specimen to facilitate its removal from the 9.3.6.1 Spread 10 6 1 g of the SCM evenly in a petri dish
container. The remaining paste specimen shall be at least 10 g. in a layer no thicker than 10 mm.
9.3.6.2 Place the SCM in the petri dish in a ventilated oven
NOTE 9—The top surface of the paste is discarded to minimize error due at 40 6 2 °C for 24 6 1 h.
to paste that has segregated, partially dried, or carbonated during storage. 9.3.6.3 Heat an empty porcelain crucible at 350 6 10 °C for
9.3.3 Paste Specimen Preparation: 1 hour 6 10 min. Cool the empty crucible down to room
9.3.3.1 Crush the paste specimen using a mortar and pestle temperature in an empty desiccator above fresh silica gel or
so that the particle sizes are not greater than about 2 mm. other suitable desiccant. Record the mass of the cooled, empty
9.3.3.2 If the crushed paste specimen is too moist to be crucible (wc1) to the nearest 0.001 g.
passed through a 2 or 2.36-mm sieve, then spread 10 6 1 g of 9.3.6.4 Transfer 5 6 0.5 g of the dried SCM to the cooled,
the crushed paste evenly and no more than 10 mm thick over empty crucibles. Record the total mass of the dried SCM and
the surface of a petri dish, and dry in an oven at 40 °C for 24 crucible (w01) to the nearest 0.001 g.
6 1 h. Then continue crushing in accordance with 9.3.3.3. 9.3.6.5 Heat the dried SCM at 350 6 10 °C for 2 hour 6 10
9.3.3.3 If the entire crushed paste specimen does not pass a min. Cool the specimen in a desiccator above fresh silica gel
2 or 2.36-mm sieve, continue crushing using a mortar and for 1 hour 6 5 min. Record the total mass of the heated SCM
pestle until entire specimen passes the selected sieve. To and crucible (wh1) to the nearest 0.001 g.
minimize the production of very fine material, use several 9.3.6.6 Calculate the chemically bound water content in g
passes of the specimen through the crushing equipment. per 100 g of SCM dried at 40 °C, using Eq 3:
Remove the portion passing the sieve before re-crushing the w 01 2 w h1
remainder of the specimen. Thoroughly mix by coning from H 2 O bound,SCM 5 3 100 (3)
w 01 2 w c1
one paper to another ten times. Spread 10 6 1 g of the mixed
and crushed paste specimen evenly in a petri dish. The where:
thickness of the ground paste shall not exceed 10 mm. Dry the w01 = the total mass of the dried SCM and crucible,
final crushed paste specimen in an oven at 40 °C for 24 6 1 h. wh1 = total mass of the heated SCM and crucible, and
wc1 = mass of the cooled, empty crucible.
NOTE 10—The ground paste is dried at 40 °C because hydrated
sulfo-aluminate compounds, such as ettringite, lose their chemically 9.3.6.7 Calculate the corrected chemically bound water in g
bound water at temperatures above 70 °C. Some chemically bound water per 100 g of paste dried at 40 °C, using Eq 4:
in other hydrates can also be lost below 105 °C.
H 2 O bound,dried,corrected 5 H 2 O bound,dried 2 ~ 0.101 3 H 2 O bound,SCM! (4)
9.3.4 Bound Water Content Measurements:
9.3.4.1 Heat the furnace to a temperature of 350 6 10 °C. where:
9.3.4.2 Place the empty porcelain crucible in the pre-heated H2Obound,dried = chemically bound water content in g per 100
furnace at 350 6 10 °C for 1 hour 6 10 min. Cool the empty g of SCM dried at 40 °C,
crucible down to room temperature in an empty desiccator H2Obound,SCM = mass loss of the SCM in g per 100 g of SCM
above fresh silica gel or other suitable desiccant. Record the dried at 40 °C, and
mass of the cooled, empty crucible (wc) to the nearest 0.001 g. 0.101 = mass fraction of the SCM in the paste
9.3.4.3 Transfer 5 6 0.5 g of dried crushed paste to the specimen.
cooled, empty crucible. Record the total mass of the dried
specimen and crucible (w0) to the nearest 0.001 g. 10. Report
9.3.4.4 Place the crucible with dried paste in the pre-heated 10.1 Report the following:
furnace at 350 6 10 °C for 2 hour 6 10 min. Cool the heated 10.1.1 Identity of SCM being tested.
paste in a desiccator above fresh silica gel or other suitable 10.1.2 Mixing procedure used to make paste mixtures.

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 C1897 − 20
10.1.3 If Method A was performed, report to the nearest
0.1 J ⁄g the cumulative heat release per gram of SCM, HSCM,
after 72 h (3 days) and 168 h (7 days) from time of mixing.
10.1.4 If Method B was performed, report to nearest 0.01 g
the bound water content in g per 100 g of paste dried at 40 °C
for each of the two specimens as well as the average value.
11. Precision and Bias
11.1 Method A, Cumulative Heat Determination by Isother-
mal Calorimetry:
11.1.1 Single Operator Precision—The single operator stan-
dard deviation from one laboratory has been determined to be
10 J/g of SCM.
11.1.2 Multiple Operator Precision—An interlaboratory
study of this test method is being conducted and a complete
precision statement is expected to be available on or before 5
years of first approval of this standard.
11.1.3 Bias—Because there is no accepted reference mate-
rial suitable for determining the bias in this test method, no
statement of bias is made.
11.2 Method B, Bound Water Content Measurement:
11.2.1 Single Operator Precision—The single operator stan-
dard deviation from one laboratory has been determined to be
0.2 g per 100 g of dried paste.
11.2.2 Multiple Operator Precision—An interlaboratory
study of this test method is being conducted and a complete
precision statement is expected to be available on or before 5
years of first approval of this standard.
11.2.3 Bias—Because there is no accepted reference mate-
rial suitable for determining the bias in this test method, no
statement of bias is made.
12. Keywords
12.1 chemically bound water; heat of hydration; hydraulic
reactivity; pozzolanic reactivity; supplementary cementitious
materials

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