ASTM C185

Standard Test Method for Air Content

of Hydraulic Cement Mortar
 Significance and Use

The purpose of this test method is to determine whether or not

the hydraulic cement under test meets the air-entraining or non-
air-entraining requirements of the applicable hydraulic cement
specification for which the test is being made. The air content of
concrete is influenced by many factors other than the potential of
the cement for air entrainment.
 Requirements

Type I
12% Max
Type IP
Apparatus/Equipment
Flow Table and
Flow Mold

conforming to the requirements of

Specification C230/C230M.

Range: 87.5% ± 7.5% Flow

7.2” – 7.8”
 Measure
A cylindrical measure having an
inside diameter of 76 ± 2 mm, a
depth (approximately 88 mm)
and Volume 400 ± 1 mL
Mixer, Bowl and
Paddle

an electrically driven mechanical

mixer of the type equipped with Slow Speed: 140±5rpm
paddle and mixing bowl, as Medium Speed:
specified in Practice C305. 285±10rpm
Straightedge

A steel straightedge not

less than 200 mm long
and not less than 1.5
mm nor more than 3.5
mm in thickness
Trowel

having a steel blade 4 to 6

in. [100 to 150 mm] in
length, with straight edges.
Weights and
Weighing Devices

shall conform to the

requirements of Specification
C1005. The weighing device
shall be evaluated for
precision and accuracy at a
total load of 2000 g.
Glass Graduates

Glass graduates of 250

mL capacity, conforming
to the requirements of
Specifications E438 and
E694.
Tamper

a nonabsorptive, nonabrasive, nonbrittle

material such as a rubber compound having
a Shore A durometer hardness of 80 ± 10
or seasoned oak wood rendered
nonabsorptive by immersion for 15 min in
paraffin at approximately 392 °F or [200
°C], shall have a cross section of about 1⁄2
by 1 in. or [13 by 25 mm] and a convenient
length of about 5 to 6 in. or [120 to 150
mm]. The tamping face shall be flat and at
right angles to the length of the tamper.
Tapping Stick

a piece of hard wood

having a diameter of
approximately 16 mm
and a length of
approximately 152 mm.
 Spoon

A metal restaurant-type
serving spoon not less
than 230 mm in length
and with a bowl
approximately 100 mm
in length.
Materials
Standard Sand

Use sand conforming

to the requirements
of Specification C778
for 20–30 sand.
 Temperature and Humidity
Maintain the temperature of the room and dry materials
at 23.0 ± 4.0°C.

Condition the mixing water and the measure, if it is

being calibrated at 23 ± 2°C.

Maintain the relative humidity of the laboratory at not

less than 50 %.
 Test Specimen

Make only one determination of air content on a

batch.
 Report

When this test method is used for specific action in

compliance testing, report the value for the air
content to the nearest 1 %.
Sample Computation
Calculation