Determination of Fineness of Cement by dry sieving as per IS: 4031 (Part 1)

The fineness of cement has an important bearing on the rate of hydration and hence on the rate of gain of strength and also on the rate of evolution of heat. Finer cement offers a greater surface area for hydration and hence faster the development of strength. The fineness of grinding has increased over the years. But now it has got nearly stabilized. Different cements are ground to different fineness. The particle size fraction below 3 microns has been found to have the predominant effect on the strength at one day while 3-25 micron fraction has a major influence on the 28 days strength. Increase in fineness of cement is also found to increase the drying shrinkage of concrete.

Fineness of cement is tested in two ways :

(a)By sieving.

(b)By determination of specific surface (total surface area of all the particles in one gram of cement) by

90 micron sieve

air-permeability apparatus. Expressed as cm2/gm or m2/kg. Generally Blaine Air permeability apparatus is used.

Apparatus:

Test Sieve 90 microns, Balance, Gauging Trowel, Brush, etc.

Procedure:

1.Fit the tray under the sieve, weigh approximately 10 g of cement to the nearest 0.01 g and place it on
the sieve, being careful to avoid loss. Fit the lid over the sieve. Agitate the sieve by swirling, planetary
and linear movement until no more fine material passes through it.

2.Remove and weigh the residue. Express its mass as a percentage, R1, of the quantity first placed in the sieve to the nearest 0.1 percent. Gently brush all the fine material off the base of the sieve into the tray.

3.Repeat the whole procedure using a fresh 10 g sample to obtain R2. Then calculate the residue of the cement R as the mean of R1, and R2, as a percentage, expressed to the nearest 0.1 percent.

4.When the results differ by more than 1 percent absolute, carry out a third sieving and calculate the mean of the three values.