ASTM C1897-20

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
Measurements
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 2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 Thesetwoalternativetestmethodsareusedtoassessthe
C114 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Hydraulic
chemical reactivity of a supplementary cementitious material
Cement
(SCM) as determined by measurements of cumulative heat
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Ag-
release or bound water content of hydrated pastes composed of
gregates
the SCM, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, potassium
C311/C311M Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Fly
sulfate, and potassium hydroxide cured at 40 °C for 3 and 7
Ash or Natural Pozzolans for Use in Portland-Cement
days.
Concrete
1.1.1 These two test methods do not distinguish between
C618 Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined
hydraulic and pozzolanic reactivity.
Natural Pozzolan for Use in Concrete
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the C989/C989M Specification for Slag Cement for Use in
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
Concrete and Mortars
standard. C1240 Specification for Silica Fume Used in Cementitious
Mixtures
1.3 The text of the standard refers to notes and footnotes
C1702 Test Method for Measurement of Heat of Hydration
that provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
of Hydraulic Cementitious Materials Using Isothermal
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered
Conduction Calorimetry
as requirements of this standard.
C1709 Guide for Evaluation of Alternative Supplementary
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Cementitious Materials (ASCM) for Use in Concrete
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the C1738/C1738M Practice for High-Shear Mixing of Hydrau-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
lic Cement Pastes
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- E11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Sieves
(Warning—Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic
3. Terminology
and may cause chemical burns to skin and tissue upon
prolonged exposure.)
3.1 Definitions:
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in these test methods,
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
refer to Terminology C125.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.2.1 chemically bound water, n—water in hardened cement
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical paste that has reacted and is part of the structure of hydrated
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
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
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
Concrete and ConcreteAggregates 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/ For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
C1897-20. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Section on Safety Precautions, Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing, Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 04.02. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
C1897 − 20
pozzolans may contain bound water and lose mass over this on the user’s determination of available equipment. Method A
temperature range. This mass loss needs to be determined and can also provide an indication of rate of reactivity because
used to correct the bound water value for the paste. measurements are taken continuously during the test period,
while Method B provides the level of reactivity up to a single
4. Summary of Test Method
point in time.
4.1 Method A—Isothermal calorimetry is used to determine
6. Apparatus
the heat of hydration of hydrating pastes composed of the
SCM, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, potassium
6.1 Apparatus for Mixing Pastes:
sulfate, and potassium hydroxide. The heat of hydration value
6.1.1 A high-shear blender, capable of maintaining a no-
is used to determine the chemical reactivity of the SCM.
load speed of at least 1600 r/min.
4.2 Method B—Chemically bound water of pastes com-
6.2 Apparatus for Method A (Cumulative Heat Release):
posed of the SCM, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate,
6.2.1 Isothermal calorimeter, conforming to Test Method
potassium sulfate, and potassium hydroxide is determined as a
C1702 and calibrated for measurement at 40 °C.
measure of the chemical reactivity of the SCM.
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
5. Significance and Use
0.001 g or better.
5.1 These test methods are used to assess the chemical
6.2.3 Calorimeter-specific specimen containers and lids that
(pozzolanic or hydraulic) reactivity of SCMs over a curing
can be sealed air-tight.
time of 7 days.The results of these test methods can be used to
6.3 Apparatus for Method B (Bound Water Content):
estimate the potential contribution of a SCM to the develop-
6.3.1 Ventilated oven, capable of maintaining temperatures
ment of strength, or other properties such as lower
of 40 6 2 °C.
permeability, when used with portland cement. However, the
6.3.2 Furnace,capableofmaintainingtemperatureat350 6
test results are not a substitute for direct measurement of the
10 °C.
same properties of concrete made with that SCM.
6.3.3 Porcelain crucibles, complying with the crucibles for
5.2 The calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, potassium
measuring loss on ignition in Test Methods C311/C311M.
sulfate, and potassium hydroxide are combined in proportions
6.3.4 Glass petri dishes, of at least 50 mm in diameter.
to provide a paste where the dissolved ions from these
6.3.5 Analytical Balance—The balance shall have a capac-
components simulate the pore solution in a portland cement
ity of 160 g, a repeatability within 0.002 g, and a readability of
system.
0.001 g or better.
6.3.6 Mortar and pestle, disk pulverizer, rotary mill, or
5.3 The pastes are cured at 40 °C to accelerate the rate of
crusher, capable of decreasing the size of the paste particles to
reaction of slowly reactive SCMs.
meet the size requirements given in 9.3.3.2.
5.4 These test methods allow for the direct measurement of
6.3.7 Desiccator, with fresh desiccant, which can be silica
the hydraulic or pozzolanic reactivity of a potential SCM.
gel or an alternative desiccant capable of maintaining a relative
These test methods are also suitable for screening purposes in
humidity below 10 % at room temperature.
the development and research of SCMs for use in portland
6.3.8 ASTM E11 Sieve, either 2 mm (No. 10) or 2.38 mm
cement-basedsystems.Furthermore,thesetestmethodsmaybe
(No. 8).
used in manufacturing control of portland cement-based prod-
6.3.9 High-density polyethylene (or polycarbonate) cylin-
ucts for assessing the hydraulic or pozzolanic reactivity of a
drical specimen containers with air-tight caps. The specimen
SCM component.
container volume shall not exceed three times the volume of
5.5 These test methods are based on the work byAvet et al.
the 10 to 15 mL paste specimen.
and are a result of the work of RILEM Technical Committee
267 – Tests for Reactivity of Supplementary Cementitious
7. Reagents and Materials
Materials. The test methods are based on established correla-
7.1 Purity of Reagents—Chemicals shall be reagent grade
tions between strength development and evolution of heat and
and, unless otherwise indicated, shall conform to the specifi-
binding of water for SCMs covered by Specifications C618,
cations of the Committee on Analytical Reagents of the
C989/C989M, and C1240, and by Guide C1709. For other 6
American Chemical Society, if such specifications are avail-
alternativeSCMs,thevalidityofsuchcorrelationshasnotbeen
able.
established.
7.1.1 Calcium hydroxide, (Note 1);
5.6 There is no requirement to use MethodAand Method B
7.1.2 Potassium hydroxide, which shall be dry (Note 2);
for a given application. In many instances the choice is based
7.1.3 Potassium sulfate;
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 ACS Reagent Chemicals, Specifications and Procedures for Reagents and
pozzolanic reactivity of calcined kaolinitic clays,” Cement and Concrete Research, Standard-Grade Reference Materials, American Chemical Society, Washington,
Vol. 85, 2016, pp. 1–11. DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not listed by theAmerican Chemical
Li, X., Snellings, R., Antoni, M. et al. (31 more authors), “Reactivity tests for Society, see Analar Standards for Laboratory Chemicals, BDH Ltd., Poole, Dorset,
supplementary cementitious materials: RILEM TC 267-TRM phase 1,” Materials U.K., and the United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary, U.S. Pharma-
and Structures, Vol 51, No. 6, 2018, pp. 151 copeial Convention, Inc. (USPC), Rockville, MD.
C1897 − 20
7.1.4 Calcium carbonate; 9.2 Method A, Cumulative Heat Determination by Isother-
7.1.5 Reagent water conforming to the requirements in Test mal Calorimetry:
Methods C114.
9.2.1 Preparation of the Apparatus:
NOTE 1—The calcium hydroxide should be protected from exposure to
9.2.1.1 The calorimeter shall be set at 40 6 0.5 °C for at
carbondioxide.Materialremaininginanopencontainerafteratestshould
least 16 h before test.
not be used for subsequent tests.
NOTE 2—Potassium hydroxide should be stored dry and protected from 9.2.1.2 Prior to mixing the pastes (9.1), place the calorim-
exposure to moisture or humidity. Potassium hydroxide from open
eter specimen containers, lids, and pipettes in a 40 62°C
containers should be dried for at least8hat105°C prior to use.
storage environment until they reach 40 6 2 °C.
7.2 Parafilm tape for sealing containers.
NOTE 5—If the isothermal calorimeter has multiple test chambers, and
a sufficient volume of paste is prepared, more than one test specimen can
8. Proportioning and Mixing Test Mixtures
be tested simultaneously. However, inserting new test specimens into the
calorimeter while other test specimens are in test may create significant
8.1 Proportioning:
additional noise depending on the ambient temperature, the reactivity of
8.1.1 The ratio of SCM to calcium hydroxide is 1 to 3 by
the materials tested, and the specific design of the calorimeter. It is not
mass.
recommended to insert new test specimens or otherwise open the
8.1.2 The ratio of SCM to calcium carbonate is 2 to 1 by
calorimeter beyond 1 h after the mix time of the first test specimens
inserted into the calorimeter.
mass.
8.1.3 Prepare a potassium solution by dissolving 4.00 g of
9.2.1.3 Insert sealed, air-tight containers filled with 9.40 6
potassium hydroxide and 20.0 g of potassium sulfate in 1.00 L
0.05 g of deionized water into the reference channels of the
of reagent water conditioned at 23 6 3 °C.
calorimeter (Note 6).
8.1.4 The ratio of potassium solution to solids (sum of the
NOTE 6—Because the total s
...