ASTM C979/C979M-16

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Designation: C979/C979M − 10 C979/C979M − 16
Standard Specification for
Pigments for Integrally Colored Concrete
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C979/C979M; 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 This specification covers the basic requirement for colored and white pigments in powder form to be used as admixtures
in concrete for the purpose of producing integrally colored concrete. Where the pigments are a constituent of a multicomponent
admixture, this specification applies to the pigment constituent of the admixture. This specification is not intended to establish
compatibility of pigments with any other concrete admixtures unless they are tested in combination in accordance with 4.7.
1.2 This specification does not include the determination of pigment stability when elevated temperature using low-pressure
(atmospheric) or high-pressure (autoclave) steam is used to accelerate the curing process.
1.3 In addition to tests defining the pigments themselves, a limited number of tests on concrete are included to define the effects
on setting times, air content, and compressive strength. If more extensive information is required for a particular job, additional
testing criteria and procedures should be agreed upon between the seller and user.
1.4 The maximum prescribed dosage rate of a pigment, established in accordance with 4.7, shall be equal to or less than 10
mass % of cement. When a combination of pigments is used to produce the desired color and color intensity, the total dosage rate
of all pigments combined shall not exceed any of the individual maximum dosage rates of the component pigments.
1.5 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard. Some values have only SI units because inch-pound equivalents
are not used in practice.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C33C33/C33M Specification for Concrete Aggregates
C39/C39M Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
C143/C143M Test Method for Slump of Hydraulic-Cement Concrete
C150C150/C150M Specification for Portland Cement
C173/C173M Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Volumetric Method
C192/C192M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Laboratory
C231C231/C231M Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Pressure Method
C260C260/C260M Specification for Air-Entraining Admixtures for Concrete
C403/C403M Test Method for Time of Setting of Concrete Mixtures by Penetration Resistance
D50 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Yellow, Orange, Red, and Brown Pigments Containing Iron and Manganese
D1208 Test Methods for Common Properties of Certain Pigments
D1535 Practice for Specifying Color by the Munsell System
G23 Practice for Operating Light-Exposure Apparatus (Carbon-Arc Type) With and Without Water for Exposure of Nonmetallic
Materials (Withdrawn 2000)
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregatesand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C09.23 on
Chemical Admixtures.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2010Jan. 1, 2016. Published January 2011March 2016. Originally approved in 1982. Last previous edition approved in 20052010 as
C979 – 05.C979/C979M – 10. DOI: 10.1520/C0979_C0979M-10.10.1520/C0979_C0979M–16.
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.
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
C979/C979M − 16
2.2 ACI Standards:
211.1211.1-91 (Reapproved 2009) RecommendedStandard Practice for Selecting Proportions for Normal Normal, Heavyweight,
and HeavyweightMass Concrete
3. Terminology
3.1 Defintions:
3.2 For definitions of terms used in this specification, refer to Terminology C125.
4. General Requirements
4.1 Water Wettability—The pigment shall be water wettable when tested in accordance with 8.1.
4.2 Alkali Resistance—The pigment treated with sodium hydroxide shall not show any significant (Note 1) change of color when
tested in accordance with 8.2.
4.3 Total Sulfates—Calculated as SO , the sulfates shall not exceed 5.0 mass % of the original pigment sample when tested in
accordance with 8.3.
4.4 Water Solubility—The total matter soluble in water shall not exceed 2.0 mass % of the original pigment sample when tested
in accordance with 8.4.
4.5 Atmospheric Curing Stability—The magnitude of color differences between pigmented concrete specimens cured in dry air
and those cured at high relative humidity when tested in accordance with 8.5 shall not be greater than the magnitude of the color
difference between two unpigmented specimens cured under the same conditions.
4.6 Light Resistance—The exposed portions of the specimens shall show no significant differences (Note 1) in color from the
unexposed portions when tested in accordance with 8.6. While a pigment that fails this test shall not be considered light resistant,
a pigment that passes this test may still be subject to fading when exposed to natural weathering conditions.
NOTE 1—A significant difference is defined as one that is readily perceptible by visual observation without close examination. The section on Lighting
and viewing conditions as described Viewing Conditions in Practice D1535, 6.1, may be used.
4.7 Effects on Concrete:
4.7.1 When compared with the control mixture, the concrete that is pigmented at the maximum prescribed dosage rate shall have
a 28-day compressive strength of not less than 90 % and a water-cement ratio of not greater than 110 % of that of the control
mixture when prepared and tested in accordance with 8.7 (Note 2).
4.7.2 The pigment, when added to a concrete mixture at the maximum prescribed dosage rate, shall neither accelerate the initial
or final set by more than 1 h nor retard the initial or final set by more than 1 ⁄2 h, as compared to the uncolored concrete control
mixture when tested in accordance with 8.7 (Note 2).
4.7.3 Using the same quantity of air-entraining admixture, the pigments, when added to a concrete mixture at the maximum
prescribed dosage rate, shall not change the air content by more than 1.0 %, as compared to the uncolored control mixture when
tested in accordance with 8.7.
NOTE 2—These values include allowance for normal variations in test results. The object of the 90 % compressive-strength requirement is to require
a level of performance of the pigmented concrete comparable to that of the reference concrete when tested in accordance with 8.7.
4.8 Color Match of Shipment—The color produced by the shipment of pigment shall not be significantly different (Note 1) from
the color produced by the standard supplied by the pigment manufacturer when samples of both the shipment and the standard are
tested in accordance with 8.8. New concrete specimens containing the standard sample of the particular pigment must be prepared
whenever a new shipment is evaluated. This is necessary to eliminate color variations caused by any of the other mortar
ingredients, specimen preparation, or curing.
5. Rejection
5.1 The purchaser has the right to reject material that does not conform to the requirements of this specification. Rejection shall
be reported to the producer or supplier in writing.
5.2 Individual packages or containers varying more than 5 % from the stated mass may be rejected. If the average weight of
50 packages taken at random is less than that stated, the entire shipment may be rejected.
6. Packaging
6.1 Packages or containers shall be clearly marked as to color designation and the net mass.
6.2 The package or container for the pigment, only when so designated by the manufacturer, shall be added to the concrete
batch, provided that it is composed of disintegrating paper or soluble material which, when tested as a unit (pigment and
packaging), conforms to all requirements of this specification.
Available from American Concrete Institute (ACI), P.O. Box 9094, Farmington Hills, MI 48333-9094, http://www.concrete.org.
C979/C979M − 16
7. Materials for Tests
7.1 Cement—For the atmospheric curing stability and the light resistance tests, using white cement is suggested. The cement
used in all other tests shall be either a Type I or Type II cement conforming to Specification C150C150/C150M or the cement
proposed for specific work.
7.2 Aggregates—The aggregates used in all tests shall conform to Specification C33C33/C33M or shall be the aggregates
proposed for specific work. For the atmospheric curing stability and the light resistance tests, clean silica sand shall be used. For
both the reference and the pigmented mixtures, the aggregate grading shall be controlled by determining the mass of separate
fractions.
7.3 Admixtures—If any of the test mixtures contain any admixtures in addition to pigment other than an air-entraining admixture
complying with Specification C260C260/C260M, the pigment shall be considered to comply with this specification only when used
in conjunction with such other admixture(s).
8. Test Methods
8.1 Water Wettability—Add 10.0 g of the pigment to 150 mL of deionized water in a 250-mL beaker. If the pigment does not
readily mix with the water when stirred with a spatula, but instead a substantial portion of the pigment floats on the surface of the
water, the pigment is repellent and not water wettable.
8.2 Alkali Resistance—Add two 10.0 g-portions of the pigment to separate 250-mL beakers, each containing 150 mL of
deionized water. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Add 10 mL of 10 mass % sodium hydroxide solution to one beaker, and stir
thoroughly once more. Let the slurries stand 1 h, then remix and filter on separate Buchner funnels. Wash the filter cake with three
replacement washes of hot deionized water. Dry the cake on the filter paper in an oven at 110 6 3 °C [230 6 5 °F] for 4 6 0.5
h. Remove from the oven, cool, and crush the pigment into a fine powder in a mortar. Make two small adjacent piles of the pigment
powders and press them flat with a spatula. Compare the color of the control and treated pigment powders.
8.3 Percentage of SO —Perform the sulfates soluble in hydrochloric acid test and determine the percentage in accordance with
Test Methods D50.
8.4 Water Solubility—Perform the matter soluble in water test in accordance with Test Methods D1208.
8.5 Atmospheric Curing Stability—The composition and method of preparation of the t
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