ASTM C151-00

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:C151–00
Standard Test Method for
Autoclave Expansion of Portland Cement
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 151; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 4. Apparatus
1.1 This test method covers determination of the autoclave 4.1 Weighing Devices and Weights, for determining the
expansion of portland cement by means of a test on a neat mass of materials conforming to the requirements of Specifi-
cement specimen. cation C 1005.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded 4.2 GlassGraduates,200or250-mLcapacity,andconform-
as the standard. ing to the requirements of Practice C 490.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the 4.3 Molds, 1 by 1-in. (25.4 by 25.4-mm) cross section,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the conforming to the requirements of Practice C 490.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 4.4 Flat Trowel, having a straight-edged steel blade 4 to 6
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- in. (100 to 150 mm) in length.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.For specific precau- 4.5 Autoclave, consisting of a high-pressure steam vessel
tion statements, see the section on Safety Precautions. provided with a thermometer well. The autoclave shall be
equipped with an automatic pressure control and a rupture disk
2. Referenced Documents
with a bursting pressure of 350 psi (2.4 MPa) 6 5%. In
2.1 ASTM Standards:
locations where the use of a rupture disk is not permitted, the
C 187 Test Method for Normal Consistency of Hydraulic autoclaveshallbeequippedwithasafetyvalve.Inaddition,the
Cement
autoclave shall be equipped with a vent valve to allow the
C 305 PracticeforMechanicalMixingofHydraulicCement escape of air during the early part of the heating period and to
Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency
release any steam pressure remaining at the end of the cooling
C 490 Practice for Use of Apparatus for the Determination period.The pressure gage shall have a nominal capacity of 600
of Length Change of Hardened Cement Paste, Mortar, and
psi (4.1 MPa), a dial with a nominal diameter of 4 ⁄2 in. (114
Concrete
mm) and shall be graduated from 0 to 600 psi (0 to 4.1 MPa)
C511 Specification for Moist Cabinets, Moist Rooms, and with scale divisions not exceeding 5 psi (0.03 MPa). The error
Water Storage Tanks Used in the Testing of Hydraulic
in the gage shall not exceed 63 psi (60.02 MPa) at the
Cements and Concretes operating pressure of 295 psi (2 MPa). The capacity of the
C 1005 Specification forWeights andWeighing Devices for
heating unit shall be such that with maximum load (water plus
Use in the Physical Testing of Hydraulic Cements specimens) the pressure of the saturated steam in the autoclave
may be raised to a gage pressure of 295 psi in 45 to 75 min
3. Significance and Use
from the time the heat is turned on. The automatic pressure
3.1 The autoclave expansion test provides an index of
control shall be capable of maintaining the gage pressure at
potentialdelayedexpansioncausedbythehydrationofCaO,or
2956 10 psi (2 6 0.07 MPa) for at least 3 h. A gage pressure
MgO, or both, when present in portland cement.
of 295 6 10 psi corresponds to a temperature of 420 6 3°F
(2166 2°C). The autoclave shall be designed to permit the
gage pressure to drop from 295 psi to less than 10 psi in 1 ⁄2 h
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C01 on Cement
after the heat supply has been shut off.
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C01.31 on Volume Change.
Current edition approved July 10, 2000. Published September 2000. Originally
published as C 151 – 40 T. Last previous edition C 151 – 98a.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.01.
Gonnerman, H. F., Lerch, W. and Whiteside, T. M. , “Investigations of the
Hydration Expansion Characteristics of Portland Cements,” Portland Cement
Association Research Department Bulletin 45, 1953, pp. 1-168.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
C151–00
4.5.1 Rupture Disk—The rupture disk shall be made of a removing the autoclave lid, tilt it so that any steam escaping
material having a tensile strength that is relatively insensitive frombeneaththelidwillbedischargedawayfromtheoperator.
to temperature in the range 68 to 420°F (20 to 216°C) and that Care shall be taken to avoid scalding by any liquid that may
is electrochemically compatible with the pipe leading to it and have been used in the autoclave well.
to its holder. 6.6 The operator shall be made aware that for many auto-
4.6 Length Comparator—The comparator used for measur- clave pressure gages the return of the gage hand to the initial
ing length change of specimens shall conform to the require- restorstartingpointdoesnotnecessarilyindicatezeropressure
ments of Practice C 490. withintheautoclave;theremaythenstillremainanappreciable
dangerous pressure.
5. Temperature and Humidity
7. Number of Test Specimens
5.1 Molding Room—Maintain the temperature of the mold-
7.1 Make at least one test specimen.
ing room, dry materials and mixing water, and the relative
humidity of the molding room within the limits of Practice
8. Preparation of Specimen Molds
C 490.
8.1 Prepare the specimen molds in accordance with the
5.2 Moist Storage Facilities—Maintain the temperature and
requirements of Practice C 490 except that molds need not be
humidity of the moist storage facilities to the requirements of
sealed.
SpecificationC511.
9. Preparation of Test Specimens
6. Safety Precautions
9.1 Mixing Cement Paste—Prepare the standard batch con-
6.1 The pressure gage shall have a capacity of 600 psi (4.1
sisting of 650 g of cement and sufficient water to give a paste
MPa). A gage with too small or too large a capacity may be a
of normal consistency in accordance with the procedure
hazard, since for pressure above the specified maximum
described in Test Method C 187. Mix this batch in accordance
working pressure, with a smaller capacity gage, the pressure
with the procedure described in Practice C 305. Both a time of
may be off scale, and with a larger capacity gage, the arc of
setting specimen and an autoclave bar may be made from the
movement may be too small to invite attention. The operator
same batch. If the paste to be used for time of setting is the
shall be sure the gage hand has not passed the maximum
paste sample already used to determine normal consistency,
graduation on the scale.
then the autoclave bar may be prepared immediately from the
6.2 Test the pressure gage for proper operation.Always use
remainder of the
...