Standardization News

A new ASTM International standard will help manufacturers and suppliers of concrete and cement mixtures evaluate relative differences in early hydration of paste, mortar and other mixtures. The new standard (soon to be published as C1753, Practice for Evaluating Early Hydration of Hydraulic Cementitious Mixtures Using Thermal Measurements) describes the apparatus and procedure for such evaluations.

This will help with efforts such as screening materials and proportions without having to spend time and money on trial mixtures.

"Concrete and other cementitious mixtures continue to become more complex, with more supplementary cementitious materials and chemical admixtures coming to market," says ASTM member Tim Cost, senior technical service engineer, Holcim US Inc. "Performance effects on concrete and other mixtures become more difficult to predict as specific components and proportions change."

The standard covers many applications, including evaluation of setting properties and the relative effects of different materials on setting, checks on potential incompatibility of materials, screening of materials for optimum performance, development of optimum proportions and selection of admixture dosage.

Cost notes that the test described in the new standard expedites evaluation and requires smaller commitments in time and equipment than other approaches.

In addition to suppliers and manufacturers, testing laboratories and researchers will be primary users of the standard.

To purchase standards, visit www.astm.org and search by the standard designation, or contact ASTM Sales (tel +1.877.909.ASTM; sales@astm.org).

CONTACT Technical Information: Tim Cost, Holcim US Inc. • Canton, Miss. • tel +1.601.856.2487 |ASTM Staff: Scott Orthey • Phone: 610-832-9730 | Upcoming Meeting: Dec. 6-9 • December Committee Week • Tampa, Fla.