ASTM C1827-20

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: C1827 − 20
Standard Test Method for
Determination of the Air-Entraining Admixture Demand of a
Cementitious Mixture
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1827; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer
to Terminology C125.
1.1 This test method is for the determination of the air-
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
entraining admixture (AEA) demand of a mixture of cementi-
3.2.1 absolute volume of AEA, n—the air-entraining admix-
tious materials, AEA, and water.
ture demand expressed as volume of un-diluted air-entraining
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
admixture to produce a stable foam.
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
3.2.2 air-entraining admixture demand, n—the quantity of
standard.
air-entraining admixture required to produce a stable foam for
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
a specific mixture of cementitious materials, air-entraining
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
admixture, and water.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.3 foam index, n—the air-entraining admixture demand
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
expressed as the number of drops of a dilute solution of
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
air-entraining admixture required to produce a stable foam.
Warning—Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic
3.2.3.1 Discussion—For a given combination of materials,
and may cause chemical burns to skin and tissue upon
the number of drops required to produce a stable foam will
prolonged exposure.
depend on the concentration of the AEA solution that is used.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.2.4 slurry concentration, n—the concentration in percent
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
volume of air-entraining admixture in the liquid portion of the
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
slurry of combined cement, test material, and AEA solution.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.2.5 solution concentration, n—the concentration in per-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
centvolumeofair-entrainingadmixtureinanaqueoussolution
that is prepared and added to the test sample dropwise.
2. Referenced Documents
3.2.6 stable foam, n—a continuous foam layer that covers
2.1 ASTM Standards:
the entire surface at the air/liquid interface of a mixture of
C114Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Hydraulic
cementitiousmaterials,air-entrainingadmixture,andwaterand
Cement
maintains that coverage for a specified duration.
C125Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Ag-
4. Summary of Test Method
gregates
4.1 The cementitious material or combination of materials
3. Terminology
to be tested is combined with water and a dilute solution of
AEA that is added one drop at a time (dropwise), and the
3.1 Definitions:
mixtureisagitatedforafixedperiodoftimetoproduceafoam.
The stability of the foam is observed. If the foam is not stable,
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on additional AEA solution is added dropwise and the agitation
Concrete and ConcreteAggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
and observation is repeated. The combined cycle of AEA
C09.48 on Performance of Cementitious Materials and Admixture Combinations.
addition, agitation, and observation is repeated until a stable
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2020. Published April 2020. DOI: 10.1520/
foam is observed. The number of drops required to achieve a
C1827-20.
Section on Safety, Manual of Cement Testing, Annual Book of ASTM
stable foam is recorded as the foam index.
Standards, Vol. 04.01.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
5. Significance and Use
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
5.1 ForaspecificmixtureofcementitiousmaterialandAEA
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. solution, the foam index or the absolute volume of AEA
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
C1827 − 20
NOTE4—Thetypeofsampleobtainedisdeterminedbythepurposesof
determined by this test method provides a measure of effec-
the test.
tiveness in producing a stable air-void system for that specific
mixture. Values of foam index can be compared only if the 7.2.1 If more than one SCM is used in the cementitious
AEAsolutionsusedineachtesthavethesameconcentrationof materialsmixturebeingevaluated,thespecifierofthetestshall
AEA,thesametypeofAEAisused,andthesamecementitious determine if each separate SCM or the combined SCM is to be
materials are used. Values of absolute volume of AEA can be tested.
compared only if the AEA solutions used in each test are
7.3 AEA to be evaluated.
prepared using the same AEA type.
7.4 Reagent water as defined in Test Methods C114.
5.2 The foam index or the absolute volume of AEA of a
7.5 All materials shall be conditioned at 23.0 6 3.0 °C.
cementitious mixture can be expressed as an absolute value, or
as a ratio with the foam index or the absolute volume ofAEA,
8. Standardization
respectively, obtained using a slurry of only portland cement
and water.
8.1 Standardization of Pipette or Eye Dropper:
8.1.1 Pipetteoreyedropperstandardizationisrequiredonly
5.3 When successive foam index or absolute volume of
if the absolute volume of AEA is determined.
AEAtest results are compared, changes can be detected in the
8.1.2 Standardize the pipette or eye dropper at an ambient
effectiveness of the AEA with a specific mixture of cementi-
temperature of 23.0 6 3.0°C.
tious material in producing concrete with a suitable entrained
8.1.3 Standardize the pipette or eye dropper for use as
air-void system.
follows:
5.4 ThefoamindexandtheabsolutevolumeofAEAarenot
8.1.3.1 Placeafoldedpieceofpapertowelonthebalanceto
a quantitative measure ofAEAdosage for a concrete mixture.
absorb drops of water from the device to be standardized.Tare
the balance.
6. Apparatus
8.1.3.2 Deposit 20 drops of distilled water from the pipette
6.1 Analytical Balance, accurate to 6 0.01 g.
or eye dropper to be standardized on to the folded piece of
paper towel.
6.2 Graduated Cylinders, 10 mL and 25 mL.
8.1.3.3 Record the total mass of the deposited water (W ),
W
6.3 Volumetric Flask,1L.
in units of grams. Assume the density of water is 1.0 g/ml.
6.4 Magnetic Stirrer.
Therefore,W isnumericallyequivalenttothetotalvolumeof
W
water dispensed (V ), in units of mL.
W
6.5 Storage Bottle, 1 L minimum.
8.1.3.4 Calculate V .
d
6.6 Pipette or Eye Dropper, capable of delivering a drop
V ~mL! 5 V ⁄ 20 (1)
d W
volume (Vd) of 0.02 – 0.10 mL per drop.
8.1.3.5 Record the single-drop volume (V ), in units of mL,
NOTE 1—Pipettors that deliver a prescribed volume of solution are d
commercially available. for later use.
8.1.4 Pipette and eye dropper standardization shall be per-
6.7 Beakers, 200 mL.
formed at least once per year for each individual pipette or eye
6.8 250 mL Cylindrical Wide-Mouth Plastic Container,with
dropper,andeachtimeafterthepipetteoreyedropperhasbeen
a water-tight screw top lid.
disassembled for cleaning or maintenance.
NOTE 2—An equivalent volume glass container may be used. The 8.1.5 If using an eye dropper, each technician shall perform
wide-mouth designation is recommended for ease of placing materials in
a standardization at least once per year for each eye dropper as
the container.
the drop formed will be affected by the technique used by the
6.9 Stop Watch or Other Timing Device, readable to 6 0.5 technician.
seconds.
NOTE5—Thedropsizecanvarywiththeeyedropperandtestprecision
is improved with the use of a pipette.
6.10 Mechanical Agitator with Timer Control (optional),
capable of holding a 250 mL wide-mouth plastic container.
8.2 Preparation of AEA Solutions:
6.10.1 The mechanical agitator shall be capable of vertical-
8.2.1 The AEA to be evaluated is used as an aqueous
displacement agitation similar to shaking by hand as described
solution. To ensure accuracy in mixingAEAsolutions, at least
in 9.3.6.1. The mechanical agitator timer control shall be
1 L of solution shall be prepared.
capableofproducing10secondand30secondagitationcycles.
NOTE 6—The optimalAEAsolution concentration used will depend on
NOTE3—Useofamechanicalagitatorreducestestresultvariabilitythat
the cementitious materials andAEAbeing tested. Recommended solution
results from different agitation energy.
concentrations are 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, 10%, and 15% AEA by volume.
However, any known solution concentration may be used. Preparing a
range of solution concentrations is only required if a wide range of SCMs
7. Materials
is routinely tested. For more guidance on selecting solution strength see
7.1 Cement—Grab sample of the portland cement that is to Appendix X1.
be evaluated.
8.2.2 To prepare a specific AEA solution concentration,
7.2 Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM)—Sample measure the required amount of AEA using a graduated
of a single SCM or SCM combination that is to be evaluated. cylinder and place ina1L volumetric flask.
C1827 − 20
8.2.3 Fill the flask to 1 L using distilled water. Add a stablefoam.Thefoamisconsideredstableifacontinuouslayer
magnetic stirring bar to the flask. of foam is present after the rest period.
9.3.11 If a stable foam is not present, repeat steps 9.3.8 –
8.2.4 Stir for 7.5 6 2.5 min.
9.3.10 until a stable foam is observed.
8.2.5 Transfer the AEA solution to a labeled storage bottle
until used.
NOTE 10—To attain useful resolution of the foam index, the recom-
mendedtotalnumberofAEAsolutiondropstobeaddedis10to20drops.
NOTE 7—Consult theAEAmanufacturer’s recommendations regarding
If desired, the total number ofAEAsolution drops added can be adjusted
the shelf life of the prepared solutions and prepare new solutions as
byselectingadifferentsolutionconcentrationandrepeatingtheprocedure
required.
until a stable foam is obtained.
NOTE11—Afoamindexoutsidetherangeof10–20dropsmayprovide
9. Procedure
useful information, particularly in field applications, but the precision
reported in Section 12 is based on the foam index being in the range 10
9.1 Alltestingshallbeconductedatanambienttemperature
–20drops.SeeAppendixX1formorediscussiononselectingthesolution
of23.0 63.0°C.Recordtheambienttemperatureforreporting
concentration.
purposes.
9.3.12 After the stable foam is achieved, record the total
9.2 If determining the absolute volume ofAEA, standardize
number of drops of AEA solution added to achieve a stable
the eye dropper or pipette as described in 8.1 to obtain the
foam (ND ) and the solution concentration of the AEA
SCM
value of V .
d
solution used (C ).
S SCM
9.3 Procedure for Determining Foam Index:
9.4 Determine the Foam Index for a Cement-Only Mixture
9.3.1 This part of the procedure establishes the foam index
(Optional):
with the SCM and cement combined in a slurry.
9.4.1 This part of
...