Experiment 4

TEST RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

SOUNDNESS is the most important quality of a cement, as it means the
power of the cement to resist the disintegrating influences of the
atmosphere or water in which it may be placed. Unsoundness in cement may
vary greatly in degree, and show itself quite differently in different
material. Cement in which the unsoundness is very pronounced is apt to
become distorted and cracked after a few days.
In our experiment we tent to make small pats of neat cement, about 3
inches in diameter and 1/2 inch thick upon a plate of glass, and keep
them in air for a few days then carefully watching them to see if they
show any signs of distortion or surface cracks, which may indicate a
tendency to disintegration.
Upon observing our samples some of them showed cracks and distorted area
and one pat even get disintegrated. This shows that the cement we tested
is not suitable for cement usage specially for special mixtures of
cement since it doesnt show high strength capabilities.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
This experiment was about observing the soundness of a Portland cement to
be specific. It is about testing the strength of cement to resist disintegration
and other factors like cracking and distortion.
Upon analyzing our results we can conclude that our mixture of 148ml of
water and 500 grams of cement wont produce a very strong quality to be
suitable for a high strength mixture since our four sample shows cracking
distortion and disintegration.
The significance of this test is to assure the quality of cement to be used for
a concrete mixture. This test can be recommended to prevent failures in
constructing buildings, roadways and other infrastructures.