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7.1 Deployment Of Different Test Method

Particle Size Analysis

10-9 10-8 10-7 10-6 10-5 10-4 10-3 10-2 10-1

Particle Size dp [m]

Fig. 09: Particle Size Analysis

Product fineness is either expressed in the percentage or retaining a certain sieve.

The most common sieve methods are summarized in the following table:

Sieve type Sieve range Test sample Testing time *

(m) weight (g) (min)
Air jet sieve (Alpine) 33- 2000 25-30 30- 60
Particle size analyzer 0- 40 20 90- 120
(System “Holderbank”)
Particle size analyzer 1- 180 1.0 1- 2
(Laser principle)
Wet sieving 2- 40 0.5 150- 180
(Supersonic generator)
Liquid sedimentation 2- 40 2.5 300- 360
(Andereasen)
* Time required for about 6 different sizes
Table 03. Most Common Sieve Methods
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7.1.1 Sieve Standards

The most important sieve standards can be converted according to the following:

Table 04 : International Test Sieve Comparison Table (125 – 1 mm)

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1 2 3
Screen with Granular mass
w
Feed volume Maximum sieve
residue
m ca. cm3 ca.cm3
25 22 11
32 26 13
45 30 15
63 35 17
90 42 21
125 50 25
180 60 30
250 70 36
355 80 40
500 100 50
700 120 60
mm
1.00 140 70
1.40 160 80
2.00 200 100
2.80 240 120
4.00 360 175
5.60 400 200
8.00 500 250
11.20 800 400
16.00 1000 500
22.40 1800 800

Table 05 : Recommended Granular Mass for Analytical Sieves with A Diameter Of 200 mm.

Example:

Screen Maximum
with w particle size
ca. cm3 ca. cm3
0.045 1
0.25 4
1 10
4 25

Table 06 : Maximum Particle Size For Analytical Sieves

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7.1.2 Measuring Instrument

Fig. 10 : Particle Size Distribution Test “ Holderbank”

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Fig. 11: Particle Size Distribution Test “ Wet Sieving”

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Fig. 12 : Air Jet Sieve

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Fig. 13: Particle Size distribution Test “Alpine Air Jet Sieve”

Fig. 14 Air Jet Sieve “Functioning”

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Fig. 15 : “Haver” Software

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Fig. 16 : Particle Size Distribution Test “Cilas”- Laser -

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7.2 Specific Surface According to Blaine

At a given porosity, the permeability of a powder bed for liquids and gases is taken as a
practical mean to characterize indirectly the specific surface of powder materials.

Test Equipment:

The permeability of the powder (cement) is measured mostly by the BLAINE apparatus:

Fig. 17 : Blaine Air Permeability Apparatus

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The apparatus mounted on a frame, comprises a glass tube manometer having a conical
connecting tube in which the permeability cell is fitted. The manometer tube has a side
outlet that can be closed with an air tight valve and terminates in a squeeze bulb. The
manometer arm used for measurements has four etched marks. The tube is filled with a
non-hygroscopic liquid.

The specific surface in cm2 / g is calculated from the air permeability through the cement
bed which is affected by the bed porosity (the density of the cement) and the viscosity of
air. The measure of the permeability is the time it takes for a certain quantity of air to
flow through the bed under specified conditions.

For performing the test:

1- A predetermined quantity of cement is put into the standardized apparatus and is gently
compacted to a predetermined volume.

2- Air is drawn through the bed of cement by suction produced by a falling column of
liquid.

3- The time taken for the level of the liquid in the U- tube of the apparatus to fall to a
certain marked distance is measured. The time is a measure of the fineness of the
cement:

The longer it takes for the air to flow through the bed, the finer the cement is.
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Test Evaluation

The average time (t) taken from about three measurements can be converted into the
specific surface Aspec.:

c 3 *t
A spec.  (m2 / kg) (29)
 (1   ) 

c = apparatus constant
t = running time between mark A
and B (sec.)
 = density of powder (kg / m3)
 = Porosity of powder (-)
 = kinematic viscosity of air (kg / m
* sec.)