Beatrex June Lademora BSCE-3 Experiment No.

INTRODUCTION

Fineness of cement is the degree to which cement particles have been ground

into a fine powder. It is one of the most important properties of cement, as it affects

many of its other properties, including hydration rate, strength, setting time, and

workability.

Hydration rate is the process by which cement reacts with water to form a hard

paste. Strength is the ability of concrete to resist forces such as compression, tension,

and bending. Setting time is the time it takes for concrete to harden after it has been

mixed. Workability is the ability of concrete to be poured and placed into forms easily.

There are a number of different tests that can be used to measure the fineness of

cement, including the sieve test and the Blaine test. The sieve test involves passing

cement through a series of sieves with different mesh sizes. The percentage of cement

that passes through each sieve is measured, and this information is used to calculate

the fineness of the cement. The Blaine test measures the specific surface area of

cement, which is the total surface area of all the cement particles in one gram of

cement.

The results of fineness tests are used to ensure that cement meets the

requirements of relevant standards, such as ASTM C150 and EN 197-1. These

standards specify the minimum fineness requirements for different types of cement.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the fineness of Portland cement by sieve analysis.

1
Beatrex June Lademora BSCE-3 Experiment No. 8

PROCEDURE

The following materials were used in doing this experiment:

1. Sieve No.200

2. Container

3. Digital Weighing Balance

4. Cement

5. Shovel

The following procedures were followed in doing this experiment:

1. Weigh accurately 100 grams of cement and place it on No. 200 sieve.

2. Breakdown any air-set lumps in the sample with fingers but do not rub it on the

sieve.

3. Sieve using gentle motion of the wrist for fifteen minutes continuously.

2
Beatrex June Lademora BSCE-3 Experiment No. 8

4. Weigh the residue and should not exceed ten percent by weight of the cement

sample.

5.

3
Beatrex June Lademora BSCE-3 Experiment No. 8

TEST RESULTS

Weight of the cement sample = 100 g

Weight of the residue = 3.8 g

Calculation:

Weight of cement sample−Weight of residue

% Fineness of Cement= ×100
Weight of cement sample

100−3. 8
¿ × 100=96.2%
100

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
In this experiment, the weight of the sample was 100 g. After sieving it using the

No. 200 sieve, the cement retained on the sieve was 3.8 g. This satisfies the condition

stated in which the weight of residue should not exceed ten percent of the weight

sample. The fineness of cement was calculated as 96.2%.

The results of this experiment show that the cement sample tested is suitable for

general-purpose use. It has a fineness of 96.2%, which is above the minimum

requirement of 90%. However, it is important to note that the fineness requirements for

cement may vary depending on the specific application.

4
Beatrex June Lademora BSCE-3 Experiment No. 8

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The fineness of cement is an important property that affects many of its other

properties, including hydration rate, strength, setting time, and workability. Finer cement

has a faster hydration rate, higher strength, shorter setting time, and lower workability.

Finer cement is required for high-strength concrete and concrete that is exposed

to harsh environments. However, finer cement is also more expensive and requires

more water to achieve the same workability as coarser cement.

In this experiment, the fineness of cement was determined using the weight

retained on the sieve and the initial weight. The fineness of the representative sample of

the cement was determined to be 96.2%. This indicates that the cement is suitable for

use in general.

To further improve the results of the experiment, the following recommendations

are presented:

1. Use a larger sample size to get a more accurate result.

2. Make sure to break all the lumps before sieving.

3. Use a more sensitive scale.