This practice outlines the standard procedures for performing petrographic examination of hardened
concrete samples. The samples examined may be taken from concrete constructions, that is, all sorts
of objects, units, or structures that have been built of hydraulic cement concrete. They may also be
concrete products or portions thereof, or concrete or mortar specimens that have been exposed in
natural environments or simulated service conditions, or subjected to laboratory tests. This practice
applies to samples of all types of hardened hydraulic-cement mixtures, including concrete, mortar,
grout, plaster, stucco, terrazzo, and the like. The equipments generally used for specimen
preparation are diamond saw, cutting lubricant, horizontal lap wheels, free abrasive machine,
polishing wheel, hot plate or oven, prospector's pick and/or bricklayer's hammer, abrasives, plate-
glass squares, suitable media, and microscope slides. For specimen examination, the equipments
needed are stereomicroscope, dollies, petrographic or polarizing microscope, metallographic
microscope, eyepiece micrometer, stage micrometer, microscope lamps, needleholders and points,
bottles with droppers, assorted forceps, lens paper, refractometer, and immersion media. Appropriate
procedures for the sampling, preparation, and examination of specimens are detailed
methodically.WJE laboratories are accredited by AASHTO (R18) and ANAB (ISO/IEC 17025) to
perform testing standard ASTM C856 for Petrographic Examination of Hardened Concrete. 
Contact us to learn more.
KEYWORDS
• EXPERTISE // LABORATORIES // TESTING STANDARDS
• Petrographic Examination of Hardened Concrete
• ASTM C856
• 
• This practice outlines the standard procedures for performing petrographic examination of hardened concrete samples. The
samples examined may be taken from concrete constructions, that is, all sorts of objects, units, or structures that have been built
of hydraulic cement concrete. They may also be concrete products or portions thereof, or concrete or mortar specimens that
have been exposed in natural environments or simulated service conditions, or subjected to laboratory tests. This practice
applies to samples of all types of hardened hydraulic-cement mixtures, including concrete, mortar, grout, plaster, stucco,
terrazzo, and the like. The equipments generally used for specimen preparation are diamond saw, cutting lubricant, horizontal
lap wheels, free abrasive machine, polishing wheel, hot plate or oven, prospector's pick and/or bricklayer's hammer, abrasives,
plate-glass squares, suitable media, and microscope slides. For specimen examination, the equipments needed are
stereomicroscope, dollies, petrographic or polarizing microscope, metallographic microscope, eyepiece micrometer, stage
micrometer, microscope lamps, needleholders and points, bottles with droppers, assorted forceps, lens paper, refractometer, and
immersion media. Appropriate procedures for the sampling, preparation, and examination of specimens are detailed
methodically.WJE laboratories are accredited by AASHTO (R18) and ANAB (ISO/IEC 17025) to perform testing standard
ASTM C856 for Petrographic Examination of Hardened Concrete. Contact us to learn more.
• KEYWORDS