ASTM Standards
When purchasing cement, one quickly finds that the benchmarks by which reputable cements are tested are ASTM Standards. There are over two hundred ASTM standard tests relating to cement and concrete, and in addition to these there are also standard specifications which outline the parameters within which cement must fall in order to deemed to be of good quality.
To the inexperienced eye, these standards may appear to be nothing but a jumble of letters and numbers which make little sense, and it is tempting to ignore these altogether focusing instead on more ostensibly important numbers, such as price. However one should have at least a cursory knowledge of applicable ASTM standards, as understanding what they mean can be imperative when one is committing to purchasing materials which can quite literally make or break a project.
Not all cements are made equal, and not all cements are suitable for all applications. Using the wrong cement can result in disaster, but fortunately ASTM standards ensure that there is a way to verify that the cement you are purchasing is of good quality and equal to the task it must perform.
What is the ASTM?
The American Society for Testing and Materials is an international organization which has been in operation for over a century, and which specializes in developing standards for various commodities and materials. Originally formed in the USA to address problems in the railway industry, where problems with cracking and breaking tracks lead industry professionals to realize that there needed to be standards for steel used in railway tracks, the ASTM soon began to formulate standards for other materials and commodities which suffered from related issues. Today ASTM standards are in place for a plethora of products ranging from adhesives, to cement, to leather, to sports and sport safety equipment, and many many more. In fact, ASTM standards have now been developed for over 60 categories of commonly traded goods.
ASTM standards are developed on a voluntary basis by contributors from around the globe. These contributors are academics, scientists, producers, consumers, and those with interest or expertise in certain fields.
What Is An ASTM Standard?
An ASTM standard is essentially nothing more than a document which outlines methods for testing, and the allowable results which if obtained, will mean that a product meets ASTM standards. Although ASTM has no authority in itself, because of the reliability and global efficacy of ASTM standards, many governing bodies in countries around the world refer to ASTM standards when setting guidelines for materials and products imported into or produced within their own countries.
ASTM Cement Standards
ASTM C 150 – 07 Standard Specification for Portland Cement
This is the ASTM standard which pertains to Portland cement, and outlines requirements for the eight basic types of Portland cement, which possess the following properties.
Type I – Basic general use cement. Can be used in low demand applications which do not come in contact with the ground or ground water, both of which often contain sulfates which deform Type I cement.
Type IA – Air-entraining version of Type I cement.
Type II – General use with added sulfate resistance and medium heat of hydration. This is the most popularly used type of Portland cement, as it is suitable for most construction applications, and can be used in projects which come into contact with the ground and ground water, such as pipes.
Type IIA – Air-entraining version of Type II cement.
Type III – High early strength.
Type IIIA – Air-entraining version of Type III cement.
Type IV – Low heat of hydration.
Type V – High sulfate resistance.
ASTM C 595 – 08 Standard Specification for Blended Hydraulic Cements
This is a general standard for blended hydraulic cements covering the gamut of blended hydraulic cements and including those made with slag, pozzolan, or a blend of the two combined with Portland cement, Portland cement clinker, and also slag with lime.
ASTM C1157 – 03 Standard Performance Specification for Hydraulic Cement
The most recent of the ASTM standards devised specially for hydraulic cements, this is perhaps the most useful type of ASTM standard as it is based entirely on performance testing, and not on chemical composition. Cements are classified under ASTM C1157 – 03 by type, and are based on requirements associated with the following desired properties:
General Use
High Early Strengthened
Sulfate Resistance
Heat of Hydration
Alkali Reactive Aggregate Reaction (Optional)
How Do I Obtain ASTM Standards?
ASTM standards can be purchased directly from ASTM. The bulk of ASTM’s income comes from selling standard documentation, so the information is not usually available freely. ASTM provides documentation on standard specifications, testing methods, and testing conditions so that producers and users seeking to verify the properties of a product can do so in a reliable and replicable fashion.
More information on ASTM standards and testing practices can be found at ASTM.org.
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