Designation: C430 − 08 (Reapproved 2015)

Standard Test Method for

Fineness of Hydraulic Cement by the 45-µm (No. 325) Sieve1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C430; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope* 3.1.2 Sieve Cloth or Electroformed Sheet—The sieve frame

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the fine- shall be fitted with either a 45-µm (No. 325) stainless steel AISI
ness of hydraulic cement by means of the 45-µm (No. 325) Type 304 woven-wire sieve cloth, conforming to the require-
sieve. ments of Specification E11 or a 45-µm electroformed rein-
forced nickel sieve sheet conforming to the requirements of
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the Specification E161 with the exception that the number of
standard. The inch-pound equivalents of SI units may be openings shall be 71 6 2 per linear centimetre (180 6 5 per
approximate. linear inch).
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3.1.3 Cloth or Sheet Mounting:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 3.1.3.1 Woven-Wire Cloth Mounting—Type 304 stainless
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- steel woven-type cloth shall be mounted in the frame without
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- distortion, looseness, or wrinkling. For a sieve fabricated by
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. soldering the cloth to the frame, the joint shall be made smooth
to prevent the cement from catching in the joints between the
2. Referenced Documents sieve cloth and the frame. Two-piece sieves shall clamp tightly
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 on the cloth to prevent the cement from catching in the joints
E11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test between the sieve cloth and the frame.
Sieves 3.1.3.2 Electroformed Sieve Sheet Mounting—
E161 Specification for Precision Electroformed Sieves Electroformed reinforced nickel sieve sheet shall be mounted
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in in the frame without distortion, looseness, or wrinkling. The
ASTM Test Methods joint between the sieve cloth and the frame shall be made
smooth with a material impervious to water.
3. Apparatus 3.2 Spray Nozzle—The spray nozzle (Fig. 1) shall be con-
3.1 Sieve: structed of metal not subject to corrosion by water and shall be
3.1.1 Sieve Frame—The sieve frame shall be of metal not 17.5 mm (0.69 in.) in inside diameter with a central hole drilled
subject to corrosion by water and shall be circular, either 51 6 in line with the longitudinal axis, an intermediate row of eight
6 mm (2.0 6 0.25 in.) when woven-wire cloth is mounted in holes drilled 6 mm (0.23 in.) center-to-center at an angle of 5°
the frame or 76 6 6 mm (3.0 6 0.25 in.) in diameter when an from the longitudinal axis, and an outer row of eight holes
electroformed sheet is mounted in the frame. The depth of the drilled 11 mm (0.44 in.) center-to-center at an angle of 10°
sieve from the top of the frame to the cloth or sheet shall be 76 from the longitudinal axis. All holes shall be 0.5 mm (0.02 in.)
6 6 mm (3.0 6 0.25 in.). The frame shall have either side walls in diameter. The spray nozzle shall have been checked within
of 89 6 6 mm (3.5 6 0.25 in.) in total height, or legs at least six months prior to testing a cement sample to ensure that the
12 mm (0.5 in.) in length, sufficient to allow air circulation flow rate is between 1500 and 3000 g/min at 69 6 3 kPa (10
beneath the sieve cloth or electroformed sheet. 6 0.4 psi).
3.3 Pressure Gage—The pressure gage shall be 76 mm (3.0
in.) minimum diameter, and shall be graduated in 7-kPa (1-psi)
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C01 on Cement increments, and shall have a maximum capacity of 207 kPa (30
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C01.25 on Fineness. psi). The accuracy at 69 kPa (10 psi) shall be 62 kPa (60.25
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2015. Published October 2015. Originally psi).
approved in 1959. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as C430 – 08. DOI:
10.1520/C0430-08R15.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or 4. Calibration of 45-µm (No. 325) Sieve
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on 4.1 Place 1.000 g of the current lot of National Institute of
the ASTM website. Standards and Technology standard sample No. 114 or No. 46h

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 C430 − 08 (2015)
NOTE 2—Care should be taken not to heat the sieve hot enough to soften
the solder.

6. Cleaning of 45-µm (No. 325) Sieves

6.1 Frequency of Cleaning and Calibration—Sieves fitted
with woven wire sieve cloth shall be cleaned after no more than
five determinations. Sieves fitted with an electroformed rein-
forced sieve sheet having 71 openings per linear centimetre
shall be cleaned after no more than three determinations. Both
types of sieves shall be recalibrated after no more than 100
determinations.
6.2 Acceptable Cleaning Procedures—One option for clean-
ing is to place the sieve in a low-power (150 W maximum
power input) ultrasonic bath containing an appropriate labora-
tory cleaning solution. The bath is to be operated for sufficient
time (approximately 10 to 15 min at room temperature) to
remove particles lodged in the openings. Be apprised that
electroformed sieve sheets containing more than 71 openings
per linear centimetre may well be damaged by ultrasonic
cleaning. An option for cleaning which does not require an
ultrasonic bath can also be employed. Immerse the sieve in a
FIG. 1 Spray Nozzle with Seventeen 0.02-in. (0.51-mm) Holes bath of appropriate laboratory cleaning solution heated to just
below boiling point. Cover with a watch glass to reduce
on the clean, dry, 45-µm (No. 325) sieve and proceed as in evaporation. Continue this soaking for a time sufficient to
Section 5. The sieve correction factor is the difference between loosen lodged particles with a rinse following the bath.
the test residue obtained and the assigned residue value Overnight soaking in similar but unheated cleaning solutions is
indicated by the electroformed sheet sieve fineness specified also acceptable, provided a rinse following the bath is able to
for the standard sample, expressed as a percentage of the test wash away lodged particles. Cleaning or rinsing with dilute
residue. hydrochloric or acetic acid solutions is to be avoided. Appro-
NOTE 1—It should be observed that the sieve correction as specified is priate cleaning solutions are restricted to soap or detergent-type
a factor to be multiplied by the residue obtained and that the amount to be solutions.
added to or subtracted from the residue in any given test is therefore
proportional to the amount of residue. 7. Calculation
Example of Determination of Sieve Correction Factor: 7.1 Calculate the fineness of the cement to the nearest 0.1 %
Residue on 45-µm (No. 325) Sieve, sample No. 114 12.2 % as follows:
or No. 46h
Residue for a 1-g sample 0.122 g R c 5 R s 3 ~ 1001C ! (1)
Residue on sieve being calibrated 0.093 g
Difference = + 0.029 g
F 5 100 2 R c (2)
Correction factor = + 0.029 ⁄ 0.093 × 100 = + 31.18 = + 31.2 %
where:
5. Procedure F = fineness of the cement expressed as the corrected
5.1 Place a 1.000 g sample of the cement on the clean, dry percentage passing the 45-µm (No. 325) sieve,
45-µm (No. 325) sieve. Wet the sample thoroughly with a Rc = corrected residue, %,
gentle stream of water. Remove the sieve from under the Rs = residue from the sample retained on the 45-µm (No.
nozzle and adjust the pressure on the spray nozzle to 69 6 4 325) sieve, g, and
C = sieve correction factor (determined as prescribed in
kPa (10 6 0.5 psi). Return the sieve to its position under the
Section 4) which may be either plus or minus.
nozzle and wash for 1 min, moving the sieve with a circular
motion in a horizontal plane at the rate of one motion per Example:
second in the spray. The bottom of the spray nozzle should Sieve correction factor, C = +31.2 %
extend below the top of the sieve frame about 12 mm (0.5 in.). Residue from sample being tested, Rs = 0.088 g
Corrected residue, Rc = 0.088 × (100 + 31.2)
Immediately upon removing the sieve from the spray, rinse = 11.5 %
once with about 50 cm3 of distilled or deionized water, using Corrected amount passing, F = 100 − 11.5 % = 88.5 %
caution not to lose any of the residue, and then blot the lower
surface gently upon a damp cloth. Dry the sieve and residue in 8. Precision and Bias
an oven or over a hot plate (see Note 2), supporting the sieve 8.1 Normal Fineness Product—The multilaboratory preci-
in such a manner that air may pass freely beneath it. Cool the sion has been found to be 60.75 % (IS) as defined in Practice
sieve; then brush the residue from the sieve and weigh on an E177, therefore, results of properly conducted tests from two
analytical balance capable of reproducing results within 0.0005 different laboratories on identical samples of cement should
g. agree 95 % of the time within 62.1 %.

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 C430 − 08 (2015)
8.2 High Fineness Product—The multilaboratory precision 8.3 Since there is no accepted reference material suitable for
has been found to be 60.50 % (IS) as defined in Practice E177; determining the bias for the procedure in this test method, no
therefore, results of properly conducted tests from two different statement on bias is being made.
laboratories on identical samples of cement should agree 95 %
of the time within 61.4 %. 9. Keywords
NOTE 3—The use of outside threads instead of inside threads as shown 9.1 fineness of hydraulic cement
in this figure is permissible.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee C01 has identified the location of selected changes to this test method since the last issue,
C430 – 96(2003), that may impact the use of this test method. (Approved December 1, 2008)

(1) Revised 4.1.

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