Cements

– Typical physical requirements for cements are: air content, fineness, expansion, strength, heat of hydration, and setting time. Most of these physical tests are carried out using mortar or paste created from the cement.

– The ASTM Standard Specification for Portland Cement (ASTM C150) provides for five types as follows: – Type I—The standard product that has long been in use with no limitation on the proportions of the major oxides (CAO, SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3), also referred to as “ordinary portland cement.”

– The ASTM C39 test standard for compressive strength of concrete cylinders requires numerous checks for dimensions of the concrete cylinders and alignment during testing.