Initial and Final Setting time of Cement

Cement is widely used material in building construction for making cement mortar and concrete. As we know that cement start hydrates when it is mixed with water. In presence of water, cement has a property to achieve strength and get hardened within a short period. So its mandate to place the cement in position without losing its plasticity. To achieve this, the setting time of cement is calculated.

Setting time of cement:

When cement is mixed with water, it hydrates and makes cement paste. This paste can be moulded into any desired shape due to its plasticity. Within this time cement continues with reacting water and slowly cement starts losing its plasticity and set harden. This complete cycle is called Setting time of cement.

Initial Setting time of Cement:-

The time to which cement can be moulded in any desired shape without losing it strength is called Initial setting time of cement

Or

The time at which cement starts hardens and completely loses its plasticity is called Initial setting time of cement.

Or

The time available for mixing the cement and placing it in position is an Initial setting time of cement. If delayed further, cement loses its strength.

For Ordinary Portland Cement, The initial Setting Time is 30 minutes.

Final setting time of Cement:-

The time at which cement completely loses its plasticity and became hard is a final setting time of cement.

Or

The time taken by cement to gain its entire strength is a Final setting time of cement.

For Ordinary Portland Cement, The Final Setting Time is 600 minutes (10hrs).

Significance of calculating Initial and final setting time of cement:-

Well, After mixing cement with water, it takes time to place the cement paste in position,  initial setting time possess a primary role in strength & it is mandated that cement paste or concrete is placed in position before it crosses initial setting time. i.e.,30mins. And it shouldn’t be disturbed until it completes Final setting time i.e., 600mins for Ordinary Portland Cement.

Also Read:-How to calculate Normal or standard consistency of cement

Factors that affect initial and final setting time of cement:-

The fineness of cement, the presence of salts in sand, atmospheric conditions. For example, cement requires a temperature of 27°c to complete Hydration, during winters the climate is low which stops the hydration and takes a longer time to set harden.

Calculation of Initial and Final Setting time of Cement:-

As Per  IS: 4031 (Part 5) – 1988.  Initial and final setting time of cement is calculated using VICAT apparatus conforming to IS: 5513 – 1976,

APPARATUS REQUIRED:- 

Weighing balance of 1000g with accuracy 1g and Measuring cylinder of 200ml, VICAT apparatus, VICAT Mould, Glass plate, the plunger of 10mm dia and Hand Trowel, stop watch

PROCEDURE:-

1. Take 400g of cement and place it in a bowl or tray.
2. Now add water of Start the stopwatch at the moment water is added to the cement. Water of quantity 0.85P.times (Where P is the Standard consistency of cement) is considered.
3. Now fill the mix in Vicat mould. If any excessive paste remained on Vicat mould is taken off by using a trowel.
4. Then, place the VICAT mould on non porous plate (Glass plate) and see that the plunger should touch the surface of VICAT mould gently.
5. Release the Plunger and allow it to sink into the test mould.
6. Note down the penetration of the plunger from the bottom of mould indicated on the scale.
7. Repeat the same experiment at different positions on the mould until the plunger should stop penetrating 5 from the bottom of the mould.

The time period elapsed between the moment water is added to the cement and the time, the needle fails to penetrate the mould of 5mm when measured from the bottom of the mould, is the initial setting time of cement.

Now replace the needle (plunger) by the one with an annular attachment. The cement is assmed as finally set When, upon applying the needle gently to the surface of the test mould, the needle makes an impression therein, while the attachment fails to do so. The time period between the moment water is added to the cement and the time at which needle makes an impression on the surface of the mould, while the attachment fails to do so, is the final setting time of cement.

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