Experiment No.

8: Time of Settings of Hydraulic Cement by Vicat Needle

Discussion
Cement paste setting time is affected by the number of items including: cement
fineness, water-cement ratio, chemical content (especially content) and admixtures.
Setting time test are used to characterize how a particular cement paste sets. For
construction purposes, the initial set must not be too soon and the final set must not be
too late. Additionally setting times can give some indication whether or not cement is
undergoing normal hydration. (PCA, 1988).
To ensure sufficient time to take place concrete while it remain plastic, a
minimum limit is imposed on the time of “initial” set, which may be taken as a condition
of the mass when if begins to stiffen appreciably. ASTM specification requires that the
initial set should not take place within one hour. Depending on the test used to
determine it the initial set usually takes place within two to four hours. To ensure that
cement will harden for use, a maximum limit is imposed on the time of “final” set. ASTM
specification requires that the final set occur within 10 hours. With much commercial
cement final set occurs within five to eight hours. The condition of initial and final set is
determined by penetration of standard needles o rods into a “neat) (straight cement)
paste of specified consistency.
Both common setting time test, the Vicat needle and the Gillmore needle, define
the initial set and final set based on the time at which a needle of particular size and
weight either penetrates a cement paste sample to a given depth or fails to penetrate a
cement past sample.

Time of setting by Vicat needle – Initial setting occurs when a 1-mm needle penetrates
25 mm into cement paste. Final set occurs when there is no visible penetration.

Time of setting by Gillmore needle – Initial set occurs when a 113.4 grams Gillmore
needle (2.12 mm in diameter) fails to penetrate. Final set occurs when a 453.6 grams.
Gillmore needle (1.06 mm in diameter) fails to penetrate.
The Vicat needle test is more common and tends to give shorter times than Gillmore
needle test.

ASTM C 150 Specified Set Times by Test Method

Test Method Set type Time Specification

Vicat Initial Final 45 minutes 
375 minutes 
Gillmore Initial Final 60 minutes 
600 minutes 
Objective: To determine the time of setting of hydraulic cement by the use of Vicat
needle.

Referenced Documents: ASTM (C191-82 , C 191-04 , C 403/C403M – 99 , C 266)

AASHTO (T 131 , T 154)

Apparatus:
1. Balance, sensitive to 0.1 gm.
2. Vicat needle apparatus
3. Graduated cylinder, 200 ml or 250 ml capacity
4. Trowel or spatula
5. Mixing container
6. Stopwatch/Watch

Procedure:

1.) Mix 650 gm of cement with the percentage of mixing water required for normal
consistency.
2.) Quickly form the cement paste into a ball will gloved hands and tossed six times
from one hand to another maintaining the hands about 6 inches (152 mm) apart.
3.) Press the ball, resting in the palm of the hand, into a larger end of the conical ring
held on the other hand completely filling the ring with paste.
4.) Remove the excess of the larger end by a single movement of the palm of the hand.

5.) Place the large end on a glass plate and slice off the excess paste at the smaller end
at the top of the ring by a single oblique stroke of a sharp edged trowel or spatula held
at a slight angle with the top of the ring.
6.) Smooth the top of the specimen, if necessary, with one or two light touches of the
pointed end of the trowel.
7.) During the operation of cutting and smoothing, take care not to compress the paste.
8.) Place the test specimen in the most closet or moist room immediately after molding
and allow it to remain there except when determination of time of setting are being
made. The specimen shall remain in the conical mold throughout the test period.
9.) Allow the time of setting specimen to remain in the moist cabinet for 30 minutes
after molding without being disturbed.
10.) Determine the penetration of the 1 – mm needles at this time and every 1.5
minutes thereafter until the penetration of 25 mm or less is obtained.
11.) For penetration test, lower the needle of the rod until it rests on the surface of the
cement paste. Tighten the setscrew and set indicator at the upper end of the scale. Take
an initial reading. Release the rod quickly by releasing the setscrew and allow the needle
to settle for 30 seconds and take the reading to determine the penetration. No
penetration test shall be made closer than 1/4 in. (6.4 mm) from any previous
penetration and no penetration shall be made closer than 3/8 in (9.5 mm) from the
inside of the mold.
12. Record the results all penetration tests and, by interpolation determine the time
when a penetration of 25 mm is obtained. This is the initial setting time. The final setting
time is when the needle does not sink visibly into the paste.

DATA RESULTS:
WT. OF MIXING PAN = 750.5 g
WT. OF CEMENT SAMPLE = 650 g
WT. OF PAN + CEMENT = 1400.5 g
WT. OF CYLINDER = 129.6 g
WT. OF WATER = 190.66 g
WORKSHEET REPORT:

TIME OF SETTING OF HYDRAULIC CEMENT BY VICAT NEEDLE

NAME: ____MARIELA ANN B. OLMIDO___TESTED BY: _GROUP 1 & 2 (BSCE – 4A)_

DATE: _____September 27, 2017_____ _

Specimen No. Time (second) Penetration

1 0’30 18
1 2’00 18.5
1 3’30 19
1 5’00 20
1 6’30 22
1 8’00 23
1 9’30 24
1 11’00 24.5
1 12’30 24.5
1 14’00 25
1 15’30 26
1 17’00 27
1 18’30 29
1 20’00 29
1 21’30 29.5
1 23’00 30
1 24’30 30.5
1 26’00 30.5
1 27’30 30.5
1 29’00 30.5

PROCEDURES:
 STEP 1: WEIGH THE MIXING PAN AND ADD 650G OF
CEMENT SAMPLE.

STEP 2: MEASURE WATER AND ADD TO THE CEMENT.

STEP 3: MIX THE WATER AND CEMENT AND FORM INTO

BALL.
 STEP 4: PRESS THE BALL INTO THE MOLD COMPLETELY
FILLING WITH PASTE AND REMOVE EXCESS PASTE AT
THE TOP OF THE RIING.

STEP 5: STORE IN THE DESSICATOR FOR 30 MINUTES.

STEP 6: GET THE READING EVERY 1.5 MINUTES.

CONCLUSION:
 THEREFORE, I HAVE LEARNED TO DETERMINE THE TIME OF
SETTING OF HYDRAULIC CEMENT BY THE USE OF VICAT NEEDLE. I ABLE
TO UNDERSTAND THAT DURING THE OPERATION OF CUTTING AND
SMOOTHING, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO TAKE CARE NOT TO
COMPRESS THE PASTE, AND ALSO PLACING THE SAMPLE IN A MOIST
CABINET FOR 30 MINUTES WITHOUT DISTURBING. I ABLE TO
UNDERSTAND AND KNEW ALSO THAT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET
THE PROPER DATA IN GETTING THE NORMAL CONSISTENT OF
PORTLAND CEMENT WHICH THE AMOUNT OF WATER EXPRESSED AS
PERCENTAGE BY WEIGHT OF DRY CEMENT USUALLY 30% BECAUSE IT IS
USED IN THIS EXPERIMENT 8 WHICH IS MIXING OF WATER REQUIRED
FOR NORMAL CONSISTENCY.