Testing of Cement - Field Testing

It is sufficient to subject the cement to field tests when it is used for minor works. The following are the field tests:

• Open the bag and take a good look at the cement. There should not be any visible lumps. The colour of the cement should normally be greenish grey.
• Thrust your hand into the cement bag. It must give you a cool feeling. There should not be any lump inside.
• Take a pinch of cement and feel-between the fingers. It should give a smooth and not a gritty feeling.
• Take a handful of cement and throw it on a bucket full of water, the particles should float for some time before they sink.
• Take about 100 grams of cement and a small quantity of water and make a stiff paste. From the stiff paste, pat a cake with sharp edges. Put it on a glass plate and slowly take it under water in a bucket. See that the shape of the cake is not disturbed while taking it down to the bottom of the bucket. After 24 hours the cake should retain its original shape and at the same time it should also set and attain some strength.