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AS 3972-1997 Portland and blended cements

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Australian Standard

Portland and blended cements

AS 39721997
 This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee BD/10, Cement. It was
approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 22 November 1996
and published on 5 February 1997.

The following interests are represented on Committee BD/10:

Association of Consulting Engineers, Australia
Australasian Slag Association
Australian Pre-Mixed Concrete Association
AUSTROADS
Cement and Concrete Association of Australia
CSIRO Division of Building, Construction & Engineering
Department of Public Works and Services N.S.W.
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Institution of Engineers, Australia

Scientific Services Laboratory, AGAL Department of Administrative Services
University of Sydney

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Full details of all Australian Standards and related publi cations will be found in the Standards Australia
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should be made wit hout delay in order that the matter may be investigated and appropriate action taken.

This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 96203.

 AS 39721997

Australian Standard

Portland and blended cements

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PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

(STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA)
1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7337 0885 4
 AS 3972 1997 2

PREFACE

This Standard was prepared by Standards Australia Committee BD/10 on Cement. It

supersedes AS 3972 1991, Portland and blended cements, which was first issued in 1991
to supersede AS 1315 1982, Portland cement and AS 1317 1982, Blended cements.
Background to the first edition : A number of important amendments were made in this
revision of the Standard for portland and blended cements.
First, a deliberate policy of attempting to define both portland and blended cements in terms
of their performance characteristics was adopted. All but essential prescriptive limits were
eliminated, and therefore, cements covered by this Standard were designated as general
purpose or special purpose. By definition, general purpose cements may be portland cements
(Type GP) or blended cements (Type GB). Special purpose cements may be portland or
blended cements with restrictions being placed on their composition.
Secondly, in keeping with world-wide practice, portland cements have been permitted to
contain up to 5% mineral additions, including ground limestone containing more than 80%
calcium carbonate. By definition, blended cements are those containing fly ash or granulated
iron blast-furnace slag or a mixture of these. Other materials are not permitted in blended
cements in this revision because data on the testing and performance of blended cements
containing such other materials was limited in Australia.
Thirdly, the properties of both portland and blended cements were divided into two
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categories: those to which limits apply and those for which no limits are specified but for
which test results must be reported if requested by a purchaser. This requirement was
included to ensure that purchasers are as fully advised as practicable of the properties and
characteristics of cement being used.
Background to the second edition: After careful consideration by the Committee, Amendment
No. 1 to the Standard was issued in February 1995 to include a new cement type Type SL,
shrinkage limited cement. Completion of work on a test procedure for sulfate resisting cement
has enabled the Committee to replace limits on chemical composition with a physical test and
the associated criteria. Amendment No. 2 to the Standard was issued in August 1996 to
include the test method and the specification for Type SR cement. The maximum limit on
sulfate expansion of 900 microstrain has been established, based on the best available data
presented to the Committee. The Committee agreed to review this maximum limit in two
years time from the date of publication of Amendment No. 2, based on the additional test
data which will be accumulated during this period. Amendment No.2 also permitted the use
of silica fume in blended cements up to a maximum of 10%.
Work on a test procedure for low heat cement to replace the heat of solution method and the
associated limits which were only appropriate for portland cement, is also complete. The new
test method and the associated limit are appropriate for both portland and blended cements.
The Committee recommended that, rather than issuing Amendment No. 3, a second edition
of AS 3972 be published which incorporated all published and approved amendments.
The term informative has been used in this Standard to define the application of the
appendix to which it applies. An informative appendix is only for information and guidance.
 3 AS 3972 1997

CONTENTS
Page

1 SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3 MATERIALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4 CEMENT TYPES AND COMPOSITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5 SAMPLING AND TESTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
6 REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
7 PACKING, MARKING AND DELIVERY OF BAGGED CEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . 6

APPENDIX A PERFORMANCE-BASED SPECIFICATION OF CEMENT . . . . . . . 8

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Originated in part as AS A2 1925.

Previous editi on AS 3972 1991.
Second editi on 1997.

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 AS 3972 1997 4

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Australian Standard
Portland and blended cements

1 SCOPE This Standard specifies requirements for hydraulic cements consisting of

portland cement or of mixtures of portland cement and one or more of fly ash, ground
granulated iron blast-furnace slag or silica fume.
It does not purport to provide for all the requirements which may be needed in specific
applications of such cements.
NOTE: Background information on the development of this Standard as a performance-based
specification of cement is given in Appendix A.

2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS The following documents are referred to in this

Standard:
AS
2349 Method of sampling portland and blended cements
2350 Methods of testing portland and blended cements
2350.2 Method 2: Chemical composition of portland cement
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2350.4 Method 4: Setting time of portland and blended cements

2350.5 Method 5: Determination of soundness of portland and blended cements
2350.7 Method 7: Determination of temperature rise during hydration of portland and
blended cements
2350.8 Method 8: Fineness index of portland cement by air permeability
2350.9 Method 9: Fineness of portland fly ash cement by the 45 m sieve
2350.11 Method 11: Compressive strength of portland and blended cements
2350.13 Method 13: Determination of drying shrinkage of portland and blended cement
mortars
2350.14 Method 14: Length change of portland and blended cement mortars exposed to a
sulfate solution
3582 Supplementary cementitious materials for use with portland cement
3582.1 Part 1: Fly ash
3582.2 Part 2: SlagGround granulated iron blast-furnace
3582.3 Part 3: Silica fume
3600 Concrete structures
ISO
5725 Accuracy (trueness and precision) of measurement methods and results
5725.1 Part 1: General principles and definitions
5725.2 Part 2: Basic method for the determination of repeatability and reproducibility of
a standard measurement method

3 MATERIALS
3.1 Portland cement clinker Portland cement clinker is the partially fused product
resulting from the intimate mixing of calcareous and argillaceous or other silica, alumina, or
iron-bearing materials, or any combination of these materials, and burning them at a
clinkering temperature. Portland cement clinker shall contain less than 4.5% MgO.
3.2 Fly ash Fly ash is the solid material extracted from the flue gases of a boiler fired
with pulverized coal. Fly ash shall comply with AS 3582.1.

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3.3 Granulated iron blast-furnace slag Iron blast-furnace slag is a material consisting
essentially of silicates and aluminosilicates of calcium produced simultaneously with iron in
a blast furnace.
Granulated iron blast-furnace slag is the glassy granular material resulting from the rapid
chilling of molten iron blast-furnace slag. Granulated iron blast-furnace slag shall comply
with AS 3582.2.
3.4 Limestone Limestone is a natural inorganic mineral material which shall contain not
less than 80% by weight of CaCO 3.
3.5 Mineral additions Mineral additions are selected fly ash, granulated iron blast-furnace
slag, limestone or combinations of these materials.
3.6 Calcium sulfate Calcium sulfate is an inorganic material derived from gypsum
(calcium sulfate dehydrate CaSO 4.2H 2O), hemihydrate (CaSO4.1/2H 2O) or anhydrite
(anhydrous calcium sulfate, CaSO 4 ) or as a by-product of industrial processes or any mixture
of these materials.
The source of calcium sulfate shall contain not less than 30% sulfuric anhydride (SO3).
3.7 Processing additions Processing additions are constituents other than those mentioned
above, which are added in minor quantities, nominally less than 1% by mass, during the
manufacturing process to aid the manufacture or improve the handling properties of cement.
3.8 Silica fume Silica fume is very fine pozzolanic material, composed mostly of
amorphous silica produced by electric arc furnaces as a by-product of the production of
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elemental silicon or ferro-silicon alloys. Silica fume shall comply with AS 3582.3.
NOTES:
1 The high specific surface area of silica fume can cause workability problems when used in
cement paste, mortar and concrete.
2 Silica fume is also known as condensed silica fume and microsilica.

4 CEMENT TYPES AND COMPOSITION

4.1 Cement types
4.1.1 General purpose cement Cements for general purposes shall be identified as follows:
(a) Type GPgeneral purpose portland cement.
(b) Type GBgeneral purpose blended cement.
4.1.2 Special purpose cements Cements for special purposes shall be identified as follows:
(a) Type HEhigh early strength cement.
(b) Type LHlow heat cement.
(c) Type SRsulfate resisting cement.
(d) Type SLshrinkage limited cement.
4.2 Portland cement Portland cement is a hydraulic cement which is manufactured as a
homogeneous product by grinding together portland cement clinker and calcium sulfate, and
which at the discretion of the cement manufacturer may contain up to 5% of mineral
additions.
4.3 Blended cement Blended cement is a hydraulic cement containing portland cement
and a quantity comprised of one or both of the following:
(a) Greater than 5% of fly ash or granulated iron blast-furnace slag, or both.
(b) Up to 10% silica fume.

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 AS 3972 1997 6

4.4 Special purpose cements Special purpose cement can be portland cement or blended
cement which complies with the requirements for the special purpose cement, as set out in
Table 1.

5 SAMPLING AND TESTING Sampling of cement shall be carried out in accordance

with AS 2349 and testing shall be carried out in accordance with the appropriate test methods
specified in the separate parts of AS 2350.

6 REQUIREMENTS
6.1 Specified properties Cement shall comply with the limits set out in Table 1.
6.2 Reportable properties and characteristics In addition to those properties listed in
Table 1, the manufacturer shall, at the request of a purchaser obtaining cement direct from
the manufacturer, provide a certificate or statement showing the most recent test results,
obtained on a cement sample representative of the type of cement being supplied, for one or
more of the following properties nominated by the purchaser:
(a) Loss on ignition (AS 2350.2).
(b) Fineness (AS 2350.9) or fineness index (AS 2350.8), or both.
(c) Nature and proportion of materials in the cement (as in Clause 3).
(d) Major oxide composition of the cement (AS 2350.2).
(e) Chloride content, if in excess of 0.05%.
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(f) Shrinkage data for Type SL cement in accordance with AS 2350.13.

(g) For Type LH cement, the time at which peak temperature rise occurs in accordance
with AS 2350.7.

7 PACKING, MARKING AND DELIVERY OF BAGGED CEMENT

7.1 Packing and delivery Bagged cement shall be delivered in sound packages
undamaged by moisture or other defects.
7.2 Marking Where the unit package size is less than 100 kg, each package shall be
legibly marked with the following:
(a) Name of the manufacturer.
(b) Type of cement.
(c) Nominal proportion of slag, fly ash or silica fume in the case of blended cement.

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TABLE 1

PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS FOR PORTLAND AND BLENDED CEMENTS

Expansion Shrinkage
Peak
Compressive strength (AS 2350.14) (AS 2350.13)
Soundness SO3 content temperature
Setting time (AS 2350.4) (AS 2350.11) max. max.
(AS 2350.5) (AS 2350.2) rise
Type of cement min. MPa at microstrain microstrain
(AS 2350.7)
at at
min. max. max. max. 16 weeks
max. % 3 days 7 days 28 days 28 days
minutes h mm C exposure
General purpose
Type GP 45 10 5 3.5 25 40
Type GB 45 10 5 3.5 15 30
Special purpose
Type HE 45 10 5 3.5 20 30
Type LH 45 10 5 3.5 10 30 23
1
Type SR 45 10 5 3.5 15 30 900
Type SL2 45 10 5 3.5 20 30 750

NOTES:
1 The use of Type SR cement may not ensure sulfate resistance in cement applications. In addition, other significant factors, including water content, compaction, and curing,
should be considered.
2 The use of Type SL cement may not ensure low drying shrinkage in cement applications. In addition, other significant factors, including aggregate type, water content, and
admixtures, should be considered.

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 AS 3972 1997 8

APPENDIX A
PERFORMANCE-BASED SPECIFICATION OF CEMENT
(Informative)

A1 SCOPE This Appendix gives background information on the development of this

Standard as a performance-based specification of cement. It reviews the process of defining
cement performance parameters, the criteria required to yield the desired performance, their
interpretation and the test methods which determine compliance with these criteria.

A2 INTRODUCTION For many years cement Standards all over the world have been to
a large degree prescriptive. Prescription-based specifications are convenient; the tests needed
to police prescriptions are usually simple and quick to carry out. However, this convenience
is achieved at the expense of innovation and being able to easily incorporate new or advanced
knowledge. With prescriptive specifications only a narrow range of solutions to any one
problem is acceptable even though many other solutions may be available which would give
equal or better performance.
In reality, engineers/specifiers do not need to be concerned with the details of cement
chemistry (e.g. constituents of the cement) as it is the final performance that is important.
Therefore, performance-based cement Standards are considered to benefit not only users, by
leaving no doubt that the engineering requirements of the cement are met, but also
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producers by allowing innovation and the development of new, improved materials and
applications.
Performance-based Standards and specifications state the characteristics desired by users
without regard to the specific means to be employed in producing the product. This concept
is the basis of this cement Standard.

A 3 D EV ELOP M EN T OF PE R FOR M A N C E- BA SED S TA N D A R D OR

SPECIFICATION
A3.1 General The following three elements are essential for the development of a
performance-based Standard:
(a) Performance parameter usually the property or properties that best relate to the desired
performance.
(b) Criteria quality level(s) of the required property that yield the desired performance.
(c) Test method a clear, reliable, easy-to-use method of test which determines compliance
with the criteria.
A3.2 Development of performance tests and criteria
A3.2.1 General A fundamental part of developing a standard test is to determine the
precision of the test method. Once a test method and its precision are established, it can be
used to establish performance criteria.
A3.2.2 Performance criteria It was recognized from the outset that before performance
limits could be recommended it was important to set some guidelines or principles for setting
such limits. The principles adopted in setting limits for performance are as follows:
(a) A performance test should stand on its own merits, and no attempt should be made to
pass all cements (e.g. low shrinkage or sulfate resistant).
(b) The limits to be set should not be world-wide absolute lower values but values in the
range that are technically defensible and internationally competitive.
(c) The limits should reflect the performance of cements which have been considered
acceptable in the field.

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Achieving these principles required the tests to be carried out and data to be obtained on
cements from other parts of the world in addition to the data accumulated on Australian
cements. Arrangements were made to obtain a number of overseas cements of known
performance from various organizations in Europe, North America and South Africa. These
cements were tested by laboratories using the performance test methods.
Testing of cements from other parts of the world served to
(i) verify the performance test methods; and
(ii) assist in placing the performance of Australian cement in international terms.
A3.2.3 Testing program for developing the test methods and the criteria
A3.2.3.1 General For the development of each performance test method and the associated
performance criteria, a multiphase testing program was carried out. The testing program was
designed to achieve the following objectives:
(a) Familiarization of laboratories with the method of test.
(b) Determination of the precision of the test method in terms of repeatability and
reproducibility as defined in ISO 5725.1.
(c) Determination of the performance level for a range of cements using the test method.
These data and the precision of the test method form the basis for establishing
performance criteria.
A3.2.3.2 Familiarization The objective of this phase was to make sure that the operator(s)
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in the laboratories were fully familiar with every aspect of the test method before
commencing the other phases of the testing program. The procedure to be followed in
carrying out the test was forwarded to all laboratories. It was emphasized that adherence to
a systematic routine was important to ensure good repeatability of the test method.
Laboratories were asked to carry out the test a number of times every week, at least equal
to the number of operators employed for the test. Operators were asked to observe one
another working and to eliminate minor differences in details of working.
A3.2.3.3 Precision of the test method Because of the extreme importance of this phase,
extensive testing was carried out in a series of logical steps as follows:
(a) Preliminary At least eight repeat tests were carried out on a cement sample distributed
to all laboratories. A sample of a cement (large enough for the necessary testing by all
laboratories) was properly blended, apportioned, and distributed to the laboratories in
sealed containers. The results were used to determine repeatability and reproducibility
of the test method in accordance with ISO 5725.2. The results also gave a good
indication of how individual laboratories were performing in the test.
(b) Refinement The feedback from the various laboratories was important at this stage.
Laboratory operators and supervisors met to discuss the finer details of the test procedure
and to eliminate any differences in performing the test. From these observations some
refining of the test procedure was necessary, based on the recommendations and
comments from the laboratories.
(c) Precision The precision of the amended/refined test procedure was determined. Two
cement samples, including a blended cement, were prepared and distributed to the
laboratories to determine the precision of the final test method. At least ten repeat tests
were carried out on each cement sample. Again, the repeatability and the reproducibility
were determined in accordance with ISO 5725.2.
A3.2.3.4 Performance levels of various cements In this phase, the participating laboratories
were asked to determine the performance level of their own cements using the test method
under investigation. At least 10 grab samples were taken and tested.

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They were also asked to test a range of cements of known performance obtained from
overseas. Testing of overseas cements not only verified the test method but also assisted in
placing the performance levels of Australian cements in an international context.
These results formed a database that provided the background for setting the limits or
performance criteria, in recognition of the precision of the test method.
A3.3 Performance parameters
A3.3.1 General Based on the current state of knowledge in Australia regarding cement
performance, five parameters emerged as performance requirements to replace the limits on
chemical composition in the revised cement standards and also in some major Australian
specifications. These are soundness, strength, temperature rise/heat of hydration, shrinkage
and sulfate resistance. The first two are required in all cements while the others are specific
requirements for special purpose cements.
A3.3.2 Soundness When applied to cement, soundness relates to freedom from excessive
expansion. Cement unsoundness is mainly due to the hydration of crystalline magnesia (MgO)
or hard-burned calcium oxide (CaO), or both, which produces expansion. The approach
adopted in this Standard is to limit the MgO present in portland cement clinker and to use
the physical requirement of the Le Chatelier test to determine the hydration-expansion
reaction due to free CaO. This has been the requirement in Australian Standards for cement
in the past and has worked satisfactorily for Australian cements.
A3.3.3 Strength Strength is an important property of cement and in many cases determines
the value of cement when employed as a structural material. At present, compressive strength
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is the form of strength required for compliance with this Standard for cement. Based on an
extensive investigation by the cement industry, a European strength test method was adopted
in 1988 as AS 2350.11. Some modifications to the European Standard were necessary to
adapt the method to conditions in Australia (e.g. a laboratory temperature of 23 2C was
adopted). Also, a vibrating table is specified as the standard method of compaction.
A minimum strength is the criterion adopted. The minimum values specified take into account
the testing errors, the within-brand and the between-brand strength variation.
A3.3.4 Temperature rise/heat of hydration The rise in temperature in the interior of large
concrete sections due to the heat developed during the hydration of cement may lead to
cracking. Certain types of cement are produced with a slow rate of heat evolution for use in
these applications. Measurement of heat of hydration has been used to characterize these
cements. The heat of solution method is specified as the standard method of testing cement
by many countries. While it determines with good accuracy the total heat of hydration at later
ages (seven days and longer), it gives no indication of the actual temperature rise in concrete
under practical conditions. Further, the method is not suitable for blended cements. Based on
an earlier investigation it was shown that a method based on a semi-adiabatic calorimeter is
capable of measuring the maximum temperature rise of hydrating cement mortar. The heat
of hydration can be obtained with good precision up to five days. Also, being semi-adiabatic
the method is more relevant to field conditions.
A new test method has been developed based on a French test method (Langavant), but
modified to put the emphasis on measurement of temperature rise allowing, as an option, the
calculation of heat of hydration, if required. This approach was confirmed by the result of
a survey of engineers/specifiers and users. The survey asked participants to nominate what
was considered a useful parameter for specifying low heat cement; 25% of the respondents
nominated heat of hydration and the remaining 75% nominated maximum temperature rise.
A3.3.5 Drying shrinkage Where emphasis is placed on shrinkage and crack control in
concrete structures, the designer needs to predict shrinkage in the various elements and to
accommodate these movements in his or her design. A prerequisite to estimating the
shrinkage movement in concrete elements (plain, reinforced, or prestressed) is a knowledge
of the shrinkage tendencies of the concrete itself. It is generally established that the shrinkage

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of concrete, after any specific drying period, depends on many factors, some related to the
concrete constituents, some related to the mix design and others related to the service
conditions. With such a multitude of factors influencing shrinkage of concrete, it can be
argued that placing a limit on cement shrinkage is unrealistic. In fact, very few cement
standards in the world place limits on shrinkage of cement.
For many years, some major specifications in Australia have been recommending chemical
composition of cement as a means of controlling shrinkage of cements to be used in concrete
structures (e.g. road pavements and bridge structures). An example of the chemical limits
included in those specifications is a maximum C 3A content of 7% and a minimum SO3
content of 1.8%. It was recognized that a cement characterized in terms of its shrinkage
performance was required to reflect or cover existing practice in some areas and applications.
Hence, the specification of shrinkage limited cement Type SL.
The need to develop a reliable test method for shrinkage and to establish the associated
performance criteria was recognized from the outset. A performance test and a related
criterion eliminate the need to place restrictions on the chemical composition of the cement.
Based on extensive investigation by the cement industry, a test method for measuring the
drying shrinkage of cement mortar has been established and is now published as AS 2350.13.
The method uses the same mortar and specimens as for the strength test. Specimens are cured
for 24 h in the mould and then stored under drying conditions of 50 5% RH and 23 2C.
Based on the testing program, the database established and the principles of setting
performance criteria discussed earlier, the shrinkage limit for Type SL is specified as a
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maximum limit. This maximum limit takes into consideration not only the performance of
the cement but also the reproducibility of the test method. The reproducibility of the drying
shrinkage test method is a quantitative expression of the error associated with the test results
obtained with nominally identical samples of a cement, by different operators working in
different laboratories, at different times using different sets of equipment. The precision of
the test method indicates that for the 28-day drying shrinkage determination the difference
between two test results obtained in two different but experienced laboratories, under
conditions of reproducibility, may be expected (probability 95%) to be up to 150 microstrain.
The maximum limit for drying shrinkage set in the Standard takes into consideration the
precision of the test method and thus implies that it must not be exceeded by one or any
result.
For example, a shrinkage limited cement could have an average, or target, 28-day drying
shrinkage of 600 microstrain or less so that a single result obtained in a different laboratory
may not exceed the maximum limit set in the Standard.
Caution should be exercised in interpreting the results of the drying shrinkage of cement and
its relation to the drying shrinkage of the concrete. As mentioned earlier there are other
factors involved which may outweigh the effect of cement on the drying shrinkage of the
concrete.
A3.3.6 Sulfate resistance It has been known for a long time that the alumina content of
cement plays an important role in the resistance of mortars and concretes to sulfate attack.
This knowledge led to the development and manufacture of sulfate-resisting portland cement
based on a maximum limit on the C3A content of such cement. During the development of
this Standard, it was acknowledged that the chemical limitation penalizes innovative solutions
to the problem. However, the lack of a clear, reliable, and universally accepted standard test
for sulfate resistance limited the options available at the time of preparing the Standard, so
a limit of 5.0% on C3A was initially included in this Standard.
At the same time, the Australian cement industry started an extensive investigation to
establish a standard test method to evaluate the sulfate resistance of cement and the
associated criteria. Initially, a number of tests were examined, and one of these emerged as
potentially suitable for portland and blended cements. A subsequent investigation has
recommended a test procedure for measurement of length change based on an American test

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 AS 3972 1997 12

method but modified in two areas. The mortar and specimens to be used in the test are based
on those used in the standard strength test and the standard shrinkage test. The specimens
cross-section, however, is reduced to 40 mm by 15 mm and cured for seven days (two days
in the mould and five days in water) before exposure to a standard sodium sulfate solution.
A curing period of 7 days before exposure to the sulfate solution was recommended based
on the following:
(a) For the various cements tested, the relative order of expansion has not changed
significantly with these curing regimes; equal maturity (20 MPa), 3-day, 7-day curing.
The 7-day curing period was considered the most convenient and practical.
(b) The various cements are tested in a mortar of a fixed water-cement ratio (0.5). This
together with equal curing is directly related to the permeability of the mortar which is
more relevant to durability requirements than equal strength.
(c) The minimum curing requirement for durability in AS 3600 is 7 days.
Following the establishment of an appropriate test method, work proceeded to determine the
precision of the method and to establish a database on the expansion in a standard sodium
sulfate solution of a range of cements, including overseas cements of known performance.
It was considered desirable to get as many laboratories as possible to participate in the testing
programs. Over 40 organizations and laboratories around Australia were invited to participate.
The work was carried out mainly by cement industry laboratories.
Based on the information obtained, a performance limit was established for Type SR cement
as maximum expansion after 16 weeks of exposure to a standard sulfate solution. During the
Licensed to E.S.SURESH on 04 Jun 2002. Single user licence only. Storage, distribution or use on network prohibited.

investigation and data collection, expansion measurements of cement exposed for up to 24

weeks were obtained. The expansion after 16 weeks clearly distinguished between different
cement types but extending the measurements beyond those 16 weeks of exposure was
recommended to monitor longer term trends.
The maximum expansion limit specified takes into account not only the performance of the
cement but also the reproducibility of the test method. The reproducibility of the sulfate
resistance test method is a quantitative expression of the error associated with the test results
obtained with nominally identical samples of a cement, by different operators working in
different laboratories at different times and using different equipment.
The precision of the test method indicates that for the expansion after 16 weeks of exposure
to a standard sodium sulfate solution the difference between two results obtained in two
different but experienced laboratories, under conditions of reproducibility, may be expected
(probability 95%) to be up to 300 microstrain. The limit for Type SR cement has been set
in recognition of this precision of the test method. The maximum limit for expansion
specified therefore implies that it must not be exceeded by one or any result.
For example, a sulfate resisting cement could have an average, or target, expansion at
16 weeks of 600 microstrain or lower so that a single result obtained in a different laboratory
may not exceed the maximum limit set in the Standard.
Caution should be exercised in interpreting the results of expansion after exposure to the
standard sulfate solution. The test method is inherently of lower precision than other
performance tests, e.g. strength or drying shrinkage. Thus, for example, a cement producing
an average expansion result of 500 microstrain may not have a significantly better
performance than another cement with an average expansion result of 600 microstrain. Also,
the concrete resistance to sulfate attack is influenced by many other factors including the mix
design (e.g. water-cement ratio, cement content), construction practices (e.g. placing,
compaction, curing), and service conditions (e.g. type and concentration of the sulfates,
duration of exposure, temperature). All these factors are important to the consideration of the
resistance of concrete to sulfate attack, as the influence of some of these factors may
outweigh the effects of cement on the concrete.

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