Posted By:Infra Bazaar
Cement, when named, even to a layman is something that adds strength, to give your structure the strength. So, whether you’re a professional engineer or passionate about getting your dream project done, finding the right kind of cement is one of the primary concerns.
Procuring cement from the right supplier is the most important decision one needs to make. Once that's settled and your cementing supplies are delivered on the site. We now move onto the next phase, to ensure that the product is worth your money there are a few preliminary tests that can be performed on the site. Although it is not possible to check all engineering qualities, infrabazaar.com collates a few deter that might help you find your way.
1. MANUFACTURED WHEN?
The first and most important check one must do is to check when the bag was manufactured, because the older the cement, the weaker its binding capacity gets.
Experts at infrabazaar.com say, that if your cement bag is 3 to 5 months old, then the efficacy is likely to be lessened by 20% to 30% and if it’s 6 to 11 months old then you can deduct 30% to 40% of its strength capacity and if its older than 12 months, then expect a straight 50% reduction in its durability.
2. COLOUR IT RIGHT!
Uniformity is the biggest sign that the cement is of good quality. The more variation you see in shades, it means the cement isn’t going to be as strong as it should be. Ideally, the cement should be grey with a slight tinge of green. The colour of cement gives an indication of excess lime or clay and the degree of burning.
3. SMOOTH OR ROUGH?
Take a pinch of cement between fingers and rub it. It should feel smooth while rubbing. It should flow out smoothly, if this doesn't happen, it is an indication that there is adulteration, most likely with that of sand.
Also, as soon as the bag of cement is opened and poured out, it should fall freely. If you experience any hardened lump or if it feels granular or lumpish then the quality of your cement is not acceptable. Generally, hard lumps are formed by the absorption of atmospheric moisture.
4. COOL OR HOT?
Thrust your hand into the cement bag and it should feel cool. If it feels warm, then it has undergone the hydration process, which has a direct impact on the productivity of the cement.
5. SINK OR FLOAT?
Throw in some cement in a bucket of water, it should float for a short bit and then sink. If it sinks immediately or floats for too long, then you know this quality of cement won’t work.
6. SMELL TEST
Make a thin paste of cement by mixing water, if the paste smells earthy, then it's a sure sign of adulteration. It's a sign that it contains too much-pounded clay and silt as an adulterant
#cementqualitycheck #howtocheckcementquality #constructionmaterials #infrabazaar #cementtesting #qualitycement
