Cement Testing Laboratory

The heart of concrete lies in the cement. Several tests should be performed to determine the characteristics of cement and its compatibility with other materials in the concrete mix design. Compressive strength testing of mortar cubes at 3-days, 7-days and 28-days of aging are used to observe the development of the strength gain of the mortar over time.

A chemical analysis of the cement will provide a reasonable estimate of the composition of the cement. These are just a few of the tests that can be used to determine the quality of the cement.


Our Accreditations

Our laboratory is approved and/or inspected by A2LA, AMRL (AASHTO Materials Reference Laboratory), CCRL (Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory) and the US Army Corps of Engineers.  Our laboratory accreditations include: ISO 17025, AASHTO R18 and we are an approved laboratory for the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Our employees are active members in ACI, ASTM, ICRI, FRCA, ASCE and SWRI.  Several TEC Services employees are current or past committee members, committee chairs, board members and presidents of these organizations in local and national chapters.

We work closely with ASTM in the development of test methods, testing guidelines and specifications for all types of cements. Our laboratory has performed research, quality control, and cement–admixture compatibility testing.


A basic list of some of the cement testing our laboratory provides is listed below. This list consists of ASTM tests and other tests that we perform on a regular basis. If a test is desired that is not listed below, please call us and inquire for further details.

 

Specification for Natural Cement
Specification for Masonry Cement
Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars (2×2 Cubes)
Chemical Analysis of Hydraulic Cement
Specification for Portland Cement
Autoclave Expansion of Portland Cement
Length Change of Hardened Hydraulic-Cement Mortar and Concrete
Sampling and the Amount of Testing of Hydraulic Cement
Air Content of Hydraulic Cement Mortar
Normal Consistency of Hydraulic Cement
Density of Hydraulic Cement
Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Vicat Needle
Fineness of Hydraulic Cement by Air-Permeability Apparatus
Air-Entraining Additions for Use in the Manufacture of Air-Entraining Hydraulic Cement
Potential Alkali Reactivity of Cement-Aggregate Combinations
Flow Table for Use in Tests of Hydraulic Cement
Time of Setting of Hydraulic-Cement Paste by Gillmore Needles
Standard Specification for Mortar for Unit Masonry
Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement Pastes and Mortars of Plasic
Consistencies
Sampling and Testing Fly Ash or Natural Pozzolans for Use in
Portland-Cement Concrete
Flexural Strength of Hydraulic-Cement Mortars
Compressive Strength of Hydraulic-Cement Mortars (Portions of Prisms Broken in Flexural)
Early Stiffening of Hydraulic Cement
Fineness of Hydraulic Cement by the 45-µm (No. 325) Sieve
Effectiveness of Pozzolans or Ground Blast-Furnace Slag in Preventing
Excessive  Expansion of Concrete Due to the Alkali-Silica Reaction
Early Stiffening of Hydraulic Cement (Paste Method)
Potential Expansion of Portland-Cement Mortars Exposed to Sulfate
Standard Specification for Processing Additions for Use in Hydraulic
Cements
Moist Cabinets, Moist Rooms, and Water Storage Tanks Used in the Testing of
Hydraulic Cements and Concretes
Optimum SO3 in Hydraulic Cement Using 24-hr Compressive Strength
Standard Specification for Fly Ash and Other Pozzolans
Specifications for Blended Hydraulic Cements
Drying Shrinkage of Mortar Containing Hydraulic Cement
Specifications for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural Pozzolan for
Use in Concrete
Fineness of Hydraulic Cement and Raw Materials by the No. 50, No. 100, and No. 200 Sieves by Wet Methods
Restrained Expansion of Expansive Cement Mortar
Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement Mortar by Modified Vicat Needle
Specifications For Expansive Hydraulic Cement
Length Change of Hydraulic-Cement Mortars Exposed to A Sulfate Solution
Expansion of Hydraulic Cement Mortar Bars Stored in Water
Measuring Changes in Height of Cylindrical Specimen of Hydraulic-Cement
Grout
Specifications for Hydraulic Cements
Evaluation of Laboratories Testing Hydraulic Cement
Silica Fume Used in Cementitious Mixtures
Specification for Plastic (Stucco) Cement
Specification for Mortar Cement
Flow of Hydraulic Cement Mortar
Water Retention of Hydraulic Cement-Based Mortars and Plasters
Determining the Potential of Alkali-Silica Reactivity of Combinations of
Cementitious Materials and Aggregate (Mortar-Bar Method)
Tensile Strength of Concrete Surfaces and the Bond Strength or Tensile Strength of Concrete Repair and Overlays Materials by Direct Tension
Standard Specification for Rapid Hardening Hydraulic Cement
Establishing and Implementing a Quality System for Construction Materials
Testing Laboratories
Acceptance Criteria for Proprietary Hydraulic Cement
ISO/IEC 17025
General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration of
Laboratories