AASHTO T 153-20 PDF Download

Standard Method of Test for Fineness of Hydraulic Cement by Air Permeability Apparatus, also known as AASHTO T 153-20, provides guidelines for determining the fineness of hydraulic cement using the Blaine air permeability apparatus. The purpose of this test is to measure the specific surface area of the cement, expressed as total surface area in square centimeters per gram or square meters per kilogram.

The standard includes two test methods. Test Method A is the Reference Test Method, which involves using a manually operated standard Blaine apparatus. Test Method B allows the use of an automated apparatus that meets the qualification requirements and demonstrates acceptable performance. It should be noted that the test method is primarily intended for determining the relative fineness values of hydraulic cement rather than absolute values.

While the test method is proven to work well for portland cements, the user needs to exercise judgment in determining its suitability for fineness measurements of cements with varying densities or porosities. It is important to consider these factors and compare them to the assigned values of Standard Reference Material No. 114.