PD CEN/TR 16632:2014 PDF Download

PD CEN/TR 16632:2014 is a standard that provides a state-of-the-art report and recommendations for Isothermal Conduction Calorimetry (ICC) for the Determination of Heat of Hydration of Cement. The basic principle of ICC is to measure the heat of hydration of cement when mixed with water at a constant temperature. The calorimeter used consists of a thermostatic heat sink with two heat flow sensors. The sample is placed in an ampoule, which is in contact with one of the heat flow sensors, and an inert reference is placed in contact with the other sensor. The calorimeter measures the difference between the outputs from the sample and reference sensors.

There are several key points that need to be considered and managed when performing ICC measurements on cement samples. It is important to ensure a constant temperature of the thermostat and stability of the temperature throughout the test duration. Isothermal conditions should be maintained, which means controlling the maximum difference between the sample temperature and thermostat temperature. The baseline of the instrument, measured with an inert sample, should be repeatable and stable. The calorimeter also needs to be calibrated, typically using the joule effect produced by a resistor fed with an electrical current. Finally, it is important to check that the ampoule used is vapour tight to avoid any influence from endothermic thermal powers of evaporation.