EN 196-4 Cement Test Methods - Quantitative Determination of Components

This European preliminary standard sets out procedures for determining the contents of cement components covered by ENV 197-1.

The method should be considered the method of choice and is based on the sequential selective dissolution of cement components, usually of an unknown number, when they are not separately available for analysis simultaneously with the cement.

As mentioned earlier, the selection method has its limitations and cannot be considered a means by which the clinker content can simply be determined in isolation from any other components. Clinker content is determined 'by variation' and other components contain mineral phases that are partly similar to those found in the clinker and may cause interferences leading to difficulties in interpreting the results.

Any other method that has the same purposes and is intended for use when components are not available for separate analysis may be considered an alternative to the chosen method when shown to produce equivalent results with appropriate statistical validity.

If the difference between the two values ​​obtained for each analyte is less than twice the standard deviation of the repeatability of this analyte, the value to be taken in subsequent calculations is the arithmetic mean of the two values. If the difference between the two values ​​is greater than twice the standard deviation for repeatability, a third experiment should be performed and the value to be taken for further calculations should be the arithmetic mean of the two closest values.

Therefore, for the selected method by selective dissolution, only one calculation will need to be carried out for the quantitative determination of the components, in particular the clinker. Similarly, in methods of analysis of three-component cements, a single calculation will allow the determination of the hydraulic or pozzolanic component content.

EUROLAB assists manufacturers with EN 196-4 test compliance. Our test experts, with their professional working mission and principles, provide you, our manufacturers and suppliers, the best service and controlled testing process in our laboratories. Thanks to these services, businesses receive more effective, high-performance and quality testing services and provide safe, fast and uninterrupted service to their customers.