A2.3.1 This annex provides a means to determine the amount of methylene blue dye adsorbed by a sample of finely ground limestone. Methylene blue dye is preferentially adsorbed by clay minerals that may be present in limestone. The amount of dye adsorbed is related to the clay type and content. Certain clays may increase the water demand or affect other properties of cements if present in sufficient quantity in the limestone when used as an ingredient in cement. The specification places a limit on the methylene blue index of limestone permitted as an ingredient in blended cement.

This specification pertains to blended hydraulic cements for both general and special applications, using slag or pozzolan, or both, with portland cement or portland cement clinker or slag with lime. These cements are classified into two types: Type IS which is portland blast-furnace slag cement and Type IP which is portland-pozzolan cement. They can also be described according to air-entraining, moderate sulfate resistance, moderate heat of hydration, high sulfate resistance, or low heat of hydration properties. The cement shall conform to the chemical requirements prescribed. In addition, the cement shall undergo different tests to determine the following properties: chemical analysis, fineness by sieving, fineness by air-permeability, autoclave expansion, time of setting, air content of mortar, compressive strength, heat of hydration, normal consistency, specific gravity, water requirement, mortar expansions of blended cement and pozzolan, drying shrinkage, activity index with Portland cement, and sulfate resistance.

1.1 This specification pertains to blended hydraulic cements for both general and special applications, using slag, pozzolan, limestone, or some combination of these, with portland cement or portland cement clinker or slag with lime.

Note 1: This specification prescribes ingredients and proportions, with some performance requirements whereas Performance Specification C1157 is a hydraulic cement specification in which performance criteria alone govern the products and their acceptance.

1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard. Values in SI units [or inch-pound units] shall be obtained by measurement in SI units [or inch-pound units] or by appropriate conversion, using the Rules for Conversion and Rounding given in IEEE/ASTM SI 10, of measurements made in other units [or SI units]. Values are stated in only SI units when inch-pound units are not used in practice.

1.3 The text of this standard refers to notes and footnotes, which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) are not requirements of the standard.