NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.

Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.

Designation: C 1506 – 01

Standard Test Method for

Water Retention of Hydraulic Cement-Based Mortars and
Plasters1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 1506; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope ability of mortars and plasters to retain water under suction.

1.1 This test method provides for the determination of water Test results may be used to determine compliance with
retention of hydraulic cement-based mortars and plasters. specifications.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the 4.2 The results obtained using this test method can be used
standard. to compare the relative ability of mortars and plasters to retain
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the water under suction.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 4.3 The results obtained using this test method for masonry
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- mortars do not necessarily indicate the degree of water
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- retention when used with masonry units, since the amount of
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. (Warning—Fresh water absorbed by the unit depends on the rate of absorption of
hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause the masonry unit.
chemical burns to skin and tissue upon prolonged exposure.)2 4.4 The results obtained using this test method for plasters
(stucco) do not necessarily indicate the degree of water
2. Referenced Documents retention when the plaster is applied as a second coat on the
2.1 ASTM Standards: surface of a previously applied plaster base coat, since the
C 109/C 109M Test Method for Compressive Strength of amount of water absorbed from the second coat of plaster
Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using 2-in. or 50-mm Cube depends on the rate of absorption of the base coat. This is also
Specimens)3 true when a plaster is applied as a coating on masonry units.
C 185 Test Method for Air Content of Hydraulic Cement
5. Apparatus
Mortar3
C 230 Specification for Flow Table for Use in Tests of 5.1 Tamper, conforming to Test Method C 109/C 109M.
Hydraulic Cement3 5.2 Straightedge, conforming to Test Method C 185.
C 305 Practice for Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement 5.3 Flow Table, conforming to Specification C 230.
Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency3 5.4 Mixing Apparatus, conforming to the requirements pre-
C 670 Practice Preparing Precision and Bias Statements for scribed in Practice C 305.
Test Methods for Construction Materials4 5.5 Filtration Assembly, an apparatus essentially as shown
C 1437 Test Method for Flow of Hydraulic Cement Mortar3 in Fig. 1 shall be used. This apparatus consists of a perforated
dish resting on a funnel, which is connected by a three-way
3. Summary of Test Method stopcock to a vacuum flask, to which a controlled vacuum is
3.1 The flow of the mortar or plaster is determined. The applied. The perforated dish shall be made of metal not
mortar or plaster is then subjected to a controlled vacuum attacked by masonry mortar or plaster (Note 1). The metal base
suction for 60 s, after which the flow is again determined. The of the dish shall have a thickness of 1.8 6 0.1 mm and shall
water retention is the final flow divided by the initial flow conform to the requirements given in Fig. 1. The stopcock bore
expressed as a percentage. shall have a 4.0 6 0.5-mm diameter, and the connecting glass
tubing shall have a minimum inside diameter of 4 mm. The
4. Significance and Use length of the tubing projecting into the 1-L flask from the
4.1 This test method provides a means for determining the stopcock shall extend at least 25 mm below the center line of
the vacuum connection. The contact surfaces of the funnel and
1
perforated dish shall be plane and may need to be lapped to
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C01 on Cement
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C01.22 on Workability.
ensure intimate contact. An airtight seal shall be maintained
Current edition approved Aug. 10, 2001. Published October 2001. between the funnel and the dish during the test. This shall be
2
Section on Safety, Manual of Cement Testing, Annual Book of ASTM accomplished by either of the following procedures. (1) A
Standards, Vol 04.01. synthetic (grease-resistant) rubber gasket may be permanently
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.01.
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02. sealed to the top of the funnel using petrolatum or light grease

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
C 1506

NOTE—The gasket is to be synthetic rubber. The stopcock and the bore of the tubing shall be at least 4-mm. A check valve or water trap, or both, is
suggested for the connection to the vacuum source.
FIG. 1 Apparatus Assembly for the Water-Retention Test

to ensure a seal between the gasket and dish. (2) The top of the NOTE 1—Stainless steel, brass, and bronze are suitable metals for this
funnel may be lightly coated with petroleum or light grease to purpose.
ensure a seal between the funnel and dish. Care should be taken 5.6 Controlled Vacuum Source:
to ensure that none of the holes in the perforated dish become 5.6.1 A vacuum gage capable of reading at least 70 mm of
clogged. Hardened, smooth, not rapid filter paper shall be used. Hg in 1-mm increments, connected to a miniature vacuum
It shall be 150 mm in diameter and be placed so as to regulator having a maximum 400-mm capacity, which is then
completely cover the perforations in the dish. connected to a vacuum pump or water aspirator as shown in

2
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
C 1506
Fig. 1. Connection is made between the vacuum flask and the 9.4 Application of Vacuum to Mortar or Plaster—Turn the
vacuum gage. stopcock to apply the vacuum to the funnel. After suction for
60 s, quickly turn the stopcock to expose the funnel to
6. Temperature and Humidity atmospheric pressure.
6.1 The temperature of the mixing room and the room 9.5 Determination of Flow After Suction—Immediately
containing the water retention apparatus shall be maintained at slide the perforated dish off the funnel, touch the bottom of the
23.0 6 4.0°C. The relative humidity of the air shall not be less dish momentarily on a damp cloth to remove droplets of water.
than 50 %. Set the dish on a work table, plow and mix the mortar or plaster
for 15 s, with the rubber scraper prescribed in Practice C 305.
7. Materials Determine the flow in accordance with Test Method C 1437.
7.1 The composition of the mortar or plaster to be tested for Remove the vacuum and complete the flow test in less than 2
water retention shall be that described in the specification of min.
the material being considered, or that desired.
10. Calculation
8. Mixing of Mortar and Plaster
10.1 Calculate the water retention value for the mortar or
8.1 The mortar or plaster to be tested for water retention
plaster as follows:
shall be mixed as specified in the section on Procedure for
Mixing Mortars of Practice C 305, or as described in the Water retention, % 5 ~A/B! 3 100
specification for the material being considered. where:
9. Procedure A = flow after suction, and
B = flow immediately after initial mixing.
9.1 Preparation of Apparatus—Adjust the vacuum to 50 6
Report to the nearest 1 %.
3-mm Hg. Seat the perforated dish on the greased gasket or
greased rim of the funnel. Place a wetted filter paper in the 11. Precision and Bias
bottom of the dish. Turn the stopcock to apply the vacuum to
the funnel and check the apparatus for leaks and to determine 11.1 Precision—The following precision values were cal-
that the required vacuum is obtained. Then turn the stopcock to culated from results of tests reported to Cement and Concrete
shut off the vacuum from the funnel. Reference Laboratory (CCRL) for masonry cement proficiency
9.2 Determination of Flow—Determine the flow in accor- samples Number 3 through 42. Within- and among-laboratory
dance with Test Method C 1437. standard deviations were calculated by CCRL for each sample
9.3 Preparation of Mortar or Plaster Bed—Immediately pair. Values were pooled over all 40 samples for purposes of
after making the flow test, return the mortar or plaster on the this analysis. Water retention test results (excluding outliers)
flow table to the mixing bowl and remix the entire batch for 15 ranged from 72 to 88 %. The average number of laboratories
s at medium speed. Immediately after remixing, fill the reporting was 69.
perforated dish with the material to slightly above the rim. 11.1.1 Single-laboratory Precision—The single-laboratory
Tamp 15 times with the tamper. Apply ten of the tamping standard deviation has been found to be 3.5 % (Note 2).
strokes at approximately uniform spacing adjacent to the rim of Therefore, the results of two properly conducted tests in the
the dish, and with the long axis of the tamping face held at right same laboratory on the same material should not differ by more
angles to the radius of the dish. Apply the remaining five than 9.8 % (Note 2) in 95 % of such pairwise comparisons.
tamping strokes at random points distributed over the central 11.1.2 Multilaboratory Precision—The multilaboratory
area of the dish. Use just enough tamping pressure to fill the standard deviation has been found to be 5.1 % (Note 2).
dish with the top of the material extending slightly above the Therefore, the results of two properly conducted tests in
rim. Smooth off the material by drawing the flat side of the different laboratories on the same material should not differ by
straightedge (with the leading edge slightly raised) across the more than 14.3 % (Note 2) in 95 % of such pairwise compari-
top of the dish. Strike-off the material to a plane surface flush sons.
with the rim of the dish with the straightedge held in a NOTE 2—These numbers represent, respectively, the 1s and d2s limits
perpendicular position; using a sawing motion, draw the as described in Practice C 670.
straightedge across half of the surface of the dish; repeat the
procedure on the other half of the unfinished surface. If the 11.2 Bias—Since there is no accepted reference material
material is pulled away from the side of the dish during the suitable for determining bias in this test method, no statement
process of drawing the straightedge across the dish, gently on bias is being made.
press the material back into contact with the side of the dish
using the tamper. Complete the entire filling and strike-off 12. Keywords
operation in not more than 2 min. 12.1 hydraulic cement; mortar; plaster; water retention

3
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
C 1506
The ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item
mentioned in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights,
and the risk of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the
responsible technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should
make your views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.

This standard is copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,
United States. Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above
address or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or service@astm.org (e-mail); or through the ASTM website (www.ast-
m.org).