Construction materials testing
Vicat Apparatus
A weighted sliding rod with interchangeable plunger and needles used to find the standard consistency of cement paste and its initial and final setting times.
- Cement manufacturing
- Construction materials testing
- Ready-mix concrete
- Admixture manufacturers
- Academic labs
TROUBLESHOOTING
Common problems, causes and fixes
Setting times much shorter than usual
Likely causes
- • High room temperature or warm mixing water
- • Long gauging time
- • Old or aerated cement
What to do
- • Control temperature as per the standard
- • Keep gauging time within limits
- • Use a fresh, sealed sample
Penetration readings erratic
Likely causes
- • Rod sticking in the bearing
- • Plunger released with a push
- • Paste not compacted, with air voids
What to do
- • Clean the bearing
- • Release by loosening the screw only
- • Tap the mould to remove air
Needle penetrates too easily at late times
Likely causes
- • Needle bent or thinner than specified
- • Moving mass too high
What to do
- • Replace needle
- • Check total moving mass
Pointer does not read zero on the base plate
Likely causes
- • Scale has shifted
- • Wrong attachment fitted
What to do
- • Re-set the scale
- • Fit the correct attachment and re-zero
In LimsPulse · Calibration Management
Keep every Vicat in control: usage logs, calibration and maintenance schedules, and automatic blocking of overdue instruments.