Aim

To determine the percentage of water absorption of bricks

Apparatus

A sensitive balance capable of weighing within 0.1% of the mass of the specimen and ventilated oven

Specimen

Three numbers of whole bricks from samples collected for testing should be taken.

Procedure

(I) Dry the specimen in a ventilated oven at a temperature of 105 °C to 115°C till it attains substantially constant mass.

(II) Cool the specimen to room temperature and obtain its weight (clip_image002) specimen too warm to touch shall not be used for this purpose .

(III) Immerse completely dried specimen in clean water at a temperature of 27+2°C for 24 hours.

(IV) Remove the specimen and wipe out any traces of water with damp cloth and weigh the specimen after it has been removed from water (clip_image004).

bricks

CALCULATIONS

Water absorption, % by mass, after 24 hours immersion in cold water in given by the formula,

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The average of result shall be reported.

Result

Water absorption of the given bricks = ………….%

Specification

When tested as above, the average water absorption shall not be more than 20% by weight up to class 125 and 15% by weight for higher class.