This standard details the colorimetric (spectrophotometric) methods for rapid chemical analysis of hydraulic cement. It provides procedures for determining the percentage of key constituents like silicon dioxide, ferric oxide, aluminium oxide, and others by measuring the light absorbance of their colored chemical complexes.
Method for colourimetric analysis of hydraulic cement
Quick Reference Values
Sample weight for analysis0.5 g
Wavelength for Silicon Dioxide (as silicomolybdate complex)410 nm
Wavelength for Ferric Oxide (with salicylic acid)490 nm
Wavelength for Aluminium Oxide (with aluminon)525 nm
Wavelength for Titanium Dioxide (with hydrogen peroxide)420 nm
Wavelength for Manganic Oxide (as permanganate)525 nm
Key Formulas
% Oxide = (Mass of oxide from calibration curve in µg / Mass of sample taken in µg) × 100
Practical Notes
This is a rapid analysis method, suitable for quality control in cement plants, offering faster results than the classical wet chemistry methods in IS 4032.
Accuracy is highly dependent on the purity of reagents and the precise calibration of the spectrophotometer using standard solutions.
This method is an alternative, not a replacement, for the reference methods specified in IS 4032, which are used in case of a dispute.