When should wet sieving be preferred over dry sieving?

Wet sieving is preferred when the material contains lumps, agglomerates, or a high percentage of fine dust that clings to larger particles.

What is the acceptable tolerance for weighing the sample?

The sample and retained fractions must be weighed to an accuracy of 0.1 percent of the total sample mass.

How should the final results be presented?

Results are typically presented as a table of cumulative percentage passing or retained, and often plotted on a semi-logarithmic particle size distribution curve.

IS 1607

: 1977

Methods for test sieving

CurrentFrequently UsedTesting MethodMaterials Science · Sieves, Sieving and Other Sizing Methods

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This standard lays down the general principles and procedures for test sieving of granular and powdery materials. It provides guidelines on sample preparation, sieving techniques (dry and wet), and the correct method for calculating and reporting particle size distribution.

Methods for test sieving

Quick Reference Values

weighing accuracy0.1 percent of the mass of the test sample

sample drying temperature105 to 110 °C

Key Formulas

Percentage retained = (Mass retained on sieve / Total mass of sample) x 100

Cumulative percentage passing = 100 - Cumulative percentage retained

Practical Notes

Avoid overloading the sieves; if the mass retained exceeds the permissible limit for a sieve, split the sample and sieve in batches.

Wet sieving should be strictly utilized for materials containing a high proportion of fine particles that tend to agglomerate.

Always clean sieves gently with a soft brush from the underside to avoid distorting the wire mesh and altering the aperture size.