Physics Laboratory
At the laboratory of Cementos Barrero SA, physics testing (resistors, forged and grinding) and chemical tests (such as chlorides, fire losses) are performed. The performed physical lab is responsible for carrying out tests of mechanical strength, and setting volume stability to check the quality of the cement produced and further screening tests are also performed by performing grinding in the Bond mechanical mill. Mechanical Resistances: To make the mortar specimens is mixed in a kneading one part cement and three normalized sand, mass and a water / cement ratio of 0.50. The mortar is prepared by mechanical kneading and compacted in a mold using a standard roller. The mold is kept in a humid atmosphere for 24 hours as it is demolded, the specimens are immediately immersed in buckets filled with water in a moist chamber at a temperature of 20 ° C ± 1 ° C and relative humidity not less than 90% to when strength tests.
Specimens are removed from their wet conservation means and break at 1, 2, 7 and 28 days to study hardening curve; as standard we manufacture cements break at 7 and 28 days.
It is taken to breaking machine and specimens are broken in the bending zone into two halves and each part is subjected to compression test in the compression zone obtaining the resistance value of each cement study measured in MPa.
Hardening: This test determines the initial setting time and end of a paste made with Portland cement. The test involves filling a mold cement, the surface is smooth and placed in a device previously defined features in the UNE-EN 196-3 and the penetration of the probe into the mold is measured, where the test is considered is valid when penetration of (6 ± 1) mm and thus know the normal consistency of cemento.Para determine the start of setting the mold with the above paste is filled, takes the humidity chamber, the apparatus is calibrated Vicat and the penetration test is repeated until the needle is introduced (4 ± 1) mm.
And to determine the end of the set the previous mold on its base plate is reversed and time is recorded with an accuracy of 15 minutes, it records the time from time zero time and when the needle penetrates only 0.5 mm in the pulp and the value obtained is the end of the set time.
Volume stability: is determined by observing the volumetric expansion of the cement paste of standard consistency, indicated by the relative displacement of two needles
Grindings: raw materials such as clinker, fly ash, slag studied, etc. and cement is manufactured in a mill Bond we have in the laboratory to study the mechanical properties, the setting of manufactured cement and chemical composition to assess whether it is suitable or not for use in production.