ASTM C20 Apparent Porosity, Water Absorption, Apparent Specific Gravity, and Bulk Density of Burned Refractory Brick and Shapes by Boiling Water

Scope:

ASTM C20 test method procedures for the determination of apparent porosity, water absorption, apparent specific gravity, and bulk density. ASTM C20 is the primary standard procedure that can be used in quality control, research, and development, developing, evaluating specifications compliance and giving data for design purposes. 

Procedure:

In ASTM C20, test specimens are dried to a consistent weight nearest to 0.1 g at 220–230 °F. Furthermore, the test specimens are boiled in water for 2 h. During the boiling process, the specimen is kept completely submerged in water and away from the container’s heated bottom. The test specimen is cooled at room temperature while still totally covered in water after the boiling period. After boiling, specimens remained in water for at least 12 h before measurement of the weight, nearest to 0.1 g after boiling while suspended in water. Afterwards, it is suspended in a loop or halter of AWG gauge 22 (0.643 mm), copper wire is hung from one arm of the scale for weighing. The blotting procedure is carried out by lightly rolling the specimen on a wet towel. 

Video 01: Measuring Porosity: Fluid Displacement Method

Result:

Specimen size:

When testing a 9 in. straight brick, cut it in half along a plane parallel to the 9 by 2^1/2 or 3 in. face and along a plane parallel to the 4^1/2 by 2^1/2 or 3 in. face to make a quarter-brick specimen.

Data:

The quotient of a specimen’s dry weight divided by the exterior volume, including pores, yields the bulk density, in g per cm³, as shown in the equation below.

B, g/cm³ = D/V

Conclusion:

The basic features of burned refractory brick and forms are apparent porosity, water absorption, apparent specific gravity, and bulk density. ASTM C20 measures all these properties.