ASTM C1012/C1012M-18b - 15.12.2018
 
Significance and Use

3.1 This test method provides a means of assessing the sulfate resistance of mortars made using portland cement, blends of portland cement with pozzolans or slags, and blended hydraulic cements. Test Method C452 is suitable for evaluating portland cements but not blended cements or blends of portland cement with pozzolans or slags.

3.2 The standard exposure solution used in this test method, unless otherwise directed, contains 352 moles of Na2SO4 per m3 (50 g/L). Other sulfate concentrations or other sulfates such as MgSO4 may be used to simulate the environmental exposure of interest. Further discussion of these and other technical issues is given in the Appendix.

 
1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers the determination of length change of mortar bars immersed in a sulfate solution. Mortar bars made using mortar described in Test Method C109/C109M are cured until they attain a compressive strength of 20.0 ± 1.0 MPa [3000 ± 150 psi], as measured using cubes made of the same mortar, before the bars are immersed.

1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the inch-pound units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

 
2. Referenced Documents

C917-05

Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Cement Strength Uniformity From a Single Source

C109/C109M-26a

Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using 50 mm [2 in.] Cube Specimens) (Includes all amendments and changes 7/30/2026).

C305-20

Standard Practice for Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency

C348-21

Standard Test Method for Flexural Strength of Hydraulic-Cement Mortars

C349-24

Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic-Cement Mortars (Using Portions of Prisms Broken in Flexure)

C452-21

Standard Test Method for Potential Expansion of Portland-Cement Mortars Exposed to Sulfate

C511-21

Standard Specification for Mixing Rooms, Moist Cabinets, Moist Rooms, and Water Storage Tanks Used in the Testing of Hydraulic Cements and Concretes

C989-10

Standard Specification for Slag Cement for Use in Concrete and Mortars

C1157-08

Standard Performance Specification for Hydraulic Cement

D1193-24

Standard Specification for Reagent Water

E18-25

Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials

E177-26a

Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods (Includes all amendments and changes 5/14/2026).

E691-23

Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method

C778-26

Standard Specification for Standard Sand

ACI C201-2R-01

Guide to Durable Concrete Available from American Concrete Institute (ACI), P.O. Box 9094, Farmington Hills, MI 48333-9094, http://www.concrete.org.

C618-26

Standard Specification for Coal Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural Pozzolan for Use in Concrete

C597-22

Standard Test Method for Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Through Concrete

C595-08

Standard Specification for Blended Hydraulic Cements

C490-07

Standard Practice for Use of Apparatus for the Determination of Length Change of Hardened Cement Paste, Mortar, and Concrete

C157/C157M-24e1

Standard Test Method for Length Change of Hardened Hydraulic-Cement Mortar and Concrete (Includes all amendments and changes 10/14/2024).

C150-07

Standard Specification for Portland Cement

C114-24

Standard Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Hydraulic Cement

C215-19

Standard Test Method for Fundamental Transverse, Longitudinal, and Torsional Resonant Frequencies of Concrete Specimens