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Designation: C 233 – 00

Standard Test Method for

Air-Entraining Admixtures for Concrete1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 233; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope C 231 Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed

1.1 This test method covers the testing of materials pro- Concrete by the Pressure Method2
posed for use as air-entraining admixtures in the field. C 232 Test Methods for Bleeding of Concrete2
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the C 260 Specification for Air-Entraining Admixtures for Con-
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information crete2
purposes only. C 403/C 403M Test Method for Time of Setting of Concrete
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the Mixtures by Penetration Resistance2
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the C 666 Test Method for Resistance of Concrete to Rapid
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- Freezing and Thawing2
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- C 670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. for Test Methods for Construction Materials2
1.4 The text of this test method references notes and D 75 Practice for Sampling Aggregates4
footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water5
footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be E 70 Test Method for pH of Aqueous Solutions with the
considered as requirements of the standard. Glass Electrode6
2.2 ACI Standards:
2. Referenced Documents ACI 211.1 Recommended Practice for Selecting Propor-
2.1 ASTM Standards: tions for Normal, Heavyweight, and Mass Concrete7
C 33 Specification for Concrete Aggregates2
3. Significance and Use
C 39 Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical
Concrete Specimens2 3.1 This test method is used to develop data for comparison
C 78 Test Method for Flexural Strength of Concrete (Using with the requirements of Specification C 260. These tests are
Simple Beam with Third-Point Loading)2 based on arbitrary stipulations permitting highly standardized
C 136 Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse testing in the laboratory, and are not intended to simulate actual
Aggregates2 job conditions.
C 143/C 143M Test Method for Slump of Hydraulic Ce-
4. Materials
ment Concrete2
C 150 Specification for Portland Cement3 4.1 Cement—The cement used in any series of tests shall be
C 157 Test Method for Length Change of Hardened either the cement proposed for specific work in accordance
Hydraulic-Cement Mortar and Concrete2 with 4.4, a Type I or Type II cement conforming to Specifica-
C 172 Practice for Sampling Freshly Mixed Concrete2 tion C 150, or a blend of two or more cements, in equal parts.
C 173 Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed Each cement of the blend shall conform to the requirements of
Concrete by the Volumetric Method2 either Type I or Type II, Specification C 150. If a blend of
C 185 Test Method for Air Content of Hydraulic Cement cements is used, it shall be a combination which produces an
Mortar3 air content of less than 10 % when tested in accordance with
C 192/C 192M Test Method for Making and Curing Con- Test Method C 185 (Note 3).
crete Test Specimens in the Laboratory2 4.2 Aggregates—Except when tests are made in accordance
with 4.4, using the aggregates proposed for specific work, the
fine and coarse aggregates used in any series of tests shall come
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
4
C09.23 on Chemical Admixtures. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.03.
5
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 2000. Published April 2000. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
6
published as C 233 – 49 T. Last previous edition C 233 – 97a. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.05.
2 7
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02. American Concrete Institute Manual of Concrete Practice, Part 1, pp. 211-1 to
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.01. 211-38 (1993).

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 C 233
from single lots of well-graded, sound materials that conform “neutralized Vinsol resin.”8
to the requirements of Specification C 33, except that the 4.4 Materials for Tests for Specific Uses—When it is desired
grading of the aggregates shall conform to the following to test an air-entraining admixture for use in specific work, the
requirements: cement and aggregates used shall be representative of those
4.2.1 Fine Aggregate Grading—The fine aggregate shall proposed for use in the work, and the concrete mixtures shall
meet the requirements for the fine aggregate in Specification be designed to have the cement content specified for use in the
C 33. work (Note 3). If the maximum size of coarse aggregate is
greater than 25.0 mm (1 in.), the freshly mixed concrete shall
4.2.2 Coarse Aggregate Grading—The coarse aggregate
be screened over a 25.0-mm (1-in.) sieve prior to fabricating
shall meet the requirements for size number 57 of Specification
the test specimens in accordance with the wet sieving proce-
C 33. dure described in Practice C 172.
NOTE 1—Take care in loading and delivery to avoid segregation. 4.5 Preparation and Weighing—All materials shall be pre-
pared and all weighings shall be made as prescribed in Test
4.2.3 The coarse aggregate used for each set of reference Method C 192/C 192M.
concrete and comparable test admixture-treated concrete shall
NOTE 3—It is recommended that whenever practicable, tests be made in
be essentially the same. Therefore, a set of test concrete
accordance with 4.4 using the cement and pozzolanic or chemical
consists of one reference concrete and as many test admixture- admixtures, if any, proposed for specific work.
containing concretes as are intended to be compared to that one
reference. Thus, coarse aggregate for one set shall consist of 5. Concrete Mixtures
enough material for one reference concrete, the test admixture- 5.1 Proportions—Using ACI 211.1, all concrete shall be
containing concrete to be compared with that reference, and the proportioned to conform to the following requirements:
sample for grading analysis testing. 5.1.1 The cement content shall be 307 6 3 kg/m3 (517 6 5
4.2.3.1 Prepare coarse aggregate for a set, comprising a lb/yd3) except when tests are being made for specific uses (see
sample large enough for concrete trials, as follows: Fill tared 4.4).
containers, one each for a sample, a batch of reference concrete 5.1.2 The first trial mixture shall contain the amount of
and one or more test concretes to the required mass from the coarse aggregate shown in Table 6.3.6 of ACI Recommended
aggregate stockpile. Accomplish this by starting with a scoop- Practice 211.1 for the maximum size of aggregate and for the
ful into the first container and repeat this procedure until all fineness modulus of the sand being used.
containers have their required mass. Repeat the process for NOTE 4—Values in Table 6.3.6 of ACI Recommended Practice 211.1-
each of the three or more sets needed. One or more spare sets 77 are intended to ensure workable mixtures with the least favorable
combinations of aggregate likely to be used. It is suggested, therefore, that
may be needed. See the Appendix of Practice D 75, Sampling
for a closer approximation of the proportions required for this test, the
from Stockpiles, and the Manual of Aggregate and Concrete values selected from Table 6.3.6 be increased by about 7 % for the first
Testing2 for guidance for conditions and procedures. trial mixture.
4.2.4 Test coarse aggregate samples representing each set by 5.1.3 The air content used in the computation of proportions
Test Method C 136 requirements for the sieves shown below. for all concrete shall be 5.5 % except where the admixture
Discard any set for which the sample does not comply with under test is for use in specific work (see 4.4). In this case the
Size 57. Average test results for samples which comply with air content used in selecting proportions shall be the median of
Size 57 for each sieve size. Discard any set for which the the range to be permitted in the work. If lightweight aggregates
sample deviates from this average by more than the amount are to be used in specific work, the unit weight of concrete used
shown in column 3. Continue the process of preparation, in selecting proportions shall be the median of the range
testing and averaging until sufficient sets of aggregate within permitted in the work.
tolerance are obtained. 5.1.4 The water content and sand content shall be adjusted
Specification C 33, No. 57 Maximum variation from to obtain a slump of 90 6 15 mm (31⁄2 6 1⁄2 in.). The
Sieve Percent Passing average/passing workability of the concrete mixture shall be suitable for
37.5-mm 100 00
25.0-mm 95 to 100 1.0
consolidation by hand rodding and the concrete mixture shall
12.5-mm 25 to 60 4.0 have the minimum water content possible. These conditions
4.75-mm 0 to 10 4.0 shall be achieved by final adjustments in the proportion of fine
2.36-mm 0 to 5 1.0
aggregate to total aggregate, in the amount of total aggregate,
NOTE 2—All of the results required for demonstrating compliance or both, while maintaining the yield and slump in the required
under this specification are dependent on the uniformity of the aggregate ranges.
samples prepared and used. Careful, skilled and well-supervised work is 5.2 Conditions—Concrete mixtures shall be prepared both
essential. with the air-entraining admixture under test and with the
4.3 Reference Admixture—For this test method, unless oth-
erwise requested by the purchaser, the reference admixture
8
used in the concrete mixture specified in Section 4 shall be Vinsol resin is manufactured by Hercules Inc., Wilmington, DE. Neutralization
may be accomplished by treating 100 parts of the Vinsol resin with 9 to 15 parts of
NaOH by weight. In an aqueous solution, the ratio of water to the resinate shall not
exceed 12:1 by weight.

2
 C 233
reference admixture. The admixtures shall be added in the be found to be manifestly faulty, the test results thereof shall be
amounts necessary to produce the air content selected in disregarded. Should more than one specimen representing a
accordance with 5.1.3 within a tolerance of 60.5 % of the given test at a given age be found manifestly faulty, either
volume of concrete. before or after testing, the entire test shall be disregarded and
repeated. The test result reported shall be the average of the
6. Mixing individual test results of the specimens tested or, in the event
6.1 Machine mix the concrete as prescribed in Test Method that one specimen or one result has been discarded, it shall be
C 192/C 192M. the average of the test results of the remaining specimens.
7. Tests and Properties of Freshly Mixed Concrete 9. Test Specimens of Hardened Concrete
7.1 Test samples of freshly mixed concrete from at least 9.1 Number of Specimens—Make six or more test speci-
three separate batches for each condition of concrete in mens for the freezing and thawing test and three or more test
accordance with the following methods and the minimum specimens for each other type of test and age of test specified
number of tests shall be as prescribed in Table 1. in Table 1 for each condition of concrete to be compared.
7.1.1 Slump—Test Method C 143/C 143M. 9.2 Types of Specimens—Prepare specimens made from
7.1.2 Air Content—Test Method C 231. When lightweight concrete with and without the air-entraining admixture under
aggregates are used under the provisions of 4.4, use Test test in accordance with the following:
Method C 173. 9.2.1 Compressive Strength—Make and cure test specimens
7.1.3 Bleeding—Test Methods C 232. in accordance with Test Method C 192/C 192M.
7.1.4 Time of Setting—Test Method C 403/C 403M, except 9.2.2 Flexural Strength—Make and cure test specimens in
that the temperature of each of the ingredients of the concrete accordance with Test Method C 192/C 192M.
mixtures, just prior to mixing, and the temperature at which the 9.2.3 Resistance to Freezing and Thawing—Test specimens
time of setting specimens are stored during the test period shall shall consist of prisms made and cured in accordance with the
be 23.06 2°C (73 6 3°F). applicable requirement of Test Method C 192/C 192M. Test
specimen dimensions shall be as required by Test Method
8. Preparation of Test Specimens C 666. Make one set of specimens from the concrete mixture
8.1 Specimens for test of hardened concrete, representing containing the air-entraining admixture under test and from the
each test and age of test and each condition of concrete being reference concrete mixture, the air content of each mixture
compared, shall be made from at least three separate batches, being as specified in 5.2.
and the minimum number of specimens shall be as prescribed 9.2.4 Length Change—Make and cure test specimens in
in Table 1. On a given day at least one specimen shall be made accordance with Test Method C 157. The moist-curing period,
for each test and age of test from each condition of concrete including the period in the molds, shall be 14 days.
except that at least two specimens for the freezing and thawing
test shall be made from each condition of concrete. The 10. Tests on Hardened Concrete
preparation of all specimens shall be completed in three days of 10.1 Test specimens of hardened concrete in accordance
mixing. with the following test methods:
8.2 Manifestly Faulty Specimens—Each group of specimens 10.1.1 Compressive Strength—Test Method C 39. Test
representing a given test or a given age of test, including tests specimens at ages of 3, 7, and 28 days. Calculate the compres-
of freshly mixed concrete, shall be examined visually before or sive strength of the concrete containing the admixture under
during the test, or both, whichever is appropriate. Discard any test as a percentage of the compressive strength of the
specimen found to be manifestly faulty by such examination reference concrete as follows:
without testing. Visually examine all specimens representing a 10.1.1.1 Divide the average compressive strength of the
given test at a given age after testing, and should any specimen specimens made from the concrete containing the admixture

TABLE 1 Types and Minimum Number of Specimens and Tests

Number of Number of Minimum
Number of
Test Types of Conditions of Number of
Test Ages
SpecimensA ConcreteB Specimens
C
Slump 1 1 2
C
Air content 1 1 2
Bleeding 1 1 2 6
D
Time of setting 1 2 6
Compressive strength 1 5 2 30
Flexural strengthE 1 5 2 30
Freezing and thawing 1 1 2 12F
Length changeE 1 1 2 6
A
See Section 7 and 9.2.
B
See 4.2.
C
Determined on each batch of concrete mixed.
D
See 7.1.4.
E
Optional tests, see 10.1.5.
F
Specimens for duplicate tests from each batch.

3
 C 233
under test at a given age of test by the average compressive
strength of the specimens made from the reference concrete at M1 5 mass of weighing dish and admixture prior to heat-
the same age of test and multiply the quotient by 100. ing,
10.1.2 Flexural Strength—Test Method C 78. Test speci- M2 5 mass of empty weighing dish,
mens at ages 3, 7, and 28 days. Calculate the flexural strength M3 5 M1 − M2 5 mass of sample,
of the concrete containing the admixture under test as a M4 5 mass of weighing dish and dried residue, and
percentage of the flexural strength of the reference concrete as M5 5 M4 − M2 5 mass of dried residue.
follows: 12.3.2 Calculate the residue by using the following equa-
10.1.2.1 Divide the average flexural strength of the speci- tion:
mens made from the concrete containing the admixture under Residue by oven drying ~% by mass! 5 ~M5 3 100!/M3 (1)
test at a given age of test by the average flexural strength of the
specimens made from the reference concrete at the same age of 13. Report
test, and multiply the quotient by 100. 13.1 Report the following information:
10.1.3 Resistance to Freezing and Thawing—Procedure A 13.1.1 Results of the tests specified in this method as
of Test Method C 666. Place specimens under test at the age of compared with the requirements of Specification C 260,
14 days. 13.1.2 Brand name, manufacturer’s name and lot number,
10.1.4 Length Change—Test Method C 157. The drying character of the material, and quantity represented by the
period shall be 14 days. sample of the admixture under test,
10.1.5 The flexural strength and length change tests are 13.1.3 Brand name, manufacturer’s name, and other data on
applicable only when specifically required by the purchaser. the reference admixture,
13.1.4 Brand name, manufacturer’s name, type, and test
11. Check Tests for Uniformity data on the portland cement or cements used,
11.1 The check tests enumerated in Specification C 260 in 13.1.5 Description of, and test data on the fine and coarse
the section on Optional Uniformity Requirements shall be aggregates used,
determined as follows: 13.1.6 Detailed data on the concrete mixtures used, includ-
11.1.1 pH—The pH of liquid air-entraining admixtures shall ing amounts and proportions of admixtures used, actual cement
be determined in accordance with Test Method E 70. Non- factors, water-cement ratios, ratios of fine to total aggregate,
liquid admixtures shall be prepared in solution to determine consistency, and air content.
pH. Unless there is reason to do otherwise, dissolve the 13.1.7 In reporting on check tests for uniformity, report both
material in water in the proportions specified for job use as the initial and current air contents of mortar for the acceptance
shown on the package or in other manufacturer’s instructions. sample, and the air content of the check test sample, all as
The temperature of the check test sample shall be within 6 1°C determined by Test Method C 185.
(6 2°F) of that for the acceptance sample and preferably in the 14. Precision and Bias 9
range of 21 to 27°C (70 to 80°F). 14.1 Precision:
11.1.2 Air Content of Mortar—Using the same amounts of 14.1.1 The single-laboratory coefficient of variation of resi-
successive lots of air-entraining admixtures with the same due by oven drying has been found to be 0.79 %. Therefore, the
cement, determine the air contents of mortars in accordance results of two properly conducted tests on the same material in
with Test Method C 185. The air-entraining admixture shall be the same laboratory are not expected to differ by more than
combined with the mixing water prior to the start of the mixing 2.24 % of their average.10
procedure. The determinations for both the check test sample
and acceptance sample shall be made on the same day. NOTE 5—As an example, two tests conducted on the same material
yield residues by oven drying of 6.14 % and 6.04 %, respectively. The
average of these two measurements is 6.09 %. The acceptable range of
12. Procedure for Residue by Oven Drying
results is then 2.24 % of 6.09 % or 60.136 %. As the difference between
12.1 Determine the mass of an aluminum dish (about 57 6.14 % and 6.04 % is 0.10 % the results are within the acceptable range.
mm diameter, 15 mm height, and about 1 g in weight) to the 14.1.2 The multilaboratory coefficient of variation of resi-
nearest 0.0001 g. Using a pipet, evenly distribute 1 ml of the due by oven drying has been found to be 2.35 %. Therefore, the
liquid air entraining admixture in the dish, and weigh to the results of two properly conducted tests on the same material in
nearest 0.0001 g. Place the weighing dish in a drying oven different laboratories are not expected to differ by more than
(12.2). Dry for 25 6 2 min at 125 6 1°C. At the end of the 6.65 % of their average.10
drying period transfer the weighing dish to a desiccator, cool to 14.1.3 Other procedures referenced in this test method use
room temperature, and weigh to the nearest 0.0001 g. results obtained from other ASTM test methods listed in
12.2 The drying oven shall be either a forced circulation Section 2. These documents are to be referred to for their
type or one with provision for free access of air. There shall be respective precision statements.
precise control of temperature and time of drying so that the
degree of volatilization of the material other than water from
9
sample to sample will not vary. A copy of the research report used to develop the precision statement is
available from ASTM headquarters. Request RR: C09-1005.
12.3 Calculation: 10
These numbers represent, respectively, the (1s %) and (d2s %) limits as
12.3.1 Record the following weights: described in Practice C 670.

4
 C 233
14.2 Bias—Since there is no accepted reference material 15. Keywords
suitable for determining the bias of this test method, no 15.1 air content; air-entraining admixture; cement; concrete;
statement on bias is made. pH; residue; specific gravity

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