The heart of concrete lies in the cement... Several tests should be performed to determine the characteristics of cement, so that one may predict the general performance it will have in the concrete. Setting time tests will help determine how much time is available to place and finish the concrete. Compressive strength testing of mortar cubes at 3-days, 7-days and 28-days of aging are used to observe the development of the strength gain of the mortar over time. A Chemical analysis of the cement will provide a reasonable estimate of the composition of the cement. These are just a few of the tests that can be used to determine the quality of the cement. A basic list of some of the cement testing our laboratory provides is listed below.

ASTM C 10	Specification for Natural Cement
ASTM C 91	Specification for Masonry Cement
ASTM C 109	Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars (2x2 Cubes)
ASTM C 114	Chemical Analysis of Hydraulic Cement
ASTM C 150	Specification for Portland Cement
ASTM C 151	Autoclave Expansion of Portland Cement
ASTM C 185	Air Content of Hydraulic Cement Mortar
ASTM C 187	Normal Consistency of Hydraulic Cement
ASTM C 188	Density of Hydraulic Cement
ASTM C 191	Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Vicat Needle
ASTM C 204	Fineness of Hydraulic Cement by Air-Permeability Apparatus
ASTM C 227	Potential Alkali Reactivity of Cement-Aggregate Combinations
ASTM C 226	Air-Entraining Additions for Use in the Manufacture of Air-Entraining Hydraulic Cement
ASTM C 266	Time of Setting of Hydraulic-Cement Paste by Gillmore Needles
ASTM C 230	Flow Table for Use in Tests of Hydraulic Cement
ASTM C 348	Flexural Strength of Hydraulic-Cement Mortars
ASTM C 349	Compressive Strength of Hydraulic-Cement Mortars (Portions of Prisms Broken in Flexural)
ASTM C 359	Early Stiffening of Hydraulic Cement
ASTM C 430	Fineness of Hydraulic Cement by the 45-µm (No. 325) Sieve
ASTM C 451	Early Stiffening of Hydraulic Cement (Paste Method)
ASTM C 452	Potential Expansion of Portland-Cement Mortars Exposed to Sulfate
ASTM C 595	Specifications for Blended Hydraulic Cements
ASTM C 596	Drying Shrinkage of Mortar containing Hydraulic Cement
ASTM C 563	Optimum SO3 in Hydraulic Cement Using 24-hr Compressive Strength
ASTM C 786	Fineness of Hydraulic Cement and Raw Materials by the No. 50, No. 100, and No. 200 Sieves by Wet Methods
ASTM C 806	Restrained Expansion of Expansive Cement Mortar
ASTM C 807	Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement Mortar by Modified Vicat Needle
ASTM C 845	Specifications For Expansive Hydraulic Cement
ASTM C 1012	Length Change of Hydraulic-Cement Mortars Exposed to A Sulfate Solution
ASTM C 1038	Expansion of Hydraulic Cement Mortar Bars Stored in Water
ASTM C 1157	Specifications for Hydraulic Cements
ASTM C 1328	Specification for Plastic (Stucco) Cement
ASTM C 1329	Specification for Mortar Cement
ASTM C 1437	Flow of Hydraulic Cement Mortar
ASTM C 1506	Water Retention of Hydraulic Cement-Based Mortars and Plasters
ASTM C 1583	Tensile Strength of Concrete Surfaces and the Bond Strength or Tensile Strength of Concrete Repair and Overlays Materials by Direct Tension