Methods of Tests for Epoxy Resins, Hardeners and Epoxy Resin Compositions for Floor Topping

IS 9162: Scope & Key Specifications

Scope (Clause 1.1):
Covers test methods for epoxy resins, hardeners, and their compositions including:

Key Calculations (Clauses 9.6 & 12.6)

• Compressive Strength, Flexural Strength, Tensile Strength:
  Use standard formulas based on test specimen dimensions and failure loads, e.g.,
  [ \text{Compressive Strength} = \frac{\text{Load at failure}}{\text{Cross-sectional area}} ]

• Linear Shrinkage:
  [ \text{Shrinkage} = \frac{L_0 - L_f}{L_0} \times 100% ]
  where (L_0) = original length, (L_f) = final length after curing.

• Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE):
  [ \alpha = \frac{\Delta L / L_0}{\Delta T} ]

Symbols & Definitions (Clause 16.3.0)

Standard symbols apply for stress, strain, temperature, load, etc., as per IS 9162.

If you need specific formulas or tables for any test, please specify!

IS 9162: Definitions and Specifications for Chemicals and Reagents

From Clauses 3.2, 4.3, 4.7.1, and 18.3, IS 9162 mandates the use of reagent grade chemicals for testing to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Key Points:

• Reagent Grade Chemicals: High purity chemicals conforming to standards such as AR (Analytical Reagent) grade.
• Used for tests like:
  • Chemical analysis of concrete
  • Determination of cement properties
  • Other related material tests

Typical Chemicals Specified:

Important:

• Use freshly prepared reagents.
• Follow standard preparation methods as per IS 9162 or referenced IS codes.
• Store reagents in clean, airtight containers to avoid contamination.

flowchart TD
    A[Reagent Grade Chemicals] --> B[Hydrochloric Acid (36-38%)]
    A --> C[Sulfuric Acid (98%)]
    A --> D[Sodium Hydroxide (AR Grade)]
    A --> E[Ammonium Hydroxide (AR Grade)]
    A --> F[Ethyl Alcohol (95%)]
    A --> G[Distilled Water]

Summary: IS 9162 requires reagent grade chemicals of specified purity for reliable testing, ensuring consistent and accurate structural material evaluation.

IS 9162: Apparatus and Equipment Key Points

IS 9162 specifies apparatus and equipment for testing cement and related materials. The clauses you mentioned (8.2, 10.2, 15.3, 17.2) extend the basic apparatus requirements from Clauses 7.2.1 to 7.2.4.

General Apparatus Requirements (Clauses 7.2.1 to 7.2.4)

• Balance with 0.01 g accuracy
• Sieves of specified mesh sizes
• Moulds and tamping rods for compaction
• Water bath for curing

Additional Apparatus (Clauses 8.2, 10.2, 15.3, 17.2)

• Clause 8.2: Apparatus for specific tests like soundness, fineness (e.g., Le Chatelier apparatus)
• Clause 10.2: Equipment for setting time (Vicat apparatus, needle penetration devices)
• Clause 15.3: Accessories like curing tanks, drying ovens, and compression testing machines
• Clause 17.2: Apparatus for chemical analysis and strength tests (mortar mixer, flow table)

Common Apparatus Specifications Summary

Diagram: Apparatus Flow in Cement Testing

flowchart LR
    A[Sample Preparation] --> B[Weighing (Balance)]
    B --> C[Sieving]
    C --> D[Setting Time (Vicat Apparatus)]
    C --> E[Soundness Test (Le Chatelier Flask)]
    C --> F[Strength Test (Compression Machine)]
    F --> G[Curing (Water Bath)]

For detailed dimensions and tolerances,

IS 9162: Preparation and Conditioning of Test Specimens

Key Clauses Summary:

• Clause 9.3 & 12.3 (Test Specimens):

  • Specimens must be representative of the material and dimensions as per the test requirements.
  • Dimensions and shape should conform to the standard specified for the particular test.
  • Avoid defects or irregularities that affect test results.

• Clause 10.5 & 12.4 (Conditioning of Test Specimens):

  • Specimens should be conditioned to a standard environment before testing.
  • Typical conditioning involves:
    • Temperature: 27 ± 2°C
    • Relative Humidity: 65 ± 5%
    • Duration: Minimum 24 hours or as specified.
  • For moisture-sensitive materials, conditioning may include immersion or drying as specified.

Typical Conditioning Procedure:

Notes:

• Proper conditioning ensures uniform moisture content and temperature.
• Avoid exposure to direct sunlight or drafts during conditioning.
• For specific tests (e.g., tensile, flexural), conditioning may vary; always refer to the relevant clause.

flowchart LR
    A[Specimen Preparation] --> B[Dimension & Shape per IS 9162]
    B --> C[Conditioning]
    C --> D[Temperature: 27 ± 2°C]
    C --> E[Humidity: 65 ± 5%]
    C --> F[Duration: ≥ 24 hours]
    D & E & F --> G[Uniform Specimen Ready for Testing]

This ensures reproducible and reliable test results as per IS 9162 standards.

Precision and Accuracy Requirements (IS 9162)

1. Precision (Clause 6.1.3)

• Test results shall not differ from the mean by more than ±0.005.
• Ensures repeatability and reliability of test data.

2. Permissible Variations on Weights (Clauses 9.2.2 & 12.2.2)

• New weights permissible variation = half of above values.

3. Calculation Notes (Clause 9.6)

• Follow standard procedures ensuring precision limits.
• Use mean values and check deviations within ±0.005.

flowchart LR
    A[Test Results] --> B{Deviation ≤ ±0.005?}
    B -- Yes --> C[Accept Results]
    B -- No --> D[Repeat Test]
    E[Weights] --> F{In Use or New?}
    F -- In Use --> G[Use Table 2 Variations]
    F -- New --> H[Use Half Table 2 Variations]

Summary: Maintain test precision within ±0.005 deviation; use weights within specified permissible variations to ensure accuracy in material weighing.

IS 9162 - Mixing and Proportioning Procedures: Key Points

• Mix Proportions:

  • Specified by manufacturer (Clause 12.3.3, 9.3.3.1, 10.3).
  • If given by volume, convert to mass and report mass proportions for accuracy.

• Mix Preparation (Clause 13.3):

  1. Use a flat-bottom container made of non-corrodible metal or porcelain enamelled pan.
  2. Add the liquid first.
  3. Add about 3/4 of dry ingredients, mix thoroughly with a trowel, turning from bottom to top.
  4. Add remaining dry ingredients, continue mixing until uniform.
  5. Record mixing time.

Typical Mixing Procedure Summary:

Important:

• Use weighing scales for accurate proportioning.
• Mixing time affects uniformity and final properties.
• Follow manufacturer's specific instructions strictly.

flowchart LR
    A[Start: Place Liquid] --> B[Add 3/4 Dry Mix]
    B --> C[Mix Thoroughly]
    C --> D[Add Remaining Dry Mix]
    D --> E[Mix Until Uniform]
    E --> F[Record Mixing Time]

This ensures consistent, high-quality mixes per IS 9162 standards.

Key Formulas and Specifications for Compressive Strength Testing (IS 9162)

1. Compressive Strength Calculation:

[ \text{Compressive Strength} = \frac{\text{Maximum Load (N)}}{\text{Cross-sectional Area (mm}^2)} ]

• Cross-sectional area is based on diameter as per Clause 14.9.1.

2. Change in Compressive Strength (%) (Clause 14.10.2):

[ \text{Change (%)} = \frac{S_1 - S_2}{S_1} \times 100 ]

• ( S_1 ) = Strength after conditioning (N/mm²)
• ( S_2 ) = Strength after test period (N/mm²)
• Positive value = strength gain, negative = strength loss.

3. Testing Procedure:

• Apply load at 4 N/mm² per minute for cylindrical specimens (Clause 14.9.3).
• For cubes, apply load at 35 N/mm² per minute (Clause 8.6).
• Test six cubes; average compressive strength is taken.
• Reject faulty cubes or if any value deviates >15% from average.

4. Important Notes:

• Record absolute compressive strengths for initial and final specimens near plot points (Clause 14.10.1.2).
• Use self-adjusting platen for cubes to ensure uniform load distribution.

Summary Table

flowchart TD
    A[Prepare Specimens] --> B[Conditioning Period]
    B --> C[Weigh & Measure Diameter]
    C --> D[Compressive Strength Test]
    D --> E[Calculate Strength (N/mm²)]
    E --> F[Calculate % Change in Strength]
    F -->

IS 9162: Specimen Moulding and Dimensions Summary

Key Specifications for Specimen Moulds:

• Shape & Size:
  • Bars of 25 mm × 25 mm cross-section
  • Length: minimum 250 mm (can be longer as per note)
• Mould Preparation:
  • Apply a thin coat of silicone grease or similar non-interfering material to prevent sticking.
  • Ensure coating does not alter mould dimensions or affect mix setting.
• Filling Procedure:
  • Fill mould carefully to avoid air entrapment (which causes voids).
  • Strike off the surface evenly with a spatula.

Reference Dimensions (from Fig.1 - Standard Briquette):

• All dimensions in millimetres (exact figure not provided here, but standard briquette typically has specific dimensions as per IS 9162).

Practical Notes:

• Use metal moulds coated with release agent.
• Specimen length can be >250 mm as per testing needs.
• Avoid voids for accurate strength testing.

flowchart TD
    A[Mould Preparation] --> B[Apply thin silicone grease coat]
    B --> C[Fill mould with mix carefully]
    C --> D[Prevent air entrapment]
    D --> E[Strike off evenly with spatula]
    E --> F[Specimen ready for curing/testing]

This ensures uniform specimens for consistent mechanical property evaluation.

IS 9162: Tensile Strength Determination Key Points

1. Specimen Selection & Data Validity (Clauses 9.7.2 & 10.8)

• Discard defective specimens.
• Calculate average from remaining specimens.
• Discard individual values differing by >15% from average.
• If fewer than 4 valid values, repeat the test.

2. Tensile Strength Calculation

• Tensile strength (σ_t) is calculated as:

[ \sigma_t = \frac{P}{A} ]

Where:

• (P) = Maximum load at failure (N)
• (A) = Cross-sectional area of the specimen (mm²)

3. Yield Strength (If specimen does not break) (Clause 9.6.1.1)

• Use maximum load (P) on stress-strain curve to calculate yield strength:

[ \sigma_y = \frac{P_{max}}{A} ]

4. Reporting (Clause 14.10.1.2)

• Report absolute compressive strength (N/mm²) for initial and final specimens.
• Show values near plot points on graphs.

Summary Table for Tensile Test Data Validation

flowchart TD
    A[Collect Specimens] --> B{Defective?}
    B -- Yes --> C[Eliminate Specimen]
    B -- No --> D[Perform Tensile Test]
    D --> E[Calculate σ_t = P/A]
    E --> F{Value differs >15% from average?}
    F -- Yes --> G[Discard Value]
    F -- No --> H[Include Value]
    H --> I{Valid values ≥ 4?}
    I -- No --> J[Repeat Test]
    I -- Yes --> K[Calculate Average Tensile Strength]
    K --> L[Report Results]

This ensures reliable tensile strength determination per IS 9162.

IS 9162: Thermal Expansion and Shrinkage Measurements

1. Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion (Clause 12.6.2)

Calculate α (coefficient of linear thermal expansion) using:

[ \alpha = \frac{(Z - W) - Y}{T \times (W - X)} ]

Where:

• Z = Length of bar + studs at elevated temperature (mm)
• W = Length of bar + studs at lower temperature (mm)
• X = Length of two studs at lower temperature (mm)
• Y = Length of stud expansion = (1 \times T \times K) (K = linear thermal expansion coefficient of studs, mm/mm°C)
• T = Temperature change (°C)

2. Shrinkage Measurement (Clause 12.5.1 & 12.5.1.2)

• Frequency: Daily for 2 weeks at 22°C, then after 72 hours at 100°C.
• Procedure: Heat specimens to constant length → cool overnight at 22°C before measuring.
• Shrinkage is monitored until it stabilizes.

Summary Table for Thermal Expansion Test Setup

flowchart LR
    A[Start: Measure W, X at lower temp] --> B[Heat specimen to elevated temp]
    B --> C[Measure Z at elevated temp]
    C --> D[Calculate Y = T × K]
    D --> E[Compute α = ((Z-W)-Y) / (T × (W-X))]
    E --> F[Report coefficient of linear thermal expansion]

This concise approach ensures accurate determination of thermal expansion and shrinkage per IS 9162.

IS 9162 - Water Absorption Test Key Points

Formula for Water Absorption (Clause 13.8)

[ A = \frac{W - D}{D} \times 100 ]

• A = Absorption in percent (%)
• W = Saturated mass of specimen (g)
• D = Mass after conditioning to constant mass (g)

Test Reporting Requirements (Clause 12.7 & 14.12.1)

• Manufacturer's details & mix ratio
• Conditioning procedure & test conditions (temp, humidity)
• Age of specimens, heat cycles
• Individual & average shrinkage, thermal expansion
• Average % mass change & compressive strength change
• Appearance of specimens & immersion medium
• Graphs: % mass change vs. time, % compressive strength change vs. time
• Total test duration & examination intervals

Additional Notes on Moisture & Density (Clause 16.8.1)

• Dry density: [ D = \frac{W_2}{V} ]
• Moisture content: [ M = \frac{W_1 - W_2}{W_2} \times 100 ]
• Moisture regain during test: [ R_w = \frac{W_4 - W_3}{W_3} \times 100 ]

This ensures accurate assessment of water absorption and moisture behavior in specimens per IS 9162.

IS 9162: Ageing and Durability Assessments — Key Points

1. Test Procedure & Ageing Conditions

• Ageing: Specimens aged for 7 days in air at 27 ± 2°C (Clause 17.6).
• Immersion: Specimens immersed in test solution at specified temperature for durability evaluation.

2. Data to Record (Clause 14.12.1)

• Average percentage mass change of specimens.
• Visual appearance of specimens (cracks, etching, softening).
• Appearance of immersion medium (discoloration, sediment).
• Average percentage change in compressive strength.

3. Graphical Representation

• Plot % mass change (ordinate) vs. test period in days (abscissa) (Clauses 14.10.1.1 & 14.12.1g).
• Plot % change in compressive strength (ordinate) vs. test period in days (abscissa) (Clauses 14.10.2.1 & 14.12.1h).

4. Key Formulas

[ \text{Percentage Mass Change} = \frac{W_t - W_0}{W_0} \times 100 ]

• (W_0) = Initial mass of specimen
• (W_t) = Mass after immersion at time (t)

[ \text{Percentage Change in Compressive Strength} = \frac{f_{c,t} - f_{c,0}}{f_{c,0}} \times 100 ]

• (f_{c,0}) = Initial compressive strength
• (f_{c,t}) = Compressive strength after immersion at time (t)

Summary Table Example

graph LR
A[

IS 9162: Additional Apparatus and Accessories - Key Points

The code specifies additional apparatus beyond the basic set (7.2.1 to 7.2.4) in Clauses 8.2, 10.2, 15.3, and 17.2 for various testing and measurement needs.

Key Specifications:

• Clause 8.2, 10.2, 17.2: Additional apparatus must be provided as per the specific test requirements, such as:

  • Temperature control devices
  • Humidity chambers
  • Specialized molds or fixtures
  • Calibration standards for accuracy

• Clause 15.3: Accessories related to apparatus must ensure:

  • Compatibility with test specimens
  • Ease of operation and calibration
  • Durability and precision

Typical Accessories Include:

• Thermometers and hygrometers (accuracy ±0.5°C, ±2% RH)
• Load application devices (e.g., hydraulic jacks, weights)
• Measuring scales and gauges (resolution as per test sensitivity)

No direct formulas are given, but apparatus must comply with accuracy and calibration standards to ensure test validity.

flowchart LR
    A[Basic Apparatus (7.2.1 to 7.2.4)] --> B[Additional Apparatus (8.2,10.2,17.2)]
    B --> C[Temperature Control]
    B --> D[Humidity Control]
    B --> E[Specialized Fixtures]
    B --> F[Calibration Standards]
    F --> G[Ensures Accuracy & Reliability]

For exact apparatus dimensions and calibration methods, refer to the detailed annexures or related IS codes referenced within IS 9162.

IS 9162: Thermal Conductivity Measurement by Guarded Hot Plate

Key Specifications

• Two types of apparatus (Clause 16.1.3):

  • Low-temperature guarded hot plate: Metal surface plates with a definite guard gap; for cold surface down to 77 K and hot surface up to 550 K.
  • High-temperature guarded hot plate: Refractory insulating plates, possibly metal surface plates; for hot surface between 550 K and 1350 K (Clause 16.5).

• High-temperature design features (Clause 16.5.1 & 16.5.2):

  • Plate shape: round or square (square requires corner heaters).
  • Heating units: central heater, guard heater(s), corner heaters (square only), cold surface heaters.
  • Surface flatness: max deviation 0.25 mm/m.
  • Thermal expansion of refractory plates ≤ 1% of linear dimension.
  • Surface emittance ≥ 0.7 (preferably higher) to minimize radiative heat transfer errors.
  • Power exchange between heaters ≤ 0.5% of test area power.
  • Cooling: liquid-cooled heat sinks and outer shroud recommended.

Basic Formula for Thermal Conductivity, ( k ):

[ k = \frac{Q \cdot d}{A \cdot \Delta T} ]

Where:

• ( Q ) = steady-state heat flow (W)
• ( d ) = specimen thickness (m)
• ( A ) = cross-sectional area (m²)
• ( \Delta T ) = temperature difference across specimen (K)

Apparatus Schematic (Fig. 8 summary):

graph LR
  subgraph Heating Units
    CH(Central Heater)
    GH(Guard Heater)
    CoH(Corner Heaters)
    CoSH(Cold Surface Heater)
  end
  subgraph Test Specimen
    TS1(Test Sample 1)
    TS2(Test Sample 2)
  end
  subgraph Cooling Units
    LCH(Liquid Cooled Heat Sink)
    OS(Outer Shroud)
  end
  CH --> TS1 --> TS2 --> CoSH
  GH -.-> TS1
  CoH -.-> TS1
  LCH --> CoSH
  OS --> LCH

IS 9162 - Shear Strength Testing of Composite Specimens

Key Specifications (Clause 17)

• Test specimens: 6 composite samples after ageing.
• Shear strength: Average of 6 specimens.
• Loading rate: 14 N/mm² per minute.
• Test machine: Universal Testing Machine (UTM).
• Objective: Determine shear strength of epoxy resin composition for floor topping.

Testing Procedure (Clause 17.7)

• Load specimen in UTM as per Fig. 9 (not shown here).
• Apply shear load at a uniform rate of 14 N/mm²/min.
• Record failure load for each specimen.
• Calculate shear strength ( \tau ) as:

[ \tau = \frac{P}{A} ]

where:

• ( P ) = Load at failure (N)

• ( A ) = Shear area (mm²)

• Average shear strength = Mean of all 6 specimens.

Reporting (Clause 16.9.2 & 14.10.1.2)

• Plot shear strength vs. test temperature or ageing time.
• Include compressive strength values (initial and final) near data points.
• Graphical representation aids in understanding thermal and mechanical behavior.

Summary Table

flowchart LR
    A[Test 6 specimens] --> B[Apply shear load @ 14 N/mm²/min]
    B --> C[Record failure load P]
    C --> D[Calculate shear strength τ = P/A]
    D --> E[Average shear strength of 6 specimens]
    E --> F[Plot results with compressive strength]

This concise method ensures reliable shear strength evaluation of epoxy composites per IS 9162.