Designation: C 566 – 97 (Reapproved 2004)

Standard Test Method for

Total Evaporable Moisture Content of Aggregate by Drying 1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 566; 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 E 11 Specification for Wire Cloth and Sieves
1.1 This test method covers the determination for TestingPurposes
of the percentage of evaporable moisture in a 2.2 Other Document:
sample of aggregate by drying both surface
moisture and moisture in the pores of the
aggregate. Some aggregate may contain water 1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
that is chemically combined with the minerals in Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
the aggregate. Such water is not evaporable and C09.20 on Normal Weight Aggregates.
Current edition approved February 1, 2004. Published March 2004. Originally
is not included in the percentage determined by
approved in 1965. Last previous edition approved in 1997 as C 566 – 97. 2
this test method. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
regarded as the standard. The values stated in Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
parentheses are provided for information only.
National Research Council Report SHRP-P-
1.3 This standard does not purport to address
6191
all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with
its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this 3. Terminology
standard to establish appropriate safety and
3.1 Definitions:
health practices and determine the applicability
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test
of regulatory limitations prior to use. For
method, refer to Terminology C 125.
specific precautionary statements, see 5.3.1,
7.2.1, and 7.3.1. 4. Significance and Use
2. Referenced Documents 4.1 This test method is sufficiently accurate for
usual purposes, such as adjusting batch quantities
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2
of ingredients for concrete. It will generally
C 29/C 29M Test Method for Bulk Density measure the moisture in the test sample more
(Unit Weight) and Voids in Aggregate reliably than the sample can be made to represent
C 125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and the aggregate supply. In cases where the
Concrete Aggregates aggregate itself is altered by heat, or where more
C 127 Test Method for Density, Relative refined measurement is required, the test should
Density (Specific Gravity), and Absorption be conducted using a ventilated, controlled
of Coarse Aggregate temperature oven.
C 128 Test Method for Density, Relative 4.2 Large particles of coarse aggregate,
Density (Specific Gravity), and Absorption especially those larger than 50 mm (2 in.), will
of Fine Aggregate require greater time for the moisture to travel
C 670 Practice for Preparing Precision and from the interior of the particle to the surface.
Bias Statementsfor Test Methods for The user of this test method should determine by
Construction Materials
D 75 Practice for Sampling Aggregates 1 Available from the National Research Council, 2101
Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20418.

1
trial if rapid drying methods provide sufficient 5.2 Source of Heat—A ventilated oven capable
accuracy for the intended use when drying large of maintaining the temperature surrounding the
size particles. sample at 110 6 5°C (230 6 9°F). Where close
control of the temperature is not required (see
5. Apparatus 4.1), other suitable sources of heat may be used,
5.1 Balance—A balance or scale accurate, such as an electric or gas hot plate, electric heat
readable, and sensitive to within 0.1 % of the test lamps, or a ventilated microwave oven.
load at any point within the range of use. Within 5.3 Sample Container—Acontainer not
any interval equal to 10 % of the capacity of the affected by the heat, of sufficient volume to
balance or scale used to determine mass, the load contain the sample without danger of spilling,
indication shall be accurate within 0.1 % of the and of such shape that the depth of sample will
difference in masses. not exceed one fifth of the least lateral
dimension.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

C 566 – 97 (2004)
5.3.1 Precaution—When a microwave oven is 7.2.1 Caution—When using a microwave
used, the container shall be nonmetallic. oven, occasionally minerals are present in
NOTE 1—Except for testing large samples, an ordinary aggregates that may cause the material to
frying pan is suitable for use with a hot plate, or any overheat and explode. If this occurs it can
shallow flat-bottomed metal pan is suitable with heat damage the microwave oven.
lamps or oven. Note the precaution in 5.3.1. 7.3 When a hot plate is used, drying can be
5.4 Stirrer—A metal spoon or spatula of expedited by the following procedure. Add
convenient size. sufficient anhydrous denatured alcohol to cover
the moist sample. Stir and allow suspended
6. Sampling material to settle. Decant as much of the alcohol
6.1 Sample in accordance with Practice D 75, as possible without losing any of the sample.
except for the sample size. Ignite the remaining alcohol and allow it to burn
off during drying over the hot plate.
6.2 Secure a sample of the aggregate
representative of the moisture content in the 7.3.1 Warning—Exercise care to control the
supply being tested and having a mass not less ignition operation to prevent injury or damage
than the amount listed in Table 1. Protect the from the burning alcohol. 7.4 The sample is
sample against loss of moisture prior to thoroughly dry when further heating causes, or
determining the mass. would cause, less than 0.1 % additional loss in
mass.
7. Procedure 7.5 Determine the mass of the dried sample to
the nearest
7.1 Determine the mass of the sample to the
nearest 0.1 %. 7.2 Dry the sample thoroughly in 0.1 % after it has cooled sufficiently not to
the sample container by means of the selected damage the balance.
source of heat, exercising care to avoid loss of 8. Calculation
any particles. Very rapid heating may cause
8.1 Calculate total evaporable moisture content
some particles to explode, resulting in loss of
as follows:
particles. Use a controlled temperature oven
when excessive heat may alter the character of p5 100 ~W2D!/D
the aggregate, or where more precise
measurement is required. If a source of heat where:
other than the controlled temperature oven is
p = total evaporable moisture content of sample,
used, stir the sample during drying to accelerate
percent, W = mass of original sample, g, and D =
the operation and avoid localized overheating.
mass of dried sample, g.
When using a microwave oven, stirring of the
sample is optional.

2
 8.2 Surface moisture content is equal to the more than 0.79 % (Note 2)
difference between the total evaporable moisture from each other.
content and the absorption, with all values based 9.1.2 The between-laboratory standard
on the mass of a dry sample. Absorption may be deviation for moisture content of aggregates has
determined in accordance with Test Method C been found to be 0.28 % (Note 2). Therefore,
127 or Test Method C 128. results of properly conducted tests from two
laboratories on the same aggregate sample
9. Precision and Bias
should not differ by more than 0.79 % (Note 2)
9.1 Precision: from each other.
9.1.1 The within- 9.1.3 Test data used to derive the above
laboratory single operator precision indices were obtained from samples
standard deviation for dried to a constant mass in a drying oven
moisture content of maintained at 110 6 5°C. When other drying
aggregates has been found procedures are used, the precision of the results
to be 0.28 % (Note 2). may be significantly different than that indicated
Therefore, results of two above.
properly conducted tests by
NOTE 2—These numbers represent, respectively, the 1s
the same operator in the and 2s limits as described in Practice C 670.
same laboratory on the
same type of aggregate 9.2 Bias:
sample should not differ by 9.2.1 When experimental results are compared
with known values from accurately compounded
specimens, the following has been derived.
TABLE 1 Sample Size for Aggregate 9.2.1.1 The bias of moisture tests on one
Nominal Maximum Size aggregate material has been found to have a
Mass of Normal Weight
of Aggregate, mm (in.) A
Aggregate Sample, min, kg
mean of +0.06 %. The bias of individual test
4.75 (0.187) (No. 4) 0.5
9.5 ( ⁄ )
3
8 1.5
values from the same aggregate material has
12.5 ( ⁄ )
1
2 2 been found with 95 % confidence to lie between
19.0 ( ⁄ )
3
4 3 −0.07 % and +0.20 %.
25.0 (1) 4 9.2.1.2 The bias of moisture tests on a second
37.5 (1 ⁄ ) 1
2 6 aggregate material has been found to have a
50 (2) 8
mean of < +0.01 %. The bias of individual test
63 (2 ⁄ )
1
2 10
75 (3) 13 values from the same aggregate material has
90 (3 ⁄ )
1
2 16 been found with 95 % confidence to lie between
100 (4) 25 −0.14 % and +0.14 %.
150 (6) 50 9.2.1.3 The bias of moisture tests overall on
A

Based on sieves meeting

both aggregate materials has been found to have
Specification E 11. B a mean of +0.03 %. The bias of individual test
Determine the minimum sample mass for lightweight values overall from both aggregate materials has
aggregate by multiplying the value listed by the dry-loose unit
mass of the aggregate in kg/m (determined using Test Method
3 been found with 95 % confidence to lie between
C 29/C 29M) and dividing by 1600. −0.12 % and +0.18 %.
9.2.2 Test data used to derive the above bias

C 566 – 97 (2004)
statements were obtained from samples dried to
a constant mass in a drying oven maintained at
110 6 5°C. When other drying procedures are
used, the bias of the results may be significantly
different than that indicated above.
NOTE 3—These precision and bias statements were
derived from aggregate moisture data provided by 17

3
laboratories participating in the SHRP Soil Moisture moisture contents ranging from air dry to saturated
Proficiency Sample Program which is fully described in surface dry.
the National Research Council Report SHRP-P-619. The
samples tested which relate to these statements were well- 10. Keywords
graded mixtures of fine and coarse aggregate with
10.1 aggregate; drying; moisture content
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