Rapid calorimetric determination of cement content

Calorimetric determination of the cement content of fresh concrete, by evaluating the heat generated by exothermic reaction of hydrochloric acid with calcium cpds. of the cement, involves (a) washing a standard fresh concrete sample with a standard water quantity to separate it into oversize and undersize fractions (w.r.t. X mm. particle size), the water quantity remaining in the undersize fraction and forming, with this fraction, a mixt. with a predetermined equilibrium temp.; (b) measuring the temp. of hydrochloric acid present, in a quantity corresponding to the standard fresh concrete sample, in a container; (c) intensively stirring the mixt. in a stirring pot and adding the hydrochloric acid, while evacuating any evolved gases; (d) measuring the temp. rise and recording the max. temp. value; and (e) using a computer programme to determine a start temp., from the equilibrium temp. in step (a) and the acid temp. measured in step (b), and to quantify the cement content of the sample, from the difference between this start temp. and the max temp. measured in step (d). Also claimed is an appts. for carrying out the above process.