Application in the construction materials industry

NEXOPART provides the construction materials industry with highly precise particle size analysis solutions, supporting reliable quality control in construction materials laboratories. The range of applications covers a wide variety of typical construction materials, including sands, soils, and concrete aggregates, as well as gravel, crushed stone, asphalt, rocks, and earth materials. NEXOPART focuses specifically on testing and analytical tasks, such as standards-compliant sieve analysis using vibratory sieve shakers or air jet sieving machines.

Challenges in the building materials industry

The quality of building materials is largely determined by particle size distribution. Even minor deviations can affect the processing properties, strength, and durability of concrete, asphalt, or mortar.

For building material manufacturers, the challenge is to reliably control fluctuating raw materials, different deposits, and changing production conditions. Regular particle size analysis provides the foundation for reproducible processes, standards-compliant products, and consistently high material quality.

With NEXOPART particle analysis systems, laboratories and production facilities monitor the particle composition of sands, gravels, aggregates, cements, and recycled materials precisely and traceably.

Typical applications in the building materials industry

Particle size analysis is a key component of quality control in the building materials industry. It supports the monitoring of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished products, ensuring consistent material quality. Whether for sand, gravel, aggregates, cement, or recycled materials, precise determination of particle size distribution provides the foundation for standards-compliant products, stable processes, and reproducible material properties

Sand and crushed sand

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The particle size distribution of sands and crushed sands has a direct impact on the workability, water demand, and strength development of concrete, mortar, and asphalt. Regular particle analyses help ensure compliance with specified grading curves and enable the early detection of fluctuations in raw material quality

Gravel and aggregates

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Gravel and aggregates play a crucial role in determining the mechanical properties of many building materials. Precise analysis of particle size distribution supports quality control, ensures compliance with standards, and guarantees consistent product quality throughout production.

Cement and mineral fine materials

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The fineness of cement and other mineral fine materials influences reactivity, workability, and strength development. Reproducible analyses enable production processes to be monitored, quality standards to be maintained, and deviations to be identified at an early stage.

Asphalt and fillers

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In asphalt mixtures, particle size distribution and fine particle content have a direct impact on compactability, stability, and long-term performance. Particle analyses provide the foundation for consistent mix quality and reliable production control.

Recycled construction materials

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The importance of recycled construction materials continues to grow. To ensure safe and standards-compliant reuse, particle size distributions must be monitored reliably. Regular analyses support quality assurance and promote the resource-efficient use of secondary raw materials.

Cement: the application example for the construction materials industry

Cement is the foundation of concrete production and an indispensable construction material in the building industry. Concrete is used in the construction of bridges, houses, and tunnels and plays a key role in the development of modern infrastructure. Therefore, testing the quality of raw meal used in cement production is of utmost importance. Only precise analysis can ensure that cement meets the highest quality and safety standards. A reliable analytical instrument is essential for accurate and efficient quality control.

For the precise determination of cement fineness, the NEXOPART e200 LS Air Jet Sieving Machine, with a measuring range from 10 µm to 4 mm, is the ideal solution. This analytical instrument optimizes quality control by significantly reducing testing times and minimizing human error. Thanks to automatic sieve recognition via RFID and automatic weight recording, the testing process becomes more efficient. The high level of detail in the measurement results enables rapid responses to production deviations, allowing adjustments to be made quickly and precisely. With these accurate analysis results, you gain a comprehensive understanding of material quality.

Benefits of particle analysis for building materials manufacturers

Regular monitoring of particle size distribution provides the foundation for consistent building material quality and efficient production control. Precise analysis data helps identify deviations at an early stage and enables targeted process optimization.

Consistent product quality

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A controlled particle size composition ensures reproducible properties of concrete, mortar, asphalt, and other building materials. Variations can be identified and corrected at an early stage.

Less waste and rework

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Through continuous quality control, off-spec batches can be identified during the production process. This reduces material losses and avoids unnecessary rework.

Optimized raw material utilization

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The analysis of particle size distribution enables targeted adjustments to formulations and production processes. As a result, raw materials can be used more efficiently and resources can be conserved.

Higher process reliability

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Reliable and reproducible measurement results provide a solid data foundation for quality decisions and production approvals.

Standards-compliant quality control

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Standardized testing procedures enable comparable results and support compliance with relevant standards and quality requirements.

Industry Brochure Cement

Learn more about the application in cement using the e200 LS.

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For cement quality control: e200 LS Air Jet Sieving Machine

The e200 LS Air Jet Sieving Machine demonstrates its advantages particularly when analyzing very fine powders that tend to agglomerate and clog the test sieve. Inside the sieving chamber, a slotted nozzle rotates in combination with a powerful industrial vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner generates a vacuum within the sieving chamber, while the narrow slit of the nozzle accelerates the air flowing upward through the sieve from below. The particles resting on the sieve are briefly loosened and dispersed against the lid by this airflow before being captured by the vacuum and transported downward through the sieve openings. The coarse fraction remains on the sieve and is weighed again at the end of the separation process. The result: ultrafine particles are separated quickly, accurately, and efficiently.

Sieve analysis with sample quantities up to 30 g

Measuring range from 10 µm to 4 mm

Upgradeable at any time

Simple and user-friendly operation

Standards and regulations for sieve analysis in the cement industry

DIN and ASTM standards are of great importance for ensuring the comparability of analysis results. The NEXOPART e200 LS Air Jet Sieving Machine complies with DIN EN 196-6. This standard describes air jet sieving as a method for determining the fineness of cement. Fine and often cohesive cement particles can lead to unreliable results with conventional sieving methods. In contrast, the air jet sieving method effectively separates the particles and ensures representative results. In addition, the e200 LS complies with ASTM C 1891:2020, a standard test method for determining the fineness of hydraulic cement by air jet sieving using a 45 µm (No. 325) sieve.

Frequently asked questions about cement

According to which standards are sand, gravel, and aggregates tested?

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The grain size analysis of sand, gravel, and aggregates is performed based on established testing standards. DIN EN 12620 is the key standard for the requirements applicable to aggregates for concrete, while DIN EN 13139 defines the requirements for aggregates used in mortar. The test sieves used generally comply with the specifications of DIN ISO 3310. For soil investigations, grain size distribution is determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 17892-4. In addition, ISO 14688 supports the classification of soils based on their grain sizes. Standard-compliant testing ensures the comparability of measurement results and provides the basis for reliable quality control of construction materials and aggregates.

Why is the particle size distribution of aggregates so important?

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Particle size distribution has a significant influence on the key properties of concrete, mortar, and asphalt. An optimal grain size distribution improves compactability, reduces voids, and contributes to high strength and durability of the final product. Even minor deviations can significantly affect material quality and processing behavior.

How is the particle size distribution of sand, gravel, and crushed stone determined?

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A reliable particle size analysis begins with proper sampling. Only a representative sample ensures that the actual grain size composition of the material is accurately captured. During sample preparation, larger sample quantities are often reduced to several representative subsamples using a sample divider or a sample splitter without altering the particle size distribution. The sample is then separated by sieve analysis using a defined set of test sieves. The fractions retained on each sieve are weighed and combined into a grading curve. This grading curve describes the particle size distribution of the material and enables comparison with applicable standards and product-specific quality requirements. By combining proper sampling, representative sample division, and standard-compliant sieve analysis, reliable and reproducible results can be achieved for the quality control of sand, gravel, crushed stone, and other aggregates.

What testing instruments are used in construction materials laboratories?

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Various analytical methods are used in construction materials laboratories. For conventional particle size analysis, Vibrating sieve shakers and Air jet sieve machines are commonly used. In addition, modern dynamic image analysis systems can be used to determine not only particle size but also shape parameters such as roundness, length, and width.

When should a sieve analysis be performed?

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Sieve analyses are used during incoming goods inspection, throughout ongoing production, and during final quality control. Regular testing helps identify production variations at an early stage and ensures consistently high product quality.

For which applications in the construction materials industry does NEXOPART offer solutions?

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NEXOPART provides precise particle size analysis solutions for the construction materials industry. The range of applications includes construction materials such as sands, soils, concrete aggregates, gravel, crushed stone, asphalt, rocks, and earth materials. NEXOPART focuses specifically on testing and analytical tasks commonly performed in construction materials laboratories, such as traditional sieve analysis using vibratory sieve shakers and air jet sieving machines.

What is cement made of?

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Cement is a hydraulic binder that hardens through a chemical reaction with water. Its composition varies depending on the type of cement but follows clearly defined specifications such as the DIN EN 197-1 standard. Cement is produced by firing a raw meal mixture consisting of limestone, clay, sand, and iron ore. Depending on the cement type, the standard permits various additional main constituents, including ground granulated blast-furnace slag, volcanic rock powders, siliceous fly ash, and burnt shale. Cement may also contain small amounts of additives, such as gypsum or anhydrite to regulate setting time, as well as organic additives (up to 0.2 percent) that can, for example, improve workability.

What tests are performed for cement quality assurance?

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Numerous standards-compliant tests are carried out to ensure cement quality, verifying that composition, workability, and strength meet the required specifications. The most important testing methods are divided into chemical, physical, and mechanical tests. In the field of physical testing, NEXOPART supports these processes with its particle measurement instruments. These tests determine fundamental parameters such as particle size distribution and density. Fineness, a key parameter in cement testing, is determined through sieve analysis in accordance with DIN EN 196-6. The NEXOPART e200 LS Air Jet Sieving Machine is ideally suited for this application. The instrument also complies with ASTM C 1891:2020, a standard test method for determining the fineness of hydraulic cement by air jet sieving using a 45 µm sieve (No. 325). This allows process and production controls, based on regular sampling of raw materials and laboratory analyses, to be compared reliably through reproducible measurement results.

Why is determining the particle size distribution of cement important?

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Determining the particle size distribution of cement is crucial for several reasons related to the quality, workability, and performance of the resulting concrete or mortar. For example, particle size distribution influences the density of the hardened cement paste and the formation of hydration products. A well-graded particle size distribution results in a denser microstructure and therefore higher strength. In contrast, an unfavorable particle size distribution increases porosity and reduces durability.