American Petrographic Services Inc.

APS > Services > Aggregate

American Petrographic Services, Inc. (APS) specializes in the microscopic analysis of concrete aggregate. Utilizing several types of microscopes, we can foresee problems in your aggregates which can impact the quality of the resulting concrete.

APS will perform petrographic analysis (ASTM:C295) on any type of aggregate source, including synthetic or man-made aggregates.

In concrete aggregates, APS can diagnose the susceptability for:

alkali carbonate reaction (ACR)
alkali silica reaction (ASR)
freeze/thaw deterioration (D-cracking)
wet/dry deterioration
popouts
staining
low strength problems

Along with our affiliate company, American Engineering Testing, Inc. (AET), we are able to provide the complete physical and chemical analysis of aggregates. Other testing we perform includes:

ASTM C117 and C136: gradations
ASTM C142: clay lumps and friable particles
ASTM C40: organic impurities
ASTM C127 and C128: specific gravity and absorption
ASTM C123: heavy liquid separations from 1.95 - 2.4 spg.
ASTM C29: unit weight
ASTM C131 and C535: abrasion loss
ASTM C88: sulfate soundness
ASTM C227, C1260, and C1293: ASR mortar bar expansion

and many other tests.

Quality control and quality assurance in your aggregate source can be assurred by a thorough testing program which can be identified and implemented by APS and AET. Contact Gerard Moulzolf, PG, at 651-659-1346, or Joe Jansen, at 651-659-1341, for further information.

ASR gel extrudes from cracking in concrete produced with a reactive siliceous gravel.

A polishcross section of concrete exhibits a typical natural glacial gravel from central Minnesota.

A 'popout' produced by a deleterious coarse aggregate particle close to the surface of the concrete slab.

A graded sand sample ready for analysis under magnification.