Blaine Air Permeability Apparatus

Blaine Air Permeability Apparatus is used to reliably and reproducibly determine the specific surface area (Blaine fineness) of cement, lime, and other fine binders. The apparatus consists of a precision glass manometer, manometer fluid, filter disk, test stand, rubber plunger, funnel, and precision piston components. The test is based on the principle of passing air through a cement sample of known volume and porosity under a constant pressure difference. The measured air passage time is directly related to the particle size and surface area of the material. When this time is calculated using the Blaine equation, it is expressed as the specific surface area of the cement (cm²/g). The apparatus is made of borosilicate glass to ensure high-accuracy results and air-tightness. The manometer tube is marked with a graduated scale for clear and precise readings. The Blaine cell, made from machined brass, provides reproducible porosity values for each sample. The user determines the test constant through calibration with reference cement and then measures the test sample using the same procedure to calculate fineness. The Blaine cell, complete with body, perforated disk, and piston, is mounted on a rigid metal base and designed to maintain a consistent packing density of the sample. A properly porous filter support ensures laminar airflow and measurement stability. Transparent glass volumetric components, thermally insulated placement, and an optional ambient temperature indicator help maintain thermal equilibrium and minimize viscosity-related uncertainties. Calibration can be performed quickly using reference material, ensuring traceability between different batches. Smooth surfaces, chemically resistant seals, and an easily removable cell design allow for quick cleaning and reassembly. The system is available with a single station or multiple parallel cells, with consumables and spare parts such as filters, disks, and pistons fully compatible within the same platform. The apparatus architecture is developed to meet dimensional accuracy and time/pressure control requirements specified in ASTM C204, EN 196-6, and AASHTO T153 standards. This ensures standardized, comparable, and reportable Blaine fineness results for production quality control, acceptance testing, and R&D studies. The durable construction and low maintenance requirements provide stable performance over many years.