Standard Operational Procedure for Pressure Plate Experimental Set

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Sample Preparation:
1. Specimen, Ceramic plate and acetate cloth needs to be soaked in
water for 3-4 days till saturation.
2. Kaolin paste needs to be prepared by mixing 125 gm of kaolin with 150
gm of distilled water.
3. About 5 mm thick kaolin paste layer needs to be applied to the ceramic
plate for better contact with the specimen.
4. The kaolin layer is covered with acetate cloth so that kaolin does not
stick with the specimen.
5. The completely saturated specimen is then weighed before putting it
on plate by tapping on a wet sponge to remove excess surface water.
6. Specimens should be surrounded by sample retaining rings so that it
should not get spread.
7. Ceramic plate is now placed in the pressure plate apparatus.
8. Outlet tube is connected to the plate for releasing extra water due to
pressurization.
9. The sample is then put upon the acetate cloth, pressed slightly for
good contact.
10.

The pressure plate extractor is then locked by tightening the

screw of the opener.

11.

The water tubes release water in the burette where the volume

of released water can be monitored.

Apparatus Operation:
1. Connect the compressor power plug to the mains supply.

2. Make sure that all the valves in the manifold assembly are closed.
3. Switch on the power and let the compressor pressure to reach up to 20
bar.
4. Make sure there is no pressure leakage(i.e. the pressure gauge reading
should remain unchanged)
5. As the pressure reach 20 bar compressor will automatically shut off.
6. Decide the pressure values to used for the experiment(e.g. 1bar, 3 bar,
5 bar, 15 bar)
7. Depending on the pressure plate, maintain the pressure in the
extractor (1bar, 3 bar, 5 bar, 15 bar) using pressure gauge as 1bar, 3
bar, 5 bar, 15 bar with the help of coarse adjustment pressure
regulator.
8. Make the fine adjustment using the fine adjustment pressure regulator
which is below the coarse adjustment pressure regulator.
9. Lock both the pressure regulator with nut provided.
10.

Put the prepared sample on the pressure plate ?pressure plate in

the extractor.
11.

Screw the nut of the extractor and lock properly. Make sure that

black gasket rubber is on place so that there is no air leakage.

12.

Open the valve which is connected from manifold assembly to

the extractor.
13.

Suddenly the pressure will come down and compressor will

automatically start.
14.

Slowly the pressure will built up to the adjusted value. If not,

adjust the pressure as desired using the regulator.

15.

Once again make sure there is no air leakage by checking the

gauge reading.
Monitoring:
1. The water released from the specimen due to pressure inside the
extractor is monitored in the burette.
2. Water level in the burette is noted down at every 8hrs.
3. The experiment will be continued until equilibrium is achieved.
4. Equilibrium is achieved when water outflow is less than 1.05 ml in 48
hours.
5. The pressure is then released by opening the exhaust valves in the
manifold assembly.
6. Wait 5 min after the pressure level become 0(Zero) in respective
pressure gauge.
7. Unscrew the extractor, lift up the specimen with acetate cloth and the
specimen is weighted.