Slake Durability Test Apparatus
Product Code : EL-RTLE-10507
Slake Durability Test Apparatus (code EL-RTLE-10507) is used to assess how shale and similar soft rocks deteriorate under repeated wetting and drying, giving the slake durability index from the change in sample mass. A motorised drive unit on a baseplate rotates two or four 2.00 mm mesh drums, 140 mm dia × 100 mm long, at 20 r.p.m. in tanks filled with water to 20 mm below the drum axis.
Get a quote: use the Add To Cart enquiry button below, or send your quantity and delivery location through the contact page.
Specifications
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Use | Assessing the deterioration of rocks over time when subjected to water immersion |
| Test | Simulated weathering test of abrasion resistance during wetting and drying cycles |
| Materials | Shale and similar soft rocks, as used in embankments and other construction applications |
| Procedure | Samples alternately tumbled in mesh drums through water and oven-dried, for two cycles |
| Result | Slake durability index, from the loss of mass over the cycles |
| Drive | Motorised drive unit mounted on a baseplate |
| Number of drums | Two or four |
| Drum speed | 20 r.p.m. |
| Drums | 2.00 mm mesh, 140 mm dia × 100 mm long |
| Water level | Tank assemblies filled to 20 mm below the drum axis |
| Standards | ASTM D 4644 |
| Product code | EL-RTLE-10507 |
| Manufacturer | Engineering Lab Equipment, Ambala, Haryana, India |
What Is the Slake Durability Test Apparatus Used For?
Some clay-bearing rocks look sound when excavated but break down quickly once wetted, which matters when they are used as fill in embankments or left exposed in cuttings. In the test, lumps of rock are placed in a mesh drum and turned through the water in the tank at 20 r.p.m., so that softened material is worn away and passes out through the 2.00 mm mesh; the drum and remaining rock are then oven-dried and weighed, and the cycle is repeated. The masses before and after the two cycles give the slake durability index. With two or four drums, several samples run together. The standard listed for it is ASTM D 4644.
What to Specify When Ordering
- Quantity — the number of apparatus required.
- Drums — whether the drive unit is to run two drums or four.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Slake Durability Test Apparatus measure?
It measures how much rock breaks down during wetting and drying cycles, giving the slake durability index used to judge shale and similar soft rocks.
How many drums can be run at once?
The motorised drive unit can rotate two or four drums together at a speed of 20 r.p.m., so several samples are tested in one run.
What are the drum dimensions?
Each test drum is made from 2.00 mm mesh and measures 140 mm in diameter and 100 mm long.
How full are the water tanks?
The tank assemblies are filled with water to a level 20 mm below the drum axis, so the lower part of each drum turns through the water.
How many wetting and drying cycles are used?
Samples are tumbled in the drums through water and then oven-dried, and this is done for two cycles before the index is worked out.
What is the ordering process?
Place an enquiry through the Add To Cart button shown on this page, or pass on the number of units, two or four drums, and your delivery location via the contact page.
OEM Manufacturer
Engineering Lab Equipment (Engineering Labs Equipment Pvt Ltd) builds the Slake Durability Test Apparatus at its works in Saha, District Ambala, Haryana (Plot No. 43, Industrial Park, Sector 2, Growth Center). Its rock testing equipment for specimen preparation, strength and durability tests go to engineering colleges, polytechnics, technical training institutes and research laboratories in India and abroad, and equipment can be made to an institution's own requirements. For tenders and OEM supply, see the Tenders/OEM page.
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Request a Quote
For this and other rock testing lab equipment, schools and colleges can contact Engineering Lab Equipment, a manufacturer, supplier and exporter based in Ambala, India. For a price, send the number of apparatus and whether two or four drums are needed and the delivery location through the contact page; the Add To Cart button on this page also adds the Slake Durability Test Apparatus to an enquiry.
Last updated: October 2026
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