15
VARIOS
7. Place a LABROS saturation plate on the noncutting side of the sample ring.
NOTE: The sample ring should fit snug in the LABROS saturation plate.
8. Turn the sample ring over, holding onto the filter paper and LABROS saturation plate, so
the noncutting side is facing down.
Figure 12 Saturation plate
9. Remove the cover on the cutting side of the sample ring.
10. Place one of the small filter papers on the cutting side of the sample ring.
11. Place the sample ring in a tray.
12. Fill the tray with about 3 cm of room-temperature tap water.
13. Tilt the LABROS saturation plate carefully to every side to remove air bubbles.
14. It is important to let the sample saturate through capillary action.
Let the sample pull the water from the bottom to the top. Do not pour water on the top of
the sample because air enclosures and the pores won't completely fill with water.
15. Be sure that the trough and the soil samples are not directly exposed to sunlight.
16. In case the material swells as it takes in water, place a weight on top of the sample to
keep it from floating or tipping.
17. Saturation is finished when the surface of the sample is glossy.
Figure 13 Saturation plate in water trough