Prong Plate
Product Code : LSK-SM-10666
Prong Plate (SKU LSK-SM-10666) is an acrylic plate fitted with three rust-resistant metal prongs, used to immerse a dried soil pat in the shrinkage limit test so that its volume can be found by displacement. It comes with a shrinkage dish and a crystallizing dish, and is used in soil mechanics labs at degree, diploma and TVET level. Science Lab Supplies supplies it from Ambala, India to colleges, contractors and distributors.
Specifications
The plate is made of acrylic plastic and carries three metal prongs of rust-resistant construction. The prongs press the dried soil pat under the displacement liquid so it is fully submerged, while the shrinkage dish forms the wet pat and the crystallizing dish holds the liquid.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | LSK-SM-10666 |
| Plate | Acrylic plastic |
| Prongs | Three rust-resistant metal prongs |
| Also supplied | Shrinkage dish; crystallizing dish |
| Purpose | Immersing a dried soil pat for volume measurement |
| Supplied by | Science Lab Supplies, Ambala, India |
Applications and Experiments for the Prong Plate
The prong plate belongs to the shrinkage limit test, which finds the water content below which further drying no longer reduces a soil's volume. The dried pat's volume, found by displacement, is combined with its dry mass and wet pat data to calculate the shrinkage limit and shrinkage ratio.
- B.Tech / B.E. civil engineering: shrinkage limit and shrinkage ratio as the third Atterberg limit.
- Diploma civil engineering: recognising expansive clays that shrink and swell with moisture.
- TVET construction and foundations modules: why clay soils crack on drying.
In the traditional method the displacement liquid is mercury, which is toxic. Where it is used, handle it only under supervision, over a tray, following your institution's mercury safety and disposal rules.
Standard Scope of Supply
The listing covers the acrylic prong plate with its three metal prongs, one shrinkage dish and one crystallizing dish. Mercury, a balance and a drying oven are not included. A complete Shrinkage Limit Set is also offered in the Soil Mechanics range for labs starting from scratch.
Packing, MOQ and Lead Time
Order one prong plate as a replacement or several for a full class; every quotation shows the packing, delivery time and price for the quantity chosen. It can be quoted together with the Shrinkage Limit Set when you prefer to buy from one TVET lab equipment supplier.
Science Lab Supplies, a registered exporter with an Importer-Exporter Code, can ship to buyers in Malaysia, Peru, Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria and Kenya. Ask a question on the contact page, gather items in the enquiry cart, or go to the lab tender page for tender requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a prong plate used for?
It pushes a dried soil pat fully under the displacement liquid in the shrinkage limit test, so the pat's volume can be measured from the liquid it displaces.
Is mercury supplied with the prong plate?
No, mercury is not in the listed contents. It is toxic, so labs that use it should work under supervision with spill trays and follow their own mercury handling and disposal rules.
What are the two dishes for?
The shrinkage dish holds the wet soil pat while it dries. The crystallizing dish holds the displacement liquid when the dried pat is immersed with the prong plate.
Who supplies the Prong Plate?
Science Lab Supplies supplies the prong plate and its dishes from Ambala, India to colleges, polytechnics, training institutes, contractors and distributors.
Related Shrinkage and Swell Test Equipment
Shrinkage is linked to how much a clay swells and how plastic it is, so these Soil Mechanics items are often ordered alongside the prong plate. With the complete shrinkage set as the base, they build a volume-change bench for expansive soils.
- Shrinkage Limit Set — full apparatus for the shrinkage limit test.
- Soil Volume Change Meter — potential volume change of expansive soils.
- Expansion Index Test Apparatus — swelling of compacted soil specimens.
- Plastic Limit Set — plastic limit of the same clay.
Browse the full Soil Mechanics range or all TVET lab equipment.
Last updated: 25 September 2026
