CHAPTER 2
CEMENT
I. INTRODUCTION
Cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens and can bind other
materials together. Cements used in construction can be characterized as being either
hydraulic or non-hydraulic, depending upon the ability of the cement to be used in the
presence of water. Non-hydraulic cement will not set in wet conditions or underwater,
rather it sets as it dries and reacts with carbon dioxide in the air. It can be attacked by
some aggressive chemicals after setting. Hydraulic cement is made by replacing some
of the cement in a mix with activated aluminium silicates, pozzolanas, such as fly ash.
The chemical reaction results in hydrates that are not very water-soluble and so are
quite durable in water and safe from chemical attack. This allows setting in wet
condition or underwater and further protects the hardened material from chemical attack
(e.g., Portland cement).
II. OBJECTIVES
At the end of the module, each student should be able to:
a. Know the composition of cement
b. Understand the different types of cement
c. Explain the classification of cement
III. KEY/CONCEPTS
Cement - is the hydraulic binder (hydraulic = hardening when combined with water)
which is used to produce concrete. Cement paste (cement mixed with
water) sets and hardens by hydration, both in air and under water. The
main base materials for Portland cement, are limestone, marl and clay,
which are mixed in defined proportions. This raw mix is burned at about
1450 °C to form clinker which is later ground to the well-known fineness of
cement.
Composition of Cement
There are eight major ingredients of cement. The following image is showing the ingredients
of cement:
The general percentage of these ingredients in cement is given below:
Ingredient Percentage in cement
Lime 60-65
Silica 17-25
Alumina 3-8
Magnesia 1-3
Iron oxide 0.5-6
Calcium Sulfate 0.1-0.5
Sulfur Trioxide 1-3
Alkaline 0-1
Ingredients of Cement
Functions of Cement Ingredients
The main features of these cement ingredients along with their functions and usefulness or
harmfulness are given below:
1. Lime: Lime is calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide.
▪ The presence of lime in a sufficient quantity is required to form silicates and
aluminates of calcium.
▪ Deficiency in lime reduces the strength of property to the cement.
▪ Deficiency in lime causes the cement to set quickly.
▪ Excess lime makes cement unsound.
▪ The excessive presence of lime causes the cement to expand and
disintegrate.
2. Silica: Silicon dioxide is known as silica, chemical formula SiO2.
▪ The sufficient quantity of silica should be present in cement to dicalcium and
tricalcium silicate.
▪ Silica imparts strength to cement.
▪ Silica usually presents to the extent of about 30 percent cement.
3. Alumina : Alumina is Aluminum oxide. The chemical formula is Al2O2
▪ Alumina imparts quick setting property to cement
▪ Clinkering temperature is lowered by the presence of the requisite quantity of
alumina
▪ Excess alumina weakens the cement
4. Magnesia: Magnesium Oxide. The Chemical formula is MgO
▪ Magnesia should not be present more than 2% in cement
▪ Excess magnesia will reduce the strength of the cement
5. Iron Oxide Chemical formula is Fe2O2
▪ Iron oxide imparts color to cement
▪ It acts as a flux
▪ At a very high temperature it imparts into the chemical reaction with calcium
and aluminum to form tricalcium alumino-ferrite
▪ Tricalcium alumno – ferrite imparts hardness and strength to cement
6. Calcium Sulfate Chemical formula is CaSO4
▪ This is present in cement in the form of gypsum (CaSO42H2O)
▪ It slows down or retards the setting action of cement
7. Sulfur Trioxide
▪ It should not be present for more than 2%
▪ Excess sulfur trioxide causes the cement to unsound
8. Alkaline
▪ It should not be present more than 1%
▪ Excess Alkaline matter causes efflorescence
Types of Portland Cement
ASTM C 150, Standard Specifications for Portland Cement
In the US, three separate standards may apply depending on the category of cement.
For portland cement types, ASTM C150 describes:
Cement Type Description
Type I Normal
Type II Moderate Sulfate Resistance
Type II (MH) Moderate Heat of Hydration (and Moderate Sulfate
Resistance)
Type III High Early Strength
Type IV Low Heat Hydration
Type V High Sulfate Resistance
For blended hydraulic cements – specified by ASTM C595 – the following nomenclature
is used:
Cement Type Description
Type IL Portland-Limestone Cement
Type IS Portland-Slag Cement
Type IP Portland-Pozzonlan Cement
Type IT Ternary Blended Cement
In addition, some blended cements have special performance properties verified by
additional testing. These are designated by letters in parentheses following the cement
type. For example Type IP(MS) is a portland-pozzolan cement with moderate sulfate
resistance properties. Other special properties are designated by (HS), for high sulfate
resistance; (A), for air-entraining cements; (MH) for moderate heat of hydration; and
(LH) for low heat of hydration. Refer to ASTM C595 for more detail.
However, with an interest in the industry for performance-based specifications, ASTM
C1157 describes cements by their performance attributes:
Cement Type Description
Type GU General Use
Type HE High Early-Strength
Type MS Moderate Sulfate Resistance
Type HS High Sulfate Resistance
Type MH Moderate Heat of Hydration
Type LH Low Heat of Hydration
13 Classification of Cement and their Uses
1. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)
2. Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)
3. Rapid Hardening Cement
4. Quick setting cement
5. Low Heat Cement
6. Sulfates resisting cement
7. Blast Furnace Slag Cement
8. High Alumina Cement
9. White Cement
10. Colored cement
11. Air Entraining Cement
12. Expansive cement
13. Hydrographic cement
1. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)
Ordinary Portland cement is the most widely used type of cement, which is suitable for
all general concrete construction. It is the most commonly produced and used type of
cement around the world, with annual global production of around 3.8 million cubic
meters per year. This cement is suitable for all kinds of concrete construction.
2. Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)
Portland pozzolana cement is prepared by grinding pozzolanic clinker with Portland
cement. It is also produced by adding pozzolana with the addition of gypsum or calcium
sulfate or by intimately and uniformly blending Portland cement and fine pozzolana.
This cement has a high resistance to various chemical attacks on concrete compared
with ordinary portland cement, and thus, it is widely used. It is used in marine structures,
sewage works, sewage works, and for laying concrete underwater, such as bridges,
piers, dams, and mass concrete works, etc.
3. Rapid Hardening Cement
Rapid hardening cement attains high strength in the early days; it is used in concrete
where formworks are removed at an early stage and are similar to ordinary portland
cement (OPC). This cement has increased lime content and contains higher c3s content
and finer grinding, which gives higher strength development than OPC at an early
stage.
The strength of rapid hardening cement at the three days is similar to 7 days strength of
OPC with the same water-cement ratio. Thus, the advantage of this cement is that
formwork can be removed earlier, which increases the rate of construction and
decreases the cost of construction by saving formwork cost.
Rapid hardening cement is used in prefabricated concrete construction, road works, etc.
4. Quick setting cement
The difference between the quick setting cement and rapid hardening cement is that
quick-setting cement sets earlier. At the same time, the rate of gain of strength is similar
to Ordinary Portland Cement, while quick hardening cement gains strength quickly.
Formworks in both cases can be removed earlier.
Quick setting cement is used where works is to be completed in very short period and
for concreting in static or running water.
5. Low Heat Cement
Low heat cement is produced by maintaining the percentage of tricalcium aluminate
below 6% by increasing the proportion of C2S. A small quantity of tricalcium aluminate
makes the concrete to produce low heat of hydration. Low heat cement suitable for
mass concrete construction like gravity dams, as the low heat of hydration, prevents the
cracking of concrete due to heat.
This cement has increased power against sulphates and is less reactive and initial
setting time is greater than OPC.
6. Sulfates Resisting Cement
Sulfate resisting cement is used to reduce the risk of sulfate attack on concrete and thus
is used in the construction of foundations where the soil has high sulfate content.
Sulfate resisting cement is used in construction exposed to severe sulfate action by
water and soil in places like canals linings, culverts, retaining walls, siphons, etc.
7. Blast Furnace Slag Cement
Blast furnace slag cement is obtained by grinding the clinkers with about 60% slag and
resembles more or less in properties of Portland cement. It can be used for works
where economic considerations are predominant.
8. High Alumina Cement
High alumina cement is obtained by melting a mixture of bauxite and lime and grinding
with the clinker. It is rapid hardening cement with initial and final setting time of about
3.5 and 5 hours, respectively.
The compressive strength of this cement is very high and more workable than ordinary
portland cement and is used in works where concrete is subjected to high temperatures,
frost, and acidic action.
9. White Cement
It is prepared from raw materials free from Iron oxide and is a type of ordinary portland
cement, which is white. It is costlier and is used for architectural purposes such as
precast curtain wall and facing panels, terrazzo surface, etc. and for interior and exterior
decorative work like external renderings of buildings, facing slabs, floorings, ornamental
concrete products, paths of gardens, swimming pools, etc.
10. Colored cement
It is produced by mixing 5- 10% mineral pigments with ordinary cement. They are widely
used for decorative works on floors.
11. Air Entraining Cement
Air entraining cement is produced by adding indigenous air-entraining agents such as
resins, glues, sodium salts of sulfates, etc. during the grinding of clinker.
This type of cement is especially suited to improve the workability with a smaller water-
cement ratio and to improve frost resistance of concrete.
12. Expansive Cement
Expansive cement expands slightly with time and does not shrink during and after the
time of hardening. This cement is mainly used for grouting anchor bolts and prestressed
concrete ducts.
13. Hydrographic cement
Hydrographic cement is prepared by mixing water-repelling chemicals and has high
workability and strength. It has the property of repelling water and is unaffected during
monsoon or rains.
Hydrophobic cement is mainly used for the construction of water structures such as
dams, water tanks, spillways, water retaining structures, etc.
Manufacturing of Portland;
Calcium silicates are the primary constituents of portland cement.
Raw material for P.C. is Calcium & Silica
Calcium: Limestone, chalk, etc (CaO+CO2)
Silica: Clays and shales (SiO2+Al2O3+Fe2O3+H2O)
Pozzolan
An inert silicious material which, in the presence of water, will combine with lime
to produce a cementitious matter with excellent structural properties.
Advantages of Pozzolans
▪ Improved Workability
▪ Economy
▪ Reduced Alkali-aggregate Reaction
▪ Increased Sulphate Resistance.
▪
Physical Properties of Portland Cement
▪ Fineness
▪ Soundness
▪ Consistency
▪ Setting time
▪ False set and flash set
▪ Compressive strength
▪ Heat of hydration
▪ Loss on ignition
▪ Density
▪ Bulk density
▪ Sulfate expansion
STUDENT ACTIVITY:
Explain with pictures the different physical properties of Portland Cement. Search
the method of determining each properties through laboratory exercises.
REFERENCES
[Link]
Cons/5a337913-6187-4eb6-b010-3915f8738cf2_t#
[Link]
[Link]
functions
Max B. Fajardo, Jr. Simplified Construction Estimate 3rd Ed. 1995
[Link]