Building Material

Chapter 4

Cement

by,
Khin Su Su Htwe
 CEMENTING MATERIAL

1. Clay
2. Lime
3. Lime and Gypsum
4. Mixture of Lime and Pozzolanic Material
5. Calcareous Cements
M. Vicat, France
Joseph Aspedin, UK, 1824.
Johnson, 1845.
 Cement

A hydraulic mineral binding material

Blended with water, the pulverous cement can

generate the plastic paste which will turn into hard
cement block and bind granulated materials
together after a series of physical and chemical
effects

One of the important materials, Basic component

for concrete
Table 4.1 The Hydration and Hardening Properties of Minerals

C3S C2S C3A C4 AF

37% ~ 60% 15% ~ 37% 7% ~ 15% 10% ~ 18%

Other
< 10 %
 4.1.2 Hydration and Setting and Hardening of Portland Cement

Initial Setting Final Setting

Cement
+ Loss
Paste Hard Block
Water Plasticity

Hardening

Strength
Increase
Initial Setting – Cement turn into the original plastic paste and the
plasticity will be lost with the increase of time

Final Setting – The moment when the cement begins to have strength

Hardening – The increase of strength leads to the cement paste with high
strength
 Hydration Cement

When water is added cement particles are surrounded by water,

the surface of mineral granules in clinker reacted with water
a series of new compounds are generated a certain heat is
released

2 C3S + 6 H2O 3 C-S-H + 3 Ca (OH)2

heat

Strength
The Main Factors Affecting the Setting and Hardening of
Portland Cement ( Page 52)

1) The impact of cement’s composition– Various mineral components

will reveal different characteristics when reacting with water.

2) Mixing amount of gypsum –Too much gypsum will accelerate the

setting of cement . If the content of gypsum exceeds the limit, it will
lower the strength and poor dimensional stability, cause the expanded
destruction.

3) The impact of cement’s fineness – The finer, the larger surface area,
the bigger the area contacting . The hydration will be quick, the
setting and hardening will be accelerated, early strength will be high.

4) The impact of curing conditions– environment has sufficient

temperature and moisture which is conducive to the hydration and
setting and hardening process
The Main Factors Affecting the Setting and Hardening of
Portland Cement (2)

5) The impact of curing age – With the increase of the hydrating degree
of various clinker minerals, gels will grow and capillary porosities
will decrease, strength to rise with the increase of age

6) The impact of mixing water content – the increase of the mixing water
content will enhance the amount of capillary porosities, lower the strength
of cement paste, and extend the setting time

7) The impact of admixture - all the admixtures that affect the hydration
of C3S, C3A can change the performance of the hydration, the setting and
hardening of Portland cement

8) The impact of storage condition – Slow hydration and carbonization

will happen due to the impact of the water and CO2 in the air. the
effective storage period of cement is 3 months and the cement
should not be stored for a long time.
 4.1.3 Technical Properties of Portland Cement

1) Fineness – to the size of cement particles which directly affect the

performance and the use of cement.

2) Setting Time – the initial setting time of Portland cement should not be
earlier than 45 min and the final setting time should not be later than 6.5 h

3) Soundness – refers to the stability of the volume change in the

process of setting and hardening, the concrete structures will crack

4) Strength and Strength Grade – Strength is an important technical index to

indicate the quality of cement and also is the basis for the division of strength
grade

5) Alkali Content – The alkali content refers to the content of Na20 and K20 in
cement. The condition for concrete to conduct the alkali-aggregate reaction
 Vicat’s Apparatus

• Consistency test, 5-7 mm

• Initial Setting, 5 mm

• Final Setting,

fails to leave any mark

• Needle 10 x 10 mm
 Le-Chatelier Apparatus

• Soundness for O.P.C , < 10 mm

H.A.C , < 5 mm
 Compressive Strength

• Most important Properties

• Motor Test

• 1:2.75 , cement : Sand

• w/c = 0.485

• 2 in (50mm) cube
 Tensile Strength

• Briquette Test

• Tensile strength > 2.0 N/mm2 after 3 days

• Tensile strength > 2.5 N/mm2 after 7 days

• 1:3 , cement : Sand

• w/c = P/5+2.5

• Load rate of 7N/sqmm of section in 12 s

Dimension of Standard Briquette
 Specific Gravity of Cement

(Gs) of solid particles of a material is the ratio of

weight/mass of a given volume of solids to the
weight/mass of an equal volume of water at 4°C.

• Specific Gravity of Portland Cement is about 3.15

• Depending upon limestone and clay
• Very finely ground cement have lower sp.gr
 Testing of Specific Gravity

• Le-Chatelier Flask
weight of cement
• Specific Gravity =
Displaced volume of liquid in ml
4.1.4 Corrosion and Prevention of Portland Cement

1) Soft Water Corrosion – in fluid water or pressure water, the dissolved

calcium hydroxide is easy to be washed away, the inner part to enlarge
the cement pores and lower the strength

2) Acid Corrosion – They react with calcium hydroxide in cement paste

and generate chemical compounds which can dissolve in water or can
expand in volume

3) Salt Corrosion – Calcium sulfate reacts with solid calcium aluminate

hydrate in cement paste and generates the high-sparse calcium
sulfoaluminate hydrate whose volume is 1.5 times more than the
original one.
4.1.5 Application and Storage of Portland Cement

 Should be paid water resistance and moistures resistance

 should be stored on the backing plate 30cm higher above the

floor and 30cm away from the surrounding walls with a stacking
height below 10 bags

 storage period should be less than 3 months and the

cement stored for over 6 months can be used only through test.
4.2 Blended Portland Cement

 Ordinary Portland Cement

--- by mixing Portland cement clinker, 6%-15% blended materials, and
appropriate amount of gypsum, code-named P.O

 Portland Blast Furnace Cement

--- code-named P.S. The mixed amount of granular blast furnace slag in
cement is 20%-70% by weight

 Portland Pozzolana Cement

--- code-named P.P. The mixing amount of pozzolana blended materials
accounts for 20%-50% of the total mass.

 Portland Fly-ash Cement

--- code-named P.F. The mixing amount of fly-ash cement accounts for
20%-40%

 Composite Portland Cement

--- code-named P.C. The total mixing amount of blended materials > 15%
but < 50%
Fly Ash
 Different Types of Portland Cement

1. Type I – Normal (or) Ordinary Cement

2. Type II– Moderate Sulphate-Resisting Cement

3. Type III – High-Early-Strength Cement

4. Type IV – Low Heat Cement

5. Type V – High Sulphate-Resisting Cement

4.3 Other Varieties of Cement

 Aluminous Cement
--- Alumina bauxite and lime stone-the main raw materials-and the
clinker whose main component is calcium aluminate

 Expansive Cement
--- generate volume expansion in the hydration process,
--- not shrink but also expand to some extent
--- the setting and hardening of silicate expansive cement is
relatively slow; but that of the aluminate one is fast.

 White and Colorful Portland Cement

--- white cement, the content of ferric oxide is less, leading to white
color
--- Colorful cement, there are three producing modes, sintering
method, staining method, adding to Portland cement