UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO

CE 223
Construction Materials and Testing
 CEMENT
Topics:
• Cement
• Types of Cement
• Apparatus for Cement Test
• Admixtures

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 Intended Learning Outcomes
After completing this course, the student must
be able to:
• Identify types of cement
• Test of Cement
• Apparatus for Testing cement
• Admixtures

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 CEMENT
• Cement is a commonly used binding material in
the construction.
• The cement is obtained by burning a mixture of
calcarious (calcium) and argillaceous (clay) material
at a very high temperature and then grinding the
clinker so produced to a fine powder.
• It was first produced by a mason Joseph Aspdin in
England in 1924. He patented it as portland
cement.

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Portland cement

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Chemical composition of
Cement

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 Fineness of Cement
Fineness of cement particles is an important property that must be
carefully controlled.
• the finer the cement particles, the larger the surface area and the
faster the hydration. Therefore, finer material results in faster strength
development and a greater initial heat of hydration.
• Increasing fineness beyond the requirements for a type of cement
increases production costs and can be detrimental to the quality of the
concrete.
• The maximum size of the cement particles is 0.09 mm (0.0035 in.); 85%
to 95% of the particles are smaller than 0.045 mm (0.0018 in.), and the
average diameter is 0.01 mm (0.0004 in.). (For reference, a number 200
sieve passes material smaller than 0.075 mm.)
• A kilogram of portland cement has approximately 7 trillion particles
with a total surface area of about 300 to 400m2 (1500 to 2000 ft per
pound).

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Fineness of cement is usually measured
indirectly by measuring the surface area with
the Blaine air permeability apparatus (ASTM
C204) or the Wagner turbidimeter apparatus
(ASTM C115).

Blaine test, the surface area of the cement

particles in cm2 /g is determined by measuring
the air permeability of a cement sample and
relating it to the air permeability of a standard
material.

The Wagner turbidimeter determines the

surface area by measuring the rate of
sedimentation of cement suspended in
kerosene.
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 Specific gravity of Portland
Cement
The specific gravity of cement is needed for mixture-
proportioning calculations.
• The specific gravity of portland cement (without voids
between particles) is about 3.15 and can be
determined according to ASTM C188.
• The density of the bulk cement (including voids
between particles) varies considerably, depending on
how it is handled and stored.
• For example, vibration during transportation of bulk
cement consolidates the cement and increases its bulk
density.
• Thus, cement quantities are specified and measured by
weight rather than volume.

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 Hydration of Portland Cement
Hydration is the chemical reaction between the
cement particles and water. The features of this
reaction are the change in matter, the change in
energy level, and the rate of reaction.
• The hydration process occurs through two
mechanisms: through-solution and
topochemical.

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The through-solution process involves the following
steps (Mehta and Monteiro, 2013):
1. dissolution of anhydrous compounds into
constituents
2. formation of hydrates in solution
3. precipitation of hydrates from the supersaturated
solution
The through-solution mechanism dominates the
early stages of hydration.

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Topochemical hydration is a solid-state chemical reaction occurring at
the surface of the cement particles.
• The aluminates hydrate much faster than the silicates. The reaction of
tricalcium aluminate with water is immediate and liberates large
amounts of heat.
• Gypsum is used to slow down the rate of aluminate hydration. The
gypsum goes into the solution quickly, producing sulfate ions that
suppress the solubility of the aluminates.
• The balance of aluminate to sulfate determines the rate of setting
(solidification).
• Cement paste that sets at a normal rate requires low concentrations of
both aluminate and sulfate ions.
• The cement paste will remain workable for about 45 minutes;
thereafter, the paste starts to stiffen as crystals displace the water in
the pores. The paste begins to solidify within 2 to 4 hours after the
water is added to the cement.
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 Properties of Hydrated
Cement
The proper hydration of portland cement is a fundamental quality
control issue for cement producers.
Mix design, quality control, and the characteristics of the mixing
water and aggregates also influence the quality of the concrete.
Properties of the hydrated cement are evaluated with either
cement paste (water and cement) or mortar (paste and sand).
1. SETTING
Setting refers to the stiffening of the cement paste or the change
from a plastic state to a solid state.
Hardening, which refers to the strength gain in a set cement paste.
• Setting is usually described by two levels: initial set and final set.

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The initial and final sets are arbitrary, based on
measurements by either the Vicat apparatus
(ASTM C191) or the Gillmore needles (ASTM C266)

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2. SOUNDNESS
Soundness of the cement paste refers to its ability to
retain its volume after setting.
• Expansion after setting, caused by delayed or slow
hydration or other reactions, could result if the
cement is unsound.
• The autoclave expansion test (ASTM C151) is used
to check the soundness of the cement paste.

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Cement autoclave expansion
apparatus. (Courtesy of Humboldt
Mfg. Co.)

The autoclave expansion test

(ASTM C151) is used to check the
soundness of the cement paste.
In this test, cement paste bars are
subjected to heat and high
pressure, and the amount of
expansion is measured. ASTM
C150 limits autoclave expansion to
0.8%.

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3. Compressive strength of mortar
Compressive strength of mortar is measured by
preparing 50-mm (2 in.) cubes and subjecting them to
compression according to ASTM C109.
• The mortar is prepared with cement, water, and
standard sand (ASTM C778).
• Minimum compressive strength values are specified
by ASTM C150 for different cement types at different
ages.
• The compressive strength of mortar cubes is
proportional to the compressive strength of concrete
cylinders.

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 Types of Portland Cement
• Different concrete applications require cements
with different properties.

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 OTHER Types of Cement
In addition to ordinary portland cement there are
many varieties of cement.
Important varieties are briefly explained below:
(i) White Cement: The cement when made free from
colouring oxides of iron, maganese and chlorium results
into white cement.
• In the manufacture of this cement, the oil fuel is used
instead of coal for burning.
• White cement is used for the floor finishes, plastering,
ornamental works etc.
• In swimming pools white cement is used to replace glazed
tiles. It is used for fixing marbles and glazed tiles.
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(ii) Coloured Cement: The cements of desired
colours are produced by intimately mixing pigments
with ordinary cement.
The chlorium oxide gives green colour.
Cobalt produce blue colour. Iron oxide with different
proportion produce brown, red or yellow colour.
Addition of manganese dioxide gives black or brown
coloured cement.
These cements are used for giving finishing touches
to floors, walls, window sills, roofs etc.

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(iii) Quick Setting Cement: Quick setting cement is
produced by reducing the percentage of gypsum
and adding a small amount of aluminium sulphate
during the manufacture of cement.
• Finer grinding also adds to quick setting property.
This cement starts setting within 5 minutes after
adding water and becomes hard mass within 30
minutes.
• This cement is used to lay concrete under static or
slowly running water.

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(iv) Rapid Hardening Cement: This cement can be
produced by increasing lime content and burning at
high temperature while manufacturing cement.
• Grinding to very fine is also necessary.
• Though the initial and final setting time of this
cement is the same as that of portland cement, it
gains strength in early days.
• This property helps in earlier removal of form
works and speed in construction activity.

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(v) Low Heat Cement: In mass concrete works like
construction of dams, heat produced due to
hydration of cement will not get dispersed easily.
• This may give rise to cracks.
• It is preferable to use low heat cement. This
cement contains low percentage (5%) of tricalcium
aluminate (C3A) and higher percentage (46%) of
dicalcium silicate (CS).

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(vi) Pozzulana Cement: Pozzulana is a volcanic
powder found in Italy.
• It can be processed from 2 shales and certain types
of clay also.
• In this cement pozzulana material is 10 to 30
percent.
• It can resist action of sulphate. It releases less heat
during setting. It imparts higher degree of water
tightness. Its tensile strength is high but
compressive strength is low. It is used for mass
concrete works. It is also used in sewage line
works.
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(vii) Expanding Cement: This cement expands as it
sets. This property is achieved by adding expanding
medium like sulpho aluminate and a stabilizing
agent to ordinary cement.
This is used for filling the cracks in concrete
structures.
(viii) High Alumina Cement: It is manufactured by
calcining a mixture of lime and bauxite. It is more
resistant to sulphate and acid attack.
It develops almost full strength within 24 hours of
adding water. It is used for under water works.

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(ix) Blast Furnace Cement: In the manufacture of pig
iron, slag comes out as a waste product.
By grinding clinkers of cement with about 60 to 65
per cent of slag, this cement is produced.
The properties of this cement are more or less same
as ordinary cement, but it is cheap, since it utilize
waste product.
This cement is durable but it gains the strength
slowly and hence needs longer period of curing.

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(x) Acid Resistant Cement: This cement is produced
by adding acid resistant aggregated such as quartz,
quartzite, sodium silicate or soluble glass. This
cement has good resistance to action of acid and
water. It is commonly used in the construction of
chemical factories. A below five per cent in ordinary
cement this cement is produced. It is used in the
construction of structures which are likely to be
damaged by alkaline conditions. Examples of such
structures are canals, culverts etc.

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(xi) Sulphate Resistant Cement: By keeping the
percentage of tricalcium aluminate C3A below
five per cent in ordinary cement this cement is
produced. It is used in the construction of structures
which are likely to be damaged by alkaline
conditions. Examples of such structures are canals,
culverts
etc.

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 Admixtures for Concrete
Admixtures are ingredients other than portland
cement, water, and aggregates that may be added to
concrete to impart a specific quality to either the
plastic (fresh) mix or the hardened concrete (ASTM
C494).
Admixtures are classified by the following chemical
and functional physical characteristics:
1. air entrainers - produce tiny air bubbles in the
hardened concrete to provide space for water to
expand upon freezing.

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2. water reducers. Water-reducing admixtures have been
developed to gain workability and, at the same time,
maintain quality.
• Water reducers increase the mobility of the cement
particles in the plastic mix, allowing workability to be
achieved at lower water contents.
• Water reducers are produced with different levels of
effectiveness: conventional, mid-range, and highrange.
Superplasticizers (plasticizers), or high-range water
reducers, can either greatly increase the flow of the fresh
concrete or reduce the amount of water required for a given
consistency. For example, adding a superplasticizer to a
concrete with a 75-mm (3 in.) slump can increase the slump to
230 mm (9 in.), or the original slump can be maintained by
reducing the water content 12% to 30%.
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3. retarders. Retarders can be used to delay the initial set of
concrete. Retarders are used for several reasons, such as the
following:
1. offsetting the effect of hot weather
2. allowing for unusual placement or long haul distances
3. providing time for special finishes (e.g., exposed
aggregate)
• Retarders can reduce the strength of concrete at early ages
(e.g., 1 to 3 days).
• Some retarders entrain air and improve workability. Other
retarders increase the time required for the initial set but
reduce the time between the initial and final set.
• The properties of retarders vary with the materials used in
the mix and with job conditions
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4. Hydration-Control admixtures
• These admixtures have the ability to stop and
reactivate the hydration process of concrete. They
consist of two parts: a stabilizer and an activator.
• Adding the stabilizer completely stops the hydration
of the cementing materials for up to 72 hours, while
adding the activator to the stabilized concrete
reestablishes normal hydration and setting.
These admixtures are:
• very useful in extending the use of ready-mixed
concrete when the work at the jobsite is stopped for
various reasons
• Useful when concrete is being hauled for a long time.

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5. Accelerators
Accelerators are used to develop early strength of concrete
at a faster rate than that developed in normal concrete.
Accelerators are used to
1. increase rate of strength gain
2. reduce the amount of time before finishing operations
begin
3. reduce curing time
4. plug leaks under hydraulic pressure efficiently
The first three reasons are particularly applicable to concrete
work placed during cold temperatures.
The increased strength gained helps to protect the concrete
from freezing and the rapid rate of hydration generates heat
that can reduce the risk of freezing. Insert Running Title 33
The Portland Cement Association (PCA) identifies four
major reasons for using admixtures (Kosmatka et al.,
2011):
1. to reduce the cost of concrete construction
2. to achieve certain properties in concrete more
effectively than by other means
3. to ensure quality of concrete during the stages of
mixing, transporting, placing, and curing in adverse
weather conditions
4. to overcome certain emergencies during concrete
operations

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Prepared & Presented by:
Engr. BERNADETH V. DAPUN

REFERENCES:
https://www.aboutcivil.org/uses-of-aggregate.html
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