BTEC HND QS CM&SD

Cement
Cement is made from an intermediate product called clinker. Clinker itself is a complex mixture
formed during high temperature reactions of limestone, clay, sand and iron. It contains calcium
oxide (CaO), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), silica dioxide (SiO2) and small amounts of iron oxide
(Fe2O3).

Cement act as a binding agent in concrete. When the constituents of concrete - aggregates,
cement and water are mixed together, cement react with water to form a binding agent with
course aggregate and sand. The reaction of cement with water is known as hydration.

Properties of Cement
The following are the most important properties of cement.

Initial setting time: The noticeable stiffening of cement past is known as initial set. The time
taken for initial set is known as initial setting time. It is about 45 minutes for
Ordinary Portland Cement and it can be adjusted by adding the admixture called
retarders.

Final setting time: Final set is the stage at which setting is complete and the hardening
process responsible for the development of strength begins. The time taken for
the final set is known as final setting time and it is around 10 hours for ordinary
cement.
Types of Cement
Different types of cement are available in the market for different purpose. Some of the
commonly used cement types are given below. The chemical composition is different between
these cements.
Type Uses
Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) General Purposes
Rapid Hardening Portland Cement May be used when formwork has to be removed early or when
(RHPC) high early strength is required to support further construction.
White Portland Cement Architectural purposes
Colored Portland Cement
Low heat Portland cement. For large mass concrete structures like concrete dams, bridge
(LHPC) abutments etc.
Sulpher Resisting Cement (SRC) For maritime structures in soils containing > 2% of SO3

Field Tests on Cements

1. The suitability of cement can be determined by checking the presence of lump of
cement. If lumps are present then either the cement has started hydrating or cement has
been compressed due to excessive pressure during storage (warehouse packing). –
Cement is not suitable for construction work.

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BTEC HND QS CM&SD

2. Prepare a neat cement paste with W/C ratio 0.5 and fill a bottle. Close the bottle tight
and leave for 7 to 14 days. If the cement is good the hydrated paste will occupy the
whole volume of bottle.

Laboratory tests on cement

 Consistency of cement can be determined using Vicats needle apparatus in a laboratory.
Consistency is known as the right amount of water needed for the complete hydration.
The same apparatus can be used to determine the initial setting time.
 Specific Gravity of Cement - Details & Test Procedure:

The specific gravity of cement ranging from 3.1 to 3.16. By this statement, we can ensure that
cement 3.1-3.16 times heavier than water of the same volume. And it sinks in water. Because the
specific gravity is greater than 1.

How to Calculate Cement Specific Gravity?

One can easily determine the value of specific gravity of cement using Le Chatelier Flask
method. Determination of specific gravity of cement at the site level can be easily done using
this is an experiment.

Required Materials & Apparatus

Followings are the specific gravity test apparatus and materials:

 Kerosene (The specific gravity of kerosine is 0.79)

 Ordinary Portland Cement
 Le-Chatelier Flask of 250 ml or Specific Gravity Bottle / Pycnometer of 100 ml
 Weighing balance with 0.1 gm accurate

Specific Gravity Test Procedure for Cement

The specific gravity test procedure contains only four steps. Followings are the four steps to be
followed to perform specific gravity test of cement:

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BTEC HND QS CM&SD

1. The Flask should be free from the liquid that means it should be fully dry. Weigh the
empty flask. Which is W1.
2. Next, fill the cement on the bottle up to half of the flask around 50gm and weigh with its
stopper. And it is W2.
3. Add Kerosene to the cement up to the top of the bottle. Mix well to remove the air
bubbles in it. Weigh the flask with cement and kerosene. And it is W3.
4. Empty the flask. Fill the bottle with kerosene up to the top and weigh the flask for
counting W4.

Specific Gravity Calculation

Cement specific gravity formula:
Sg = (W2−W1) / [(W2−W1)−(W3−W4)]×0.79

Storage of cement
Cement can become unusable due to the formation of lumps caused by
1. moisture present in the air and
2. excessive pressure resulted from stacking of cement bag on top of each other beyond a
certain height.

This problem can be avoided by

1. stacking the cement bags in an air tight shed. The shed used to store the cement are
made without having windows and the door should be kept closed all the times in order
to minimize the presence of moisture.
2. limiting the height of stacking of bags of cement to ten bags (i.e. 5ft).
3. having the clearance of about 100 to 200 mm between the floor and the support used to
stack the cement bags.
4. following the rule “first in", first out” when the cement bags are removed to use.

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