Chapter-7

Cementing Materials
Cementing Materials

 Cementing materials are those materials which possess the property of cohesion or adhesion
with other material forming a strong bond between these materials.
 They can be used in joining two similar or dissimilar type of materials such as bricks, stones,
cement blocks etc. clay mud, cement, lime, etc. can be treated as cementing materials.

7.1 Clay

Clay is a naturally occurring material that is found almost everywhere on the surface of the earth. It is
often referred to as earth. Clay has been widely used for building, pottery, modelling purposes. The clay
is characterized by its fineness (particle about 2 micron) and is derived from the weathering and
decomposition of rocks. Clay when wet has a very high degree of plasticity and can be easily moulded in
any desired shape. Clay is popularly used as mud mortar.

Mud Mortar

Sticky clay is puddled with water until it comes to the required consistency. Sometimes certain
fibrous material (cow dung) is also added which prevents the shrinkage, cracks and the mortar
ingredients are mixed thoroughly.

Uses

a) Used for brickwork of ordinary and temporary type buildings.

b) Used for surfacing floors and plastering internal and external surfaces walls.

7.2 Lime (Composition, formation)

Lime has been used as a cementing material since time immemorial. In Nepal, up to today, lime has been

extensively used for many types of structures, that were constructed many years ago are still existing in

good condition. When lime is mixed with sand and water, the mixture is called lime mortar and used for

brickwork and plasterwork.

Nowadays cement has replaced the use of lime to a great extent. Lime is usually made by burning
of limestone.
Composition of lime

Lime does not occur in nature in Free State. It is obtained from:

1) Lime stone hills

2) Kankar found below ground
3) Shells of sea animals

When calcareous materials or Calcite(CaCO3) are heated, carbon dioxide and moisture are driven
out: leaving behind calcium oxide (CaO) which is called lime.
Lime is mainly composed of higher percentage of calcium oxide and some percentage of silica and
alumina (in the form of clay)

Formation of lime (Manufacture)

The principle stages in manufacture of lime are: -

I. Calcination or burning
II. Hydration or slaking
I. Calcination / Burning
It is the process of heating limestone to redness in contact with atmosphere air (880℃).
During calcination CO2 is driven out and CaO is left as final product.

Δ
CaCO3 ====== CaO + CO2
The burning is carried out in kilns.

II. Hydration or Slaking

The lime obtained from calcination is quick lime. Quick lime has great affinity for moisture.
The quick lime as it comes out from kilns is known as lump lime. Adding water is sufficient
quantity to quick lime is known as slaking.

CaO + H2O ====== Ca (OH)2

(Hydrated lime)

The hydrated lime is called slaked lime. It is in form of dry powder. Which is sold in market.
7.3 Types and properties of lime
Types of lime

1. Fat, Rich, Pure, White lime / Quick lime

 Lime is obtained by calcination of lime stone (calcination is the process of heating an ore up
to the redness).
 Quick lime has very high affinity (reactivity) for water, hence instantly reacts with it and
undergoes slaking leading to the formation of hydrated lime, slaked lime, or milk of lime.
 It contains 95% CaO and 5% other materials (Clay). hence it is referred as pure lime.
 Its volume increases by 2 to 3 times more than the original volume. Hence it is referred as
fat lime.
  It possesses perfect white color; hence it is termed as white lime.

Properties

a) Its setting and hardening actions are slow.

b) Lots of heat is generated during slaking producing hissing sound.
c) Swell 2-3 times of original volume after slaking.
d) High degree of plasticity and workability.
e) Soluble in water.
f) Milky white in its purest form.

Uses

a. White washing
b. Lime plastering
c. Lime mortar
d. Lime cement mortar
2. Hydraulic lime
 It is also referred as water lime as it is capable of setting in water and in damp locations.
 It is obtained by the calcination of kankar having the purity in the range of above 70%.
 It is insoluble in water and possess of greyish white.
 It hardens comparatively faster than fat lime, hence it is used in engineering works where
strength is required.

Properties of lime

a. Increased % of clay renders (to make) lime more hydraulic and makes slaking more difficult.
b. It can set under water in absence of air.
c. It is not perfectly white (greyish white).
d. Does not produce hissing sound, slightly increase in volume.
e. Slaking action is very slow.

Uses

I. It is used in whitewashing and plastering walls.

II. Lime mortar, made of lime and sand, is used for thin joints of brick work and stone work.
III. Lime mortar, made of lime and surkhi (powder obtained by grinding of burnt bricks) may be used
for thick masonry walls, foundations, etc.

Poor or lean lime

 When the clay context is more than 30% the lime is known as poor lime so it is also
referred as impure lime.
 It is obtained from the calcination of the lime stone having purity less than 70%. ∙
It slakes very slowly, hardens very slowly and possess muddy white color.
 It is used in engineering works of minor importance.
 Classification of lime (Depending on purity and impurity)

Pure lime/Rich lime Hydraulic lime Poor lime

CaO >95% >70% <70%

(lime/Purity)
Impurities <5% <30% >30%

Sources Calcination of pure lime By burning of Kankar Burning of Impure

stone lime lime
Uses Plaster working, White Where strength is Sub structure
washing where strength required brick, stone
not required(aesthetic masonry, under
purpose) water construction
Colour Perfect white Not perfect white Not perfect white
High degree of plasticity High degree of Setting Slaking 
Hydraulicity

Note –
Hydraulicity
Hydraulicity is property in lime
 Lime sets in a damp place with no air circulation
 Under water setting property

Types of Hydraulic lime

Moderately Eminently
Feebly hydraulic lime hydraulic lime Hydraulic lime

Impurities 5-10 % 11-20 % 21-30 %

I.S.T.- 2 hour
Setting Time 21 day 7 day
F.S.T. - 48 hour

Impurities in Lime

Clay (8-30)% Soluble Silicate MgCO3 SO4

(Sulphate)

Impact Hydraulicity in lime Silicates of Ca, Al, Impart Strength

Mg Impart
Hydraulicity
Clay Soluble Silicate  Slaking  Slaking 
Hydraulicity  Setting 
Hydraulicity  Setting
Setting  Slaking 
7.4 Cement (Composition, formation)

Cement is an important civil engineering material widely used as binding material such as cement
mortar, RCC, PCC, cement slurry and for cement grouting etc. it is used in almost all types of
construction work such as road, building, water tanks, dams, tunnels, etc.

Natural cement

 Natural cements are manufactured from the natural cement stones by burning and then
crushing to powder.
 Stones containing 20 – 40 % of clay (Argillaceous matter) and rest as calcareous matter (either
calcium carbonate alone or calcium carbonate mixed with the magnesium carbonate).
 Hydraulic properties of this cement are entirely dependent upon the percentage of clayey
material present.
 If percentage of clayey matter is high, quick setting cement is produced, but ultimate strength may
be low. On the other hand, lower percentage of clay produces a slow setting cement, but its
ultimate strength may be high.
 It possesses a brown color.
 Pozzolana cement and Medina cement are the common varieties of natural cements.

Artificial cement

 Artificial cement is manufactured by burning at high temperature a mixture of argillaceous and

calcareous substances and lastly crushing the resulting clinkers to a fine powder after adding a
little gypsum to it.
 Gypsum is added to delay the setting action of the cement for some time, so that, it may be
properly mixed, applied and finished. Without gypsum, setting action of cement starts, the
moment the water is added to the cement, thus giving no time for mixing, placing and finishing.
The setting time of artificial cements can be varied by suitably varying the percentage of gypsum.
 Artificial cements are used almost everywhere, because of following reason.
I. Artificial cements can be manufactured in any desired color.
ii. Their initial setting time can be easily regulated.
iii. Their rate of hardening can be regulated.
iv. Their rate of evolution of heat can be regulated.
v. They can be manufactured in very large quantities.

Properties of cement

a. Provides strength to the structure.

b. Hardens early
c. Possesses good plasticity
d. Easily workable
e. Good moisture resistance
Properties of cement cab be discussed under 3 broad heading

1) Physical composition
a) Fineness: Finer the cement in grain size, better is its quality
b) Setting time of cement:

Initial setting Final setting

OPC Should not be less than 10 hours

30 minutes

2) Mechanical properties
Compressive strength
 For ordinary Portland cement (OPC), compressive strength is ranging between
33 – 53MPa at 28 days, 22- 27 MPa at 7days and 16 -27MPa at 3days of curing
after casting.

Uses of cement

1. It is used in cement mortar for masonry work, plastering etc.

2. It is used for making joints for pipes, drains etc.
3. It is used in concrete for laying flowers, roofs and constricting stairs, pillar, etc.
4. It is employed for manufacturing precast pipes, fencing posts, etc.
5. It is used in the constructing of important engineering structures such as bridges, dams, tunnels
etc.

Composition of cement

The main constituents of cements of cement are calcareous and argillaceous materials. The ordinary
cement consists of 3 ingredients predominantly, which are clay or alumina, silica and lime.
Approximately composition of raw materials used for manufacturing OPC:

a) Lime (calcium oxide, CaO) 62-67 % generally taken as 63 %

b) Silica (SiO2) 20-25 % generally taken 22%
c) Alumina (Aluminum oxide, Al2O3) 4-8 % generally taken 6%
d) Iron oxide (Fe2O3) 2-4% generally taken 3 %
e) Magnesium oxide (MgO) 1-3 % generally taken 2 %
f) Sulphur trioxide (SO3) 1-3 % generally taken 1.75 %
g) Alkalies (Soda and potash) 0.2 to 1% generally taken 1%
h) Calcium sulphate (Gypsum, CaSO4) 3-5 % generally taken 4%

Note -: LiSA I M SAChin Tendulkar

Function of ingredients of cements

1. Lime (CaO)
 Lime in right proportion makes cement sound and strong
 Lime in excess makes cement unsound.
 If lime is in deficiency, the strength of cement is decreased and sets quickly.
Note:
 Soundness: Soundness means an ability to maintain or retain the volume after
setting the cement mortar or concrete.
 Unsoundness: Change in volume or called volumetric changes after setting stage.
(Compaction/Expansion) which leads to crack in structure.
2. Silica (SiO2)
 It gives the strength to cement.
 Silica in excess provides greater strength but at same time prolongs its setting time.
 If silica is in deficiency, the strength of cement is decreased.
Note:
If we need to get less setting time we have decrease the amount of silica.
3. Alumina (Al2O3)
 Imparts quick setting quality (flash setting or Instant setting) to cement
 Alumina in excess reduces strength of cement
 If Alumina is in deficiency, decrease flash setting property.
 Lowers the clinker temperature
Note:
In manufacturing of cement (all the ingredient get mix and burnt) after burning the product we
get is called cement clinkers.
4. Calcium sulphate (CaSO4), Gypsum

 It uses or mixes in the form of GYPSUM

 Helps in increasing the initial setting time of cement
Note:
If we let clinkers free in the contact of moisture, they start loose their plasticity and get hard
instantly. So, we use Gypsum to increase initial setting time for better transportation.

5. Iron oxide(Fe2O3)
 It provides color, hardness and strength to cement
 Color- Red Brown ting(Shade) color
shades are darker versions of the color that are made by mixing a color with
black. For example, pink is a tint of red, while maroon is a shade of red.

 It also helps the fusion of raw materials during manufacture of cement

Note:
Strength:
ability to resist gradual loading.

Hardness:
Ability to resist friction, abrasion
 Difficult to scratch
 Difficult to penetrate
 Difficult of wear
6. Magnesium oxide (MgO)
 It gives strength, hardness and color.
 Color- Yellowish Ting
Note- after fusion of all ingredients we get greyish color of elements
7. Sulphur
 If present in very small quantity, it makes the cement sound.
 If present in excess, it causes the cement to become unsound.
8. Alkalis
 They should be present in small quantity.
 Alkalis in excess will cause efflorescence (it absorbs moisture)

Properties of Bogue’s compounds

Composition of cement clinker

1) Tri–calcium silicate (3CaO.SiO2)/ C3S (30-50) %

a. It is responsible for early strength
b. First 7 days’ strength is due to C3S
c. It produces more heat of hydration
d. A concrete with more C3S content is better for cold weather concreting
Uses -: Rapid Hardening Cement
2) Di-calcium silicate (2CaOSiO3) or C2S (20-45) %
a. The hydration of C2S starts after 7 days hence, it gives strength after 7 days.
b. C2S hydrates and hardens slowly and provides much of the ultimate strength
c. It is responsible for the later strength of concrete
d. It produces less heat of hydration
3) Tri- calcium aluminate (3CaO.Al2O3) or C3A (8-12) %
a. The reaction of C3A with water is very fast and may lead to an immediate
stiffening of paste. And this process is termed as flash set.
b. To prevent this flash set, 2 to 3 % gypsum is added at the time of grinding the
cement clinkers.
c. Causes initial setting of cement
d. Release maximum heat of hydration
Uses -: Underwater Construction
4) Tetra-calcium aluminum ferrite (4CaO.Al2O3Fe2O3) or C4AF (6-10) %
a. Poor cementing value and comparatively inactive
b. Reacts slowly, generating small amount of heat

It has been observed that most of the strength developing properties of cement are controlled by tri-
calcium silicates and dicalcium silicate. Thus, by changing the relative proportion of these compounds,
various types of comments are manufactured.
Formation of cement (Manufacture)

Cement can be manufactured by following 2 methods:

1. Dry process
2. Wet process

Both the processes of manufacture are more or less same except for the difference that the raw
materials are ground, mixed and fed into the burning kiln in dry state in dry process whereas they are in
the form of slurry in case of wet process. In both types of processes, 3 distinct operations have to be
performed.

a) Mixing of raw materials

b) Burning
c) Grinding

1. Dry process
Dry process of mixing is adopted when raw materials are very hard.

 All the involved materials are first of all broken in crusher machine which involves breaking the
raw materials to small fragments.
 Then small fragments fed in the correct proportions into the grinding mill, where they are dried
and reduced in size to fine powder.
 Each raw material is thus reduced to a required degree of fineness and is stored separately in
 suitable storage tanks called SILOS or bins where from it can be drawn out conveniently in
required quantities.
 Predetermined proportions of finely dried and ground raw materials are mixed together before
they are fed into kiln. The different materials thus combine together are mixed very thoroughly.
 The well-proportioned finely powdered mixture is charged into a long steel cylinder, called the
rotary kiln. The kiln is adjusted in an inclined position, making an angle 15◦ with the horizontal and
rotates around its longer axis. It has a charge end and a burner end, the former for introducing the
materials (Called feed) and the latter for supplying fuel.
 The completely burnt or calcined raw materials of the cement are obtained in lump-shape
product called clinker which is drawn out from the lower end of the rotary kiln. It is extremely
hot when discharged from the kiln and is, therefore, first cooled in clinker cooler.
 The clinker obtained after burning is added 3-5% of gypsum and sent to grinding mill for fine
powder. This final product is cement and ready for the use.

2. Wet process
This process of mixing is usually adopted when raw materials are quite soft.

 Limestone is crushed and stored in silos.

 Clay are mixed with water in containers, known as wash mills. This washed clay is stored in
basins.
  Now crushed dry limestone from silos, and wet clay from basins, are allowed to fall in a
channel in correct proportion.
 The channel leads the mix to grinding mills, where both the materials are intimately mixed. ∙
Some water may be added if the resulting mix is quick thick.
 This mix is known as slurry. The slurry thus prepared is stored in tanks where it is kept
constantly stirred.
 The chemical composition of the slurry is checked here, and if it needs any correction it is
done.
 The corrected slurry is kept stored in storage tanks and kept ready for feeding into the
rotary kiln for burning.
 For burning of the corrected slurry, a rotary kiln of almost similar type is used as described
under dry process. In this kiln,
In drying zone water from the slurry is evaporated. As the dry charge descends to pre
heating zone, rise in temperature of dry mass takes place and at sufficiently higher
temperature carbon dioxide is liberated and the mass turns into small sized lumps known as
nodules.
 The nodules then enter the next zone called burning zone. Temperature in burning zone is kept
about 1500◦C to 1700◦C. nodules get burnt up in burning zone and are converted into white hot
clinkers varying in size from 5 mm to 10 mm. The clinkers are very hot as they come out of
burning zone.
 As the lump-shaped clinker comes out form the kiln, it is extremely hot. It is, therefore, passed
through air-cooler rotary cylinders. Thereafter, it is mixed with 3-4 percent of gypsum and
ground to very fine powder as in the dry process. The fine cement so obtained is stored and
packed which is ready for use.

 Note-:
Rotary kiln differs in design and dimensions in accordance with the production
requirements. Thus, these may be 100-180 m in length, 3-5 m in diameter and have rotation
of 60-90 revolutions per hour.
7.5 Types and properties of Cement

Types of cement

1. Ordinary Portland Cement

1. It is the common type of cement available in market.
2. This has medium rate of strength development and heat generation.
3. Initial and final setting time of OPC is 30 minutes and 10-12 hours respectively.
4. It possesses sufficient resistance against dry shrinkage and cracking but less resistance to
chemical attack.
5. It is used in almost all type of general construction.

2. Rapid hardening cement

 It is also known as High early strength cement.
 Strength attained by this cement in 3 days and 7 days, is almost the same as that
attained by ordinary cement in 7 days, and 28 days, respectively.
 The increased rate of gain of strength of this cement is achieved by a higher C3S
content and finer grinding of the cement clinker.
 It is prepared more carefully and burnt at a higher temperature than that of an
ordinary Portland cement.
 The curing period is short; hence it is economical.
 This cement is used in construction fields where strength should be achieved more
quickly and formwork should be removed earlier.
Uses: It is used where a rapid strength development is required, e.g., when frame work is to
be removed early for re-use, where sufficient strength for further construction is wanted as
quickly as practicable.

3. Extra Rapid Hardening Cement

 It is obtained by intergrinding CaCl2 with rapid hardening cement.
 Addition of CaCl2 should not exceed 2% by weight of the rapid hardening cement.
 Concrete made by using this cement should be transported, placed, compacted and
finished within about 20 minutes.
 Strength is higher than 25% than that of rapid hardening cement at 1 or 2 days.

ERHC = RHC + CaCl2 (increases quick setting properties)

(ERHC)1 = 1.25 (RHC)1

Uses: Cold weather condition

4. Quick setting cement
 It contains less percentage of gypsum(retarder) and is ground much finer than ordinary
Portland cement. The setting action is accelerated by adding a small percentage of
aluminium sulphate during grinding.
 It is costlier than ordinary Portland cement.
 Its initial and final setting times are 5 minutes and 30 minutes respectively.
The setting action of such a cement starts within 5 minutes and it becomes stone-hard
less than half an hour.
Uses: Due to its quick setting property it is used in works where concrete is to be
placed under water or in running water.
5. Portland Pozzolana cement
 The raw materials used to manufacture PPC are OPC cement clinkers 75-76%, gypsum 3
to 5% and pozzolanic material 10 to 25% which can by fly ash, rice husk Ash all these
materials are mixed and grinded to obtain the Pozzolana cement.
 The initial strength of OPC higher than PPC but for the long-term strength of PPC higher
than OPC so, if you need high strength at the initial stage then go for OPC.
 PPC more resistance towards the attack of sulphate alkyl chloride and chemicals as
compared to OPC.
Uses: - construction works like RCC work in residential commercial and industrial building,
marine work, mass concrete work like Dam, huge foundations.
Specially in plastering, masonry, water proofing works as in this work strength is not the major
criteria.
6. Low heat cement
 This cement is proportioned is such a way, that C3A and C3S are formed in lesser amount,
but C2S is formed in increased amount.
 As per IS specification, the minimum initial setting time is 60 minutes for low heat
cement.
 Final setting time similar to OPC.
 In the case of mass concrete structure such as dams, retaining walls, bridge abutment,
rate of loss of heat of hydration from the surface is much lower than that generated. This
causes, rise in temperature inside the mass of concrete and may develop thermal and
shrinkage cracks if proper precautions are not taken.

Uses for massive concreting as dams, abutments etc.

 This cement offers greater sulphate resistance due to decreased amount of C3S. This
cement is however, not suitable for ordinary (usual) structures.

 Disadvantage: Delay in formwork

7. Sulphate Resisting cement

 Sulphate Resisting Cement is a type of Portland Cement in which the amount of tricalcium
aluminate (C3A) and (C4AF) reduces, which reduces the formation of sulphate salts. The
reduction of sulphate salts lowers the possibility of sulphate attack on the concrete.
 Sulfate Resisting Cement is a blended cement designed to improve the performance of
concrete where the risk of sulfate attack may be present.
 It also provides improved durability for concrete in most aggressive environments, reducing
the risk of deterioration of the structure and structural failure.
 Use in Marine works, sewage treatment works, foundation, basements where the soils are
infected with Sulphur.

8. Portland Slag Cement

 This cement is produced by mixing Portland cement clinker, gypsum and granulated Blast
Furnace slag in suitable proportions and grinding the mixture to get a thorough and intimate
mixture between the constituents. According to the control over physical and chemical
specification, slag is mixed up to 25-65%. Slag is a byproduct in the manufacture of pig iron.
Chemically, slag is a mixture of lime, silica and alumina, that is, the same oxides that make up
Portland cement. Cementitious properties are generated when ground granulated slag
reacts with water.
 Use for sulphate resisting material but less effective than sulphate resisting cement.
 Low heat of hydration
 Use for mass concreting

7.6 Chemical Reaction between Lime and Water/Cement and Water

Chemical Reaction between Lime and Water

CaCO3 → CaO + CO2

CaO + H2O → Ca (OH)2

(Slaked/Hydrated lime)
Due to more impurities present in Hydraulic lime (in the form of clay), the rate of reaction with
water is very slow. Now, fat lime hardens by taking CO2 from air to form hard crystals of calcium
carbonate.

Chemical Reaction between Cement and Water

Ca3Al2O6 + H2O → Ca3Al2 (OH) 12

(Calcium aluminate)

Ca2SiO4 + xH2O → Ca2SiO4. xH2O

(Calcium silicate)

Calcium aluminate and calcium silicate are the principal chemical compounds of which the Portland
cement are composed off after setting, cement hardens to a rock like solid.
7.7 Testing of OPC cement
Cement can be tested for its quality both in field and in lab.

Fields tests

1. When one’s hand is plunged in a bag of cement, he should feel cool not warm.
2. Cement with earthy smell shows excessive presence of alumina.
3. A thin cement paste when rolled in hands should not show cracks.
4. Dark color cement should be avoided because it indicates impurities, it should be uniformly
greenish grey.
5. It should be very fine powder and presence of lumps indicates poor quality.

Laboratory tests
1. Fineness test
 It can be determined by sieve analyses method.
 The given sample is sieved through 90micron IS sieve for 15 minutes and residue
obtained should not be more than 10% by weight of original cement sample.

2. Consistency test

It is necessary to determine consistency because the amount of water affects the

setting time of the cement. ... Less water than this quantity would not complete chemical
reaction thus resulting in the reduction of strength and more water would increase water-
cement ratio and so would reduce its strength.

This test is carried out to determine the percentage of water for preparing cement paste of
standard consistency for other tests. This test in performed with the help of Vicat’s apparatus.
 It consists of:

 A metal frame to which a movable rod weighing 300g is attached.

 Movable rod is provided with a releasing pin to let the rod free and is attached with an
indicator on a vertical scale graduated 0 to 40mm.
 The Vicat mould is in the form of a cylinder and is placed on a non-porous plate (glass plate).
 A 10 mm diameter plunger is used for consistency test.

Procedure

 A trial paste of cement (300g) and water (30% i.e., 90gm of water) is mixed and placed in
mould.
 The plunger is then brought into contact with the top surface of paste and released gently.
Under the action of its weight the plunger will penetrate the paste, the depth of penetration
depending upon the consistency of paste. This is considered to be the standard, When the
plunger penetrates the paste to a pointer 5 to 7mm from bottom of mould.
 The water content of the standard paste is expressed as a percentage by weight of the dry
cement, the range of values is in between 25 to 35 percent.
 The time of mixing cement paste should not be less than 3 minutes and not more than 5
minutes. Mixing time is the time elapsing from the time of adding water to the dry cement until
commencing to fill the mould.

3. Setting time test

The object of this test is to check the initial and final setting time of cement.
a. Initial setting time test:
 The cement paste is prepared with water 0.85 times the water for normal
consistency and filled in Vicat mould.
 A round or square needle with cross sectional area 1 square mm is attached to the
moving rod. The needle is gently released and allowed to penetrate the cement paste.
 It is then taken out and dropped out at a fresh place.
 The procedure is repeated at regular interval till the paste stiffens sufficiently for
needle to penetrate only to point 5mm to 7mm from bottom, at this stage the
initial time is noted.
 This time for OPC should not be less than 30min.
b. Final setting time test:
 For this, the needle is replaced by 1mm square needle with 5mm diameter collar.
 The needle is released at the surface of cement paste.
 If the needle fails to make any impression on the surface, then that time lapsed from
mixing of cement is called final setting time.
 For OPC it is about 10-12 hours.
4. Compressive strength test
 Compressive strength is the most important property of cement.
 Cement mortar of different mix is prepared (generally 1:3 cement sand mortar is
prepared).
 Paste is prepared by adding water at the rate (P/4 +3).
(Where, P is the % of water required to produce a paste of standard consistency)
 Three similar cubes (mostly 7cm side) are prepared and placed in normal
atmosphere at about 25oC to 29oC.
 The cubes are removed from mould after one day and cured in water till testing time.
 3 cubes are tested in compression testing machine at 3 days, 7 days and 28 days
respectively.

5. Tensile strength test:

 Tensile strength of cement sand mortar is tested on the standard briquettes.
 Cement sand mortar of 1:3 mix is prepared and moulded in standard mould.
 The percentage of water to be mixed is determined by formula (P/5 +2.5),
Where, P is the % of water required to produce a paste of standard
consistency. (The percentage of water comes out to about 8% by weight of cement and sand).
 The mould is left in normal atmosphere for one day and the briquettes are removed
from mould.
 The samples are cured in water for 3 and 7 days.
 The briquettes are tested on briquette testing machine at 3 and 7days.

6. Soundness Test
 This test is performed to detect the presence of uncombined lime and magnesia in
cement.
 It is tested with ‘Le Chatelier apparatus’.
It consists of:
 A small brass cylinder (30mm diameter, 30mm high and 0.5mm thick)
 Two indicators with pointed ends are attached to the cylinder on either side of the split
(to tear length).

Procedure

 The cement paste is prepared, the % of water is taken as calculated in consistency test
times 0.78.
 The cylinder is placed on a glass plate and is filled with cement paste. It is covered at top
with another glass plate. A small weight is placed on top.
 The whole assembly is immersed in water at 27 ± 2oC for 24 hours. At the end of that
period the distance between the indicators is measured.
  The mould is immersed in water again and brought to boil in 30 minutes. After boiling
for 3 hours the mould is removed from water and allow it to cool, the increase in
distance represents the expansion of the cement and according to IS specification it
should not exceed 10mm for any type of Portland cement.
 Unsound cement may create cracks, distortion and disintegration of concrete.
7. Loss in ignition
 10 gm of cement is taken on platinum crucible and heated up to a temperature of
1000oC for 15 minutes.
 The weight of cool cement is taken then. The percentage loss on ignition should not the
more than 4%.

Important questions from old questions

2020
5. (a) explain the composition of cement clinker. Describe the tensile strength test, crushing strength
test and adhesive strength of cement mortar. [4+4]
1. Crushing Test: This test is carried out on a brick work with the mortar. This brick work is crushed
in a compression testing machine and the load is noted down. Then the crushing strength is obtained
as load divided by cross-sectional area.

Adhesive Test:

Two bricks are joined together with mortar to be tested as shown in above Fig.

The upper brick is suspended from an overhead support.

A board is hung from the lower brick. Then weights are added to the board till the bricks
separate. The adhesive strength is the load divided by the area of contact.
 2019
4. (b) Describe the formation of lime and list out the components of lime. Which type of
cement is used for mass concreting explain reasons. [4+4]

6. Write short note [4]

a) Types of cement

(2018)

4. (b) What are the main ingredients of cements? Explain the function of
Bouge’s compound. [5+5]
6. Write short note [4]
(e) Types of cement
(2017)
5. (a) Explain the manufacturing process of cement with neat sketch diagram. [8]

6. Write short note

(c) Vicat’s apparatus [4]
(2016)
4. (b) What are the functions of ingredients present in an ordinary Portland cement?
Explain different types of cement. [4+6]
(2015)
4. (a) Explain the laboratory procedure to find the setting time test of Ordinary
Portland cement. [8]
(2014)
5. (a) Describe various types of cement. Difference between hydraulic lime and fat lime.
[7+3]
(b)List and explain the function of Bogue’s compounds? [4]