INTRODUTION

The history of cementing material is as old as that of Engineering Construction.

In ancient times Romans, Egyptians and Indians used some kind of cementing
materials in their constructions. It is believed that Egyptians used burnt gypsum
(CaSO4) as cementing material in their constructions. Not much is known about
the cementing material used by Indians in the construction of the cities of
Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.

Cement is a mixture of fine grey powder of calcium silicate and calcium

aluminate. When cement mixed with water and allowed to set for some time,
then it becomes hard and resembles like the rock. Thus, the process is called
setting of cement. Cement is manufactured by heating a mixture of limestone
(CaCO3) and special type of clay (Al3O2.SiO2) in the ratio 2:1 at the temperature
of about 1600°C.

Limestone forms source of lime (CaO) whereas the special type of clay provides
the oxides the of aluminium (Al2O3) and silicon (SiO2). Iron oxide and gypsum
are also added to the mixture to improve the quality of the cement.
CaCO3 + Al2O3 + SiO2 CaSiO3 + CaAl2O3

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While manufacturing cement, limestone and clay are first crushed in crushers
and then ground into fine powder. The powder is made slurry with water. The
slurry is fed into a rotary kiln (a cylindrical furnace which is made by steel and
lined with firebricks) the slurry is heated at the temperature of about 1600°C in
the kiln while passing downward for the top of the kiln to the bottom.

In the kiln calcium oxide is formed from strongly heated calcium carbonate.
Calcium oxide combines with aluminium and silica of clay to form calcium
aluminate and calcium silicate respectively. Calcium silicates and the calcium
aluminates are formed in the form of pea sized balls called cement clinkers.

The cement clinker is cooled and mixed with 2-3% gypsum salt then grinding
cement is formed. Gypsum slows down the setting time of cement Finally,
cement is packed in airtight bags to avoid moisture and transported in market.

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 THEORY

 Effect of quality of sand on setting of cement mortar:

Sand obtained from different sources has different qualities. For

example, sea sand obtained from sea contains some unwanted salts and
retards the setting of cement and is unsuitable for making mortar. On the
other hand, pit sand obtained from pits in the soil and river sand obtained
from river bed are considered excellent for preparing mortar and
concrete.

Hence, the quality of sand really makes difference on the time taken by
the cement and the strength of the substance formed after setting cement
(cement mortar).

 Effect of time on setting of cement mortar:

Time plays an important role on developing the strength in cement

mortar. When a cement sand paste in the ratio 1:3 in water is allowed to
dry, the strength of the solid mass keeps on increasing with increase in
the time given for setting. Cement mortar acquires nearly full strength,
when it is left for 20 days.

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EXPERIMENT-1

AIM:
To study the setting of mixtures of cement with lime, sand, of different
qualities, rice husk, fly ash, etc..

REQUIRMENTS:
 Beakers,
 glass rod,
 weights,
 small wooden boxes or empty match boxes.
 Lime,
 pit sand,
 river sand,
 cement,
 fly ash,
 rice husk...

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 Procedure :

 Prepare the sets of mixtures of various compositions as given in the

observation table.
 Take each of the mixtures in different beakers and prepare their pastes by
adding minimum quantity of water.
 Take 10 empty match-box inner cases and mark them from 1 to 10.
 Transfer the prepared pastes immediately into the matchboxes and
compact them by pressing with hand.
 Spray water from time to time over the pastes so that they are always
moist. Take out the slabs after three days and test for its strength.
 For that hold a weight of 10g on the hand at a fixed height (say 50 cm
above the ground) and drop the weight on the slab.
 See if the slab breaks or not. If it does not break then take 20g weight
and drop it from the same height.
 This way keep on increasing the weight and note down the minimum
weight required to break the slab.

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 EXPERIMENT-2

AIM :

To study the setting of mixtures of cement with sand, lime and fly-ash
with respect to time and strength.

REQUIREMENTS:

 Beakers,
 glass rod,
 weights,
 small wooden boxes or empty match boxes.
 Lime,
 pit sand,
 river sand,
 cement,
 fly-ash,
 rice husk.

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Procedure:

 Prepare mixtures of the various compositions as given in the following

observation table.
 Take each of the mixtures in different beakers and prepare their pastes
by adding minimum quantity of water. Take 9 empty match-box inner
cases and mark them from 1 to 9.
 Stir the mass constantly well with wooden brod till the whole lye has
been added.
 Fill three cases with paste of each composition. Spray water from time
to time over the pastes so that they remain moist all the time.
 Cover the mould or frame with wooden board or a gummy b ag and
leave it for few hours
 After three days take out one slab of each composition and test for their
strength by the method described in previous experiment.
 Similarly, take out a set of three slabs after 7 days and then after 30 days
and test for their strengths.

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 OBSERVATION

S.N Composition of mixture Minimum weight required to break the

slab
( 3 days) (7 days)
(30 days)
1 Cement: River sand 1: 18gm 20gm 30gm
3

2 Cement: River sand: 16 gm 18 gm 20gm

Fly ash 2:9:1

3 Cement: River sand: 10 gm 15 gm 20gm

Lime 1:3:1

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 CONCLUSION

From the above observation table, we can conclude that the mixture composed
of cement and river sand is the strongest among all of the mixtures. Also, we get
to know that the longer the cement is left the stronger it gets as the cement left
for 30 days ca n withstand 30gm of weight where as the cement left for 3 days
can only withstand 10gm of weight only.

In a detailed way, we got to know that if lime is added to the mixture of cement
and river sand then the quality of the mixture gets degraded or becomes inferior
to its pure mixture. Hence, the mixture of cement and river sand is strongest and
sets into a much harder substance along the time.

Also, from this experiment we can conclude and accept the fact that both the
quality and the time given to the cement mortar plays an significant role for
determining the strength of the cement mortar.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

 http://www.wikipedia.com
 http://www.shiksha.com
 http://www.youtube.com
 http://www.gooogle .com
 Lab book
 NCERT
 Teachers

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