1.3- Physical properties, I.

S Specification and filed application of different types of cement, Rapid

hardening cement, and blast furnace slag cement, adulteration of cement. 1.3.1 Types of cementi)
Ordinary Portland cement ii) Rapid Hardening cement iii) Low heat cement iv) Portland pozzolana
cement V) Sulphate resisting cement Vi) Blast furnace slag cement Vii) White cement
 1) Ordinary Portland cement: - It is the cement which is commonly used in ordinary construction
works. It satisfies the criteria as per IS- 269-1967 OPC has following properties. a) Fineness →10% by
IS sieving method b) Soundness → 10mm max. For unaerated cement c) Setting time → IST > 30
mins. And FST < 600 mins. d) Comp strength → 3 days = 115 kg/cm2 & 7 days -175 kg/cm2 OPC is
useful in the following: - a) OPC is used for making mortar, concrete to be used under normal
conditions. b) OPC is also useful for all types of RCC works including plastering and water – proofing
2) Rapid hardening Cement:- Properties of Rapid Hardening Cement: 1. Fineness: Maximum fineness
of cement should be 5 % by IS sieving method and specific surface not less than 3250 cm2/gm. by
Blaine air permeability apparatus. 2. Soundness: Maximum 10 mm for un-aerated cement and 5 mm
for aerated cement by Le- apparatus. 3. Setting Time: Initial setting time should be more than 20
min. and final setting time should be less than 600 minutes. 4. Compressive Strength: Minimum
compressive strength should be 16 MPaand 27 MPa for 1 day and 3 days respectively. Applications:-
i. Road construction where delay in traffic is not required Ii. Tremie method of concreting in
underwater construction works Iii. Manufacturing of concrete products like fencing pole, electric
pole, doors and windows frames Iv. Cold weather concreting
 3) Low Heat Cement: - Low Heat Cement (LHC): It means the type of cement in which less heat is
evolved in exothermic hydration reaction. In this cement C3S and C3A % is reduced which gives
comparatively lesser heat of hydration than OPC. Properties of LHC : i. Fineness = 3200 cm2/gm ii.
Soundness = Less than 10 mm iii. Initial setting time = 60 minutes iv. Final setting time = 600 minutes
v. Compressive strength (28 days) = 35 MPa Uses of LHC : i. Mass concreting work such as Dam,
Bridge construction ii. Nuclear power plant iii. Sea walls and break waters
 4) Portland pozzalana cementi. All construction works where OPC is used i.e. PCC and RCC.
Ii.Construction of hydraulic structure iii. Mass concreting work
5. Sulphate resisting cementi. Construction of foundation on soil and water containing high % of SO4.
ii. Marine and seashore construction iii. Underground laying of RCC pipes in acidic soils.
 6. Blast furnace slag cement (BFSC) – i. All construction works where OPC is used. ii. Mass concreting
ii. Marine works
 7. White Cement (WC) – 1. White cement can be used as a base for color cement. 2. The whiteness
of white cement should not be less than 70% as measured by ISI. 3. The minimum compressive
strength of white cement as per IS 8042:1989 is 29.7Mpa after 28 Days. 4. The minimum degree of
fineness of white cement as per Blain air permeability apparatus is 225m2/Kg. Uses: - 1. For
manufacturing various colored cement white cement is used as a base. 2. It is used in filling joint
between tiles.
 1.3.2 Rapid hardening cement is not used in mass concreting:- 1. Rapid hardening cement is not
used in mass concreting works like dams, bridges etc. 2. It is because; the rapid hardening cement
evolves large heat of hydration at a time. 3. This excessive heat results in expansion cracks, cavity
formation, which affects strength and durability of such structures. 4. Rapid hardening cement gains
early strength than OPC .Rapid hardening cement contains more amount of % C2S and C3S; hence it
gives 3 days strength which OPC gives after 7 days. 5. The fineness of particles of RHC is 5% i.e. more
fine particles, hydrates quickly and results in early strength than OPC with comparatively coarse
particles. 1.3.2.1 Compare the properties of rapid hardening cement and low heat cement