CONST. MTRL & TESTING: CEMENT

With the manufacture of cement, structures have been made stronger compared when they were made with clay. Cement is a vital ingredient in manufacturing of concrete along with coarse and fine aggregates mixed with the right proportions of water.

courtesy of the Master Builder

The chemical components of good quality ordinary cement should consist of Lime (62%), Silica (22%), alumina, calcium sulphate, iron oxide, magnesia, sulphur, and alkalies at lesser proportions.

Pozzolanic cement is a kind which is manufactured by mixing fly ash, volcanic ash, silica fumes and calcined clay, all of which are Pozzolanic materials. Portland cement, on the other hand, is manufactured with limestone mainly.


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As per ASTM C150, there are five different specifications for Portland cement. 

Type I is for general use.
Type II is used more specially for environments with moderate sulphate resistance.
Type III is high early strength.
Type IV is for low heat of hydration.
Type V is for high sulfate resistance.

courtesy of Union Cement Company

Special purpose cement is classified into two:

1. Ordinary Portland-based cement

2. Non-ordinary Portland based cement