TYPES OF CEMENT AND THEIR USES

TYPES OF CEMENT AND THEIR USES



Cement is a hydraulic binder, i.e. a finely ground inorganic material which, when mixed with water, forms a paste which sets and hardens by means of hydration reactions and processes and which, after hardening, retains its strength and stability even under water.
There are various types of cement used in construction projects. Each type of cement has its own properties which are caused by composition materials used during its manufacture. Difference in cement properties causes the cement to have different uses and advantages.
The following are 13 types of cement and their uses and their brief descriptions.

  1. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)
Ordinary Portland cement is most widely produced and used type of cement which is suitable for all general construction purposes such as brick works, plaster works and or usual concrete works.
  1. Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)
This cement has high resistance to various chemical attacks on concrete compared with ordinary Portland cement and thus it is widely used. It is used in marine structures, for laying concrete under water such as bridges, piers, dams and mass concrete works etc.
As it gives a better surface finish, it is used in decorative and art structures, it is also used in the manufacture of precast sewage pipes

  1. Rapid Hardening Cement
Rapid Hardening Cement comes when OPC is mixed with high content of lime and Tri-calcium silicate (C3S) which cause it to gain strength more quickly compared to OPC.
The strength gained by Rapid Hardening Cement at 3 days is similar to that gained by OPC at 7 days at the same water-cement ratio. 
Advantage of this type of cement is reduction of construction cost by increasing rate of construction in formwork reusing. Rapid hardening cement is used in prefabricated concrete construction, road works, etc
  1. Quick setting cement
Quick setting cement is one which sets in a very short time, the difference between the quick setting cement and rapid hardening cement is that quick setting cement sets earlier while rate of gain of strength is similar to Ordinary Portland Cement, while rapid hardening cement gains strength quickly. Formworks in both cases can be removed earlier.
Quick setting cement is used where works is to be completed in very short period and for concreting in static or running water.
  1. Low Heat Cement
It is a type of cement which produces low heat of hydration during setting, and thus is used in mass concrete construction like gravity dams, as the low heat of hydration prevents the cracking of concrete due to heat.
  1. Sulphates resisting cement
Sulfate resisting cement is used to reduce the risk of sulphate attack on concrete and thus is used in construction of foundations where soil has high sulphate content. 
It is used for construction work near seashore or where sulphate content is higher in ground water
  1. High Alumina Cement
High Alumina cement is obtained by mixing bauxite and ordinary lime with clinker during the manufacture of OPC, it is a rapid hardening cement with initial setting time of 3.5 hours and final setting time 5 hours.
  1. White Cement
It is a type of ordinary Portland cement which is white in color, it is used for joining marbles and ceramic tiles, for preparing joints of sanitary wares, architectural works such as precast curtain wall and facing panels, terrazzo surface and also It is used in manufacturing of mosaic tiles.
  1. Coloured cement
Coloured cement is produced when OPC is mixed by 5 – 10 percent of mineral pigment of certain desired colour. They are widely used for decorative works in floors.

  1. Air Entraining Cement
Air-entraining cement is a type of cement which entrains tinny air bubbles in concrete, this type of cement is produced by adding indigenous air entraining agents such as resins, glues etc. during the grinding of clinker.
This type of cement is especially suited to improve the workability with smaller water cement ratio and to improve frost resistance of concrete
  1. Expansive cement
Expansive cement expands slightly with time during hydration and does not shrink during and after the time of hardening. This cement is mainly used for grouting anchor bolts and prestressed concrete ducts.



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