CEMENT

Cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens and can bind other materials together. Cements used in construction can be characterized as being either hydraulic or non-hydraulic, depending upon the ability of the cement to be used in the presence of water. Non-hydraulic cement will not set in wet conditions or underwater, rather it sets as it dries and reacts with carbon dioxide in the air. It can be attacked by some aggressive chemicals after setting. Hydraulic cement is made by replacing some of the cement in a mix with activated aluminum silicates, pozzolana, such as fly ash.

The chemical reaction results in hydrates that are not very water-soluble and so are quite durable in water and safe from chemical attack. This allows setting in wet condition or underwater and further protects the hardened material from chemical attack (e.g., Portland cement).

Uses of Cement:-

• Cement mortar for Masonry work, plaster and pointing etc.
• Concrete for laying floors, roofs and constructing lintels, beams, weather- shed, stairs, pillars etc.
• Construction of water, wells, tennis courts, septic tanks, lamp posts, telephone cabins etc.
• Making joint for joints, pipes, etc.
• Manufacturing of precast pipes, garden seats, flower posts, etc.
• Preparation of foundation, water tight floors, footpaths, etc.

ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENT:-

Ordinary Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general use around the world. This cement is made by heating limestone (calcium carbonate) with small quantities of other materials (such as clay) to 1450°C in a kiln, in a process known as calcinations, whereby a molecule of carbon dioxide is liberated from the calcium carbonate to form calcium oxide, or quicklime, which is then blended with the other materials that have been included in the mix. The resulting hard substance, called ‘clinker’, is then ground with a small amount of gypsum into a powder to make ‘Ordinary

Portland Cement'(often referred to as OPC). Portland cement is a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar and most non-specialty grout. The most common use for Portland cement is in the production of concrete. Concrete is a composite material consisting of aggregate (gravel and sand), cement, and water. As a construction material, concrete can be cast in almost any shape desired, and once hardened, can become a structural (load bearing) element. Portland cement may be grey or white.

This type of cement use in construction when there is no exposure to sulphates in the soil or  ground water.

• Lime saturation Factor is limited between i.e. 0.66 to 1.02.
• Free lime-cause the Cement to be unsound.
• Percentage of (AL2O3/Fe2O3) is not less than 0.66.
• Insoluble residue not more than 1.5%.
• Percentage of SO3 limited by 2.5% when C3A < 7% and not more than 3% when C3A >7%.
• Loss of ignition -4%(max)
• Percentage of Mg0-5% (max.)
• Fineness -not less than 2250 cm2/g.

Chemical constituents of cement:-

These are the different constituents which combine to make cement. These are their percentage content

in order to give good cement.

Hydration of Cement:-

The chemical reaction between cement and water in a proportioning mix is called as hydration of cement. It may be in concrete mix or in the making of mortar in the field work.

SETTING OF CEMENT:-

The action of changing mixed cement from a fluid state to a solid state is called setting of cement and time required for it to set is called setting time of cement. Setting time of cement is same as setting time of concrete.

SETTING TIME OF CEMENT:-

1. Initial Setting Time

Initial Setting Time is defined as the period elapsing between the time when water is added to the cement and the time at which the needle of 1 mm square section fails to pierce the test block to a depth of about 5 mm from the bottom of the mould. A period of 30 minutes is the minimum initial setting time, specified by ISI for ordinary and rapid hardening Portland cements and 60 minutes for low heat cement.

2. Final Setting Time

Final Setting Time is defined as the period elapsing between the time when water is added to cement and the time at which the needle of 1 mm square section with 5 mm diameter attachment makes an impression on the test block. 600 minutes is the maximum time specified for the final set for all the above mentioned Portland cement. IS: 269-1976 specifies the strengths in compression on the standard mortar-cube.

STRUCTURE OF HYDRATED CEMENT:-

The desirable engineering characteristics of hardened concrete —strength, dimensional stability, and durability —are influenced not only by the proportion but also by the properties of the hydrated cement paste, which, in turn, depend on the micro-structural features (i.e., the type, amount, and distribution of solids and voids).

Fresh cement paste is a plastic network of particles of cement in water but, once the cement paste has set, its apparent or gross volume remains approximately constant.

At any stage of hydration, the hardened paste consists of hydrates of the various compounds, referred to collectively as gel, crystals of Ca(OH)2, some minor components, un hydrated cement and the residue of water-filled spaces in the fresh paste.