UNIT 1- CEMENT

CEMENT

Cement is a binding material used in construction industry

Cement is obtained by grinding, mixing and burning of raw materials such as calcareous such as limestone or
chalk and argillaceous such as clay or shale

Q.1 List four major compounds of cement with their percentage in Ordinary Portland cement.

Sr. Name of compound Formula %

No.
1 Tricalcium Silicate (C3S) 3 CaO SiO2 54.1
2 Dicalcium Silicate (C2S) 2 CaO SiO2 16.6
3 Tricalcium Aluminate (C3A) 3 CaO Al2 O3 10.8
4 Tetracalcium Aluminoferrite (C4AF) 4 CaO Al2 O3 Fe2 O3 9.1

Q.2 State effect of storage of cement on its strength. State four precautions while storing the cement.
Effect of storage of cement on strength of cement :
As cement is susceptible for hydrolysis, it may undergoes hardening Due to atmospheric moisture, therefore
the strength of cement goes on Decreasing with increase in period of its storage as mentioned below

Sr. Period of Strength of

No. storage cement
1 3 months 100%
2 6 months 75%
3 1 year 60%
4 2 year 50%
5 3 year 45%

Q.3 State the meaning of 43 grade and 53 grade cement.

Meaning of 43 grade cement: It means that, this type of cement Shows minimum 43 N/mm2 compressive
strength after 28 days Complete curing, when tested on CTM.
Meaning of 53 grade cement: It means that, this type of cement Shows minimum 53 N/mm2 compressive
strength after 28 days Complete curing, when tested on CTM.

Q.4 List four physical properties of OPC.

Physical properties of OPC:
i. Fineness
ii. Standard consistency or Normal consistency
iii. Initial and Final setting time
iv. Soundness
v. Compressive Strength

Q.5 Define fineness of cement.

Fineness of cement: It is the degree of grinding of cement particles during its manufacturing process, called
as fineness of cement.
OR
It is the measurement of size of particles, called as fineness of cement
Q.6 Explain the procedure to determine fineness of cement by dry sieving method. State its IS
requirement.

Procedure to determine fineness of cement by dry sieving method:

1. Take the 100 gm of cement sample given using balance as initial weight as W1 gm.
2. Take 90 micron IS sieve and keep pan at bottom.
3. Place the measured 100 gm cement sample on 90 micron sieve and break the visible lumps present in
cement using figures without pressing it on sieve.
4. Keep the lid on sieve.
5. Sieve the cement manually by giving wrist motion for 10-15 minutes, so that cement sample gets sieved
completely.
6. Measure the weight of cement fraction retained on 90 micron sieve as W2 gm.
7. Calculate the % fineness of given cement as (W2 / W1 ) x 100
8. Repeat all above steps to get average % fineness of given cement.

IS requirement of Fineness of cement: According to IS:269, the % fineness of various cements should not
exceed following limits.
i) Ordinary Portland cement (OPC): 10 % max.
ii) Rapid hardening Cement (RHC): 5 % max.
iii) Low Heat Cement (LHC): 5 % max.

Q.7 Explain the procedure for determination of compressive strength of cement in laboratory.
Procedure for determination of compressive strength of cement in laboratory:
1. Take 200 gm cement, 600 gm standard sand and add water ((p/4)+3) % to that of combined weight of
cement and sand. Prepare homogenous mortar.
2. Fill the prepared mortar in the cube mould of size 7.07 cm side by proper compaction. Compact the filled
mould on vibrating machine for 3-5 minutes.
3. Keep filled moulds at room temperature for 24 hours and 90% humidity for initial hardening.
4. Remove cube moulds and keep cement cubes under fresh water for curing for 7, 14, 21, 28 days.
5. Remove cube from water after curing period and keep it under compression testing machine (CTM) for
testing.
6. Apply compressive load at a rate of 35 N/mm2 till failure of cube.
7. Note down the failure load in kN shown by red pointer of dial gauge.
8. Calculate compressive strength of cement cube by dividing failure load in N to cross sectional area of cube
in mm2.
9. Calculate average compressive strength of three test cubes in N/mm2.

Q.8 Explain the method to determine initial and final setting time of cement.
Procedure:
i. Take 400 gm. of cement sample and add 0.85 times water Required for its standard consistency to prepare
homogenous Cement paste. Note down the time at which water is added to Cement as T1 min.
ii. Fill this cement paste in Vicat’s mould. Keep this mould under Vicat’s apparatus with IST needle attached
to it.
iii. Now allow the IST needle to penetrate in the paste by realize pin observe the total penetration. If the
penetration is not 33to 35 mm from top then change the position of penetration surface.
iv. Note down the time at which IST needle will give required penetration as T2 min. Hence calculate the
initial setting time.
v. IST = T2 - T1 min.
vi. Replace IST needle with FST needle and allow FST needle to Penetrate in same cement paste.
vii. Note down the time at which FST needle will give the Just Impression on a cement surface as T3 min.
viii. Calculate final setting time i.e. FST = T3-T1 min.
Q.9 Define hydration of cement
Hydration of cement: It is exothermic chemical reaction takes place when water is added to cement, which
gives rise cement paste and large amount heat is evolved. About 120 cal/gm, heat is evolved. This is called as
hydration of cement.

Q.10 Define Hydration. Explain in brief heat of hydration of cement.

Hydration - It is exothermic chemical reaction which takes place when water is added to cement which gives
cement paste and large heat is evolved about 120cal/gm is called hydration

Heat of hydration - For complete hydration of cement, 38% water by weight of cement is required. During
hydration, the large heat is evolved which is useful for development of strength.

If heat of hydration is less, then strength development will be slower and ultimate strength will not be
achieved. But if heat of hydration is moderate then strength will be maintained and durability will be ensured.
When heat of hydration is excessive, then concrete may gives severe cracks on it.
Thus heat of hydration of cement plays a vital role in strength of concrete. When cement particles are more
fine (i.e. less % fineness), then hydration takes place quickly producing more heat of hydration.
This heat of hydration become responsible to bind particles together to ensure target strength.

Q.11 What is meant by adulteration of cement? Explain its importance with respect to properties of
concrete. How adulteration is determined in laboratory?
:- Adulteration of cement – The change in engineering properties of cement due to addition of impurities like
stone, dust , fine sand, grit particles, broken brick powder etc.; is called as adulteration of cement.

Importance of examining adulteration of cement-

1. The cement adulteration is very important to examine before its use. It is because, the above said impurities
changes the properties of cement.
2. The fineness of cement increases as coarser impurity particles gets added in it. The adultered cement in the
form of lumps, may not mix properly. It results in increased standard consistency.
3. The adulteration increases setting time of cement and results in delay of removal of formwork and
construction work.
4. The impure adultered cement shows more expansion under temperature i.e. unsound nature.
5.The compressive strength of adultered cement reduces drastically because of lesser heat of hydration and
bonding due to impurities in it.

Determination of adulteration of cement –

The adulteration of cement is determined by conducting following field tests.
1. The colour of fresh and unadultred should be greenish grey.
2. The cement should not have visible lumps in it.
3. The unadultred cement gives cool feeling, when a hand is put in bag.
4. The pure cement should give smooth feeling, when a pinch of cement is rubbed in fingers.
5. A handful of cement should float on water before its dipping or sinking.
6. The sharp edge cement should remain unchanged even after 24 hours under water.
7. The colour of fresh cement should not be changed after burning.

Q.12 State any four field test of cement. State the precautions to be taken while storing cement at site.

Following are the commonly performed field tests:

i. Open the bag and observe the cement. There should not be any visible lumps. If any lump found it should be
powered by pressing between thumb and fore finger if it does not turn into powder the cement is considered
have been spoiled by air setting.
ii. Thrust your hand into the cement bag, it should feel cool.
iii. Rub the cement between finger tips by taking a pinch of the cement. It should not feel gritty but should be
smooth in feel.
iv. Throw a handful of cement on the water surface in a bucket. The cement should float in case of cement is
of good quality and if it sinks it contains some impurities.
v. Take 100 gm cement and make a stiff paste by adding very little water. Pat a cake out of this paste on a
glass plate. The cake should have sharp edges. Submerge the glass plate with the cake at the bottom of a water
bucket. After 24 hours, the cake should not lose its shape and should attain some strength.
vi. The colour of cement should be uniformly greenish grey.
vii. It should not feel oily when touched.

Following precautions should be taken while storing cement at site:

i. Cement should be stored in a special water-tight shed with a dry and damp proof door, waterproof walls and
leak-proof roof.
ii. The stacks of cement bags should be placed at a distance of at least 30 cm from walls.
iii. A stack should contain maximum 15 bags.
iv. Width of a stack should not exceed 3 m.
v. Bags should be stacked on a raised platform, with sufficient aisles for movement between rows of stacks.
vi. Bags should be stored in such a way that bags received first should be used first

Q.13 List four types of cement and state their field application.
Types of cement and their field application:
i. Ordinary Portland Cement:
a) Ordinary P.C.C. and R.C.C. construction work.
b) Plastering and water proofing works.
c) Drainage works.

ii. Rapid Hardening Cement:

a) Road construction where delay in traffic is not required.
b) Tremie method of concreting in underwater construction works.
c) Manufacturing of concrete products like fencing pole, electric. pole, doors and windows frames.
d) Cold weather concreting.

iii. Low Heat Cement:

a) Mass concreting works like construction of abutment, retaining wall bridge, dam etc.
b) Construction of chimney of factory.
c) Construction of machine foundations.

iv. Portland Pozzalana Cement:

a) All construction works where O.P.C. is used i.e. P.C.C. and R.C.C.
b) Construction of hydraulic structure.
c) Mass concreting work.

v. Sulphate Resisting Cement:

a) Construction of foundation on soil and water containing high % of SO4.
b) Marine and seashore construction.
c) Underground laying of R.C.C. pipes in acidic soils.

vi. Blast Furnace Slag Cement:

a) All construction works where OPC is used.
b) Mass concreting.
c) Marine works.
vii. White Cement:
a) Decoration works i.e. false ceiling.
b) Finishing works i.e. internal plastering.
c) Waterproofing works.
d) High-class tiling work.