SPEC SHEET

TYPE N, S, M
MASONRY CEMENT

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION Limitations

CEMEX’s Masonry Cements are designed to be mixed with sand and water. The
Basic Use
addition of hydrated lime or any other materials to a masonry cement mortar at the
CEMEX’s Masonry Cement is specially formulated and manufactured to produce
job site is not required or recommended.
masonry mortar for use in brick, block and stone masonry construction; also used
to produce stone plaster. TECHNICAL DATA

Composition and Materials Applicable Standards

CEMEX’s Masonry Cement consists of a mixture of Portland or blended hydraulic The following standards apply to the use of CEMEX’s Masonry Cements:
cement and plasticizing materials (such as limestone, hydrated or hydraulic lime) ASTM C-91 (Standard Specification for Masonry Cements)
together with other materials introduced to enhance one or more properties. These
ASTM C-144 (Standard Specification for Aggregates for Masonry Mortar)
components are proportioned at the cement plant under controlled conditions to
assure product consistency. ASTM C-270 (Standard Specification for Mortar)

ASTM C-780 (Standard Specification for Pre-construction and Construction

Types
Evaluation of Mortar for Plain and Reinforced Unit Masonry)
CEMEX’s Masonry Cements are produced in Type N, Type S and Type M strength
levels for use in preparation of ASTM Specification C-270 Type N, S or M mortar, Water
respectively without any further All water should be clean and free from organic material and deleterious amounts
TABLE 1 additions. of dissolved acids, alkalies and salts.
Recommended Guide for Selection
Table 1 is a general guide
of Mortar Type Physical Properties
for selection of mortar type.
CEMEX’s Masonry Cement conforms to physical properties of ASTM C-91 (See
Building Segment Mortar Type Other factors, such as type
Table 2).
and absorption of masonry
Exterior, above grade,
load-bearing N or S or M unit, climate and exposure,
non load-bearing N applicable building codes,
parapet wall N or S
and engineering requirements
Exterior, at or should also be considered.
below grade S or M

Interior
load-bearing N or S
non load-bearing N
 Durability range of 1:2¼ to 1:3½, and the Figure I
TABLE 2 Properties of masonry mortar mortar must be pre-tested in the Drying Shrinkage of Masonry
Physical Properties of Masonry Mortars at 28 days
Cements (ASTM C-91) related to its durability include: laboratory before the job begins.
Masonry Cement Type • Resistance to freeze-thaw Machine mixing should be used
N S M
deterioration. Research1,2,3 whenever possible. First, with 0.10
Fineness, residue on a
45-um (No. 325) shows that air-entrainment mixer running, add most of the
sieve max., % 24 24 24
levels of at least 10 to 12 water and half the sand. Next,
Autoclave expansion percent are needed to provide add the Masonry Cement and
max., % 1.0 1.0 1.0
effective resistance to freeze- the rest of the sand. After one
Time of setting
Initial set, min., hr. 2 1-1/2 1-1/2 thaw deterioration. minute of continuous mixing, Type N S N S
Final set, max., hr. 24 24 24 slowly add the rest of the water.
• Drying shrinkage characteris- Masonry Cement Mortar

Compressive strength
tics. Results of laboratory test Mixing should continue for at Portland Cement-Lime Mortar

(avg. of 3 cubes), min.

7 days, psi (MPa) 500 1300 1800 shown in Figure I indicate least three minutes; extending mixing up to five minutes improves mortar.
(3.4) (9.0) (12.4)
1800
(12.4) that the drying shrinkage of
APPLICATION
28 days, psi (MPa) 900 2100 2900
Masonry Cement Mortars is
(6.2) (14.5) (20.0)
2900 Good workmanship principles are required for successful application, including
Air content, volume % about half that of Portland
proper filling of head and bed joints, careful placement of units, appropriate
Min. 8 8 8 Cement-Lime Mortars (See
Max. 21 19 19 tooling of the joint, modification of construction procedures and/or schedules to
Figure I).
Water retention, flow adapt to extreme weather conditions 5,6 and proper cleaning procedures.
after suction as % • Resistance to sulfate attack.
of original flow,
min. 70 70 70 Masonry Cement Mortars Figure II
Sulfate Expansion of Masonry Mortars
also demonstrate signifi- 0.4
cantly greater sulfate resis- 0.35
tance than Portland Cement- 0.3
Lime Mortars (See Figure II).
Length Change %

0.24

• Water permeance. The properties of Masonry Cement Mortars assure that 0.2
0.15
the designer’s and masons’ needs are met in achieving watertight masonry
0.1
construction. Laboratory research4 has confirmed the excellent performance of
0.05
Masonry Cement Mortars in water permeance tests (See Figure III).
0 13 8 4 3 2 1 13 8 3 2 1 13 8 3 2 1 13 8 4 3 2 1
4 4

Appearance Age, Weeks

MC-S Masonry
Age, Weeks
MC-N Masonry
Age, Weeks
PCL-S Portland
Age, Weeks
PCL-N Portland
Cement Cement Cement-Lime Cement-Lime
Since Masonry Cement color is laboratory controlled and Masonry Cement offers
the simplicity of the one bag system of batching, it is easier to achieve a consistent
Masonry joints should be tooled at the same degree of stiffness and moisture. If
appearance in the finished job.
joints are tooled too early, excess water will be drawn to the surface, producing
INSTALLATION lighter joints. The joints will appear dark and discolored if tooling is done after
stiffening has started.
Preparation
Figure III
Water Absorption of Mortars CEMEX’s Masonry Cement Hot Weather and Retempering
14 proportioned with sand meet- Mortars exposed to hot winds and full sun will tend to lose workability due to the
12 ing ASTM C-144, according evaporation of water. Common sense precautions should be taken to protect the
10 to Table 4, will produce mortar mortar such as shading the mixer, wetting mortar boards, covering wheelbarrows
Grams of Water

8 meeting the requirements of and tubs, and balancing mortar production to meet demand.
6 ASTM C-270 under the pro-
If it is necessary to restore workability, mortar may be retempered by adding water
4 portion specifications. Under
and remixing. No mortar should be used or retempered beyond 2½ hours after
2 the property requirements of
the initial mixing.
0 ASTM C-270, however, cement-
to-sand proportions for the job
Plastic Cement

Portland Cement-Lime mixed mortar are to be in the

 SPEC SHEET

Cold Weather Precautions TECHNICAL SERVICES

Mortar should be maintained at a minimum temperature of 40° F as prescribed by CEMEX personnel are available to provide technical assistance by contacting any
standard cold weather masonry specifications. Cold weather admixtures should of the offices previously listed.
be approved by the architect.
1 Dubovoy, V.S., and Ribar, J.W., “Masonry Cement Mortars – A Laboratory
AVAILABILITY Investigation”, Research and Development Bulletin RD0095, PCA Skokie, IL,
CEMEX’s Type N, S, and M Masonry Cement can be ordered by contacting any of 1990, 26pp.
the following CEMEX offices: 2 Davison, J.I., “Effect of Air-Entrainment on Durability of Cement-Lime Mortars”,
Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 854-2872 Durability of Building Materials, Elsevier Publishing Co., Amsterdam, 1981.
Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(602) 416-2600 3 Zematis,W.L., “Factors Affecting Performance of Unit Masonry Mortar”, ACI
California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(909) 974-5478 Journal, Proc. Vol. 56, No. 6, American Concrete Institute, Detroit, MI 1959.
Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 848-5871
4 Ribar, J.W., “Water Permeance of Masonry, a Laboratory Study”, ASTM STP 778,
Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 727-6261
ASTM 1982, pp 200-220.
Georgia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 367-1668
Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 626-6117 5 “Cold Weather Construction” and “Hot Weather Construction”, ACI 530.1/95,

Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(800) 848-3498 Section 1.8, pp. 5-12, ACI, 38800 Country Club Drive, Farmington Hills, MI

Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 245-1705 48331.

Tennessee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 352-7582 6 “Recommended Practices and Guide Specifications for Cold Weather Masonry
Texas-Balcones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(800) 492-9004 Construction”, International Masonry All Weather Council.
Texas-Odessa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(800) 927-4838
WARRANTY
GUARANTEES CEMEX warrants that the products identified are in accordance with the
CEMEX, Inc. guarantees Broco Stucco Cement when shipped from our mill appropriate current ASTM and Federal Specifications. No one is authorized
or terminals to meet the current requirements of ASTM C-1328, “Standard to make any modifications or addition to this warranty. CEMEX makes no
Specification for Plastic (Stucco) Cement” and ASTM C-91, “Standard Specification warranty or representation, either expressed or implied with respect
for Masonry.” to this product and disclaims any implied warranty of merchantability
or fitness for a particular purpose.
MAINTENANCE
Avoid use of harsh chemical cleaners or strong acid solutions in cleaning As CEMEX has no control over the other ingredients mixed with this product or
masonry. the final application, CEMEX does not and cannot warrant the finished work.

In no event shall CEMEX be liable for direct, indirect, special,

incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of this
product, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. In no case
shall CEMEX’s liability exceed the purchase price of this product.

TABLE 3 TABLE 4
Physical Properties of Masonry Masonry Cement Mortar - Proportions by Volume (ASTM C-270)
Cement Mortars (ASTM C-270)
Mortar Portland Masonry Cement Type
Sand
Compressive Type Cement N S M
Water
Mortar Strength
Retention
Type 2˝ Cubes at 28 days N – 1 – – 2¼ – 3
Min., psi (MPa) Minimum %

S ½ 1 – – 33/8 – 4½
N 750 (5.2)
75
S – – 1 – 2¼ – 3
S 1800 (12.4)
75 M 1 1 – – 4½ – 6

M 2500 (17.2) M – – – 1 2¼ – 3
75
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