GROUP 3 – CEMENT permit a Vicat plunger of 10 mm diameter and 50 mm

length to penetrate depths of 33-35 mm within 3-5

CEMENT
minutes of mixing. The test has to undergo three times,
 A cement is a binder, a substance used for construction
each time the cement is mixed with water varying from
that sets, hardens, and adheres to other materials to bind 24 to 27% of the weight of cement. This test should be
them together.
conducted at a constant temperature of 25°C or 29°C and
 Cement is an extremely important construction material. at a constant humidity of 20%.
It is used in the production of the many structures that 3. Setting Time Test - Vicat's apparatus is used to find the
make up the modern world including buildings, bridges, setting times of cement i.e., initial setting time and final
harbors, runways, and roads. Without it, constructions setting time.
can hardly survive. a. Initial Setting Time - For this test, a needle of 1
ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF CEMENT mm square size is used. The needle is allowed to
1. Physical Properties Of Cement penetrate into the paste (a mixture of water and
 It gives strength to the masonry. cement as per the consistency test). The time
 It is an excellent binding material. taken to penetrate 33-35 mm depth is recorded
 It is easily workable. as the initial setting time.
b. Final Setting Time - After the paste has attained
 It offers good resistance to the moisture.
hardness, the needle does not penetrate the
 It possesses a good plasticity.
paste more than 0.5 mm. The time at which the
 It stiffens or hardens early.
needle does not penetrate more than 0.5 mm is
 A thin paste of cement with water should feel
taken as the final setting time.
sticky between the fingers.
4. Strength Test - The strength of cement cannot be defined
 A cement thrown in water should sink and
directly on the cement. Instead the strength of cement is
should not float on the surface.
indirectly defined on cement-mortar of 1:3. The
 The particles should have uniformity of fineness.
compressive strength of this mortar is the strength of
To get an idea of fineness, specific surface area
cement at a specific period.
of cement particles is calculated
5. Soundness Test - This test is conducted in Le Chatelier's
2. Mechanical Properties Of Cement
apparatus to detect the presence of uncombined lime
 The compressive strength at the end of 3 days and magnesia in cement.
should not be less than 11.5 N/mm2 and that at 6. Tensile Strength Test - This test is carried out using a
the end of 7 days should not be less than 17.5 cement-mortar briquette in a tensile testing machine. A
N/mm2. 1:3 cement-sand mortar with the water content of 8% is
 The tensile strength at the end of 3 days should mixed and moulded into a briquette in the mould. This
not be less than 2 N/mm2 and that at the end of mixture is cured for 24 hours at a temperature of 25°C or
7 days should not be less than 2.50 N/mm2. 29°C and in an atmosphere at 90% relative humidity. The
TYPE OF TESTS ON CEMENT average strength for six briquettes tested after 3 and 7
1. Fineness Test days is recorded.
2. Consistency Test 7. Heat of Hydration Test - During the hydration of cement,
3. Setting Time Test heat is produced due to chemical reactions. This heat
4. Strength Test may raise the temperature of concrete to a high
5. Soundness Test temperature of 50°C. To avoid these, in large scale
6. Tensile Strength Test constructions low-heat cement has to be used. This test is
7. Heat of Hydration Test carried out using a calorimeter adopting the principle of
8. Chemical Composition Test determining heat gain. It is concluded that Low-heat
cement should not generate 65 calories per gram of
1. Fineness Test - The fineness of cement is responsible for cement in 7 days and 75 calories per gram of cement in
the rate of hydration, rate of evolution of heat and the 28 days.
rate of gain of strength. Finer the grains more is the 8. Chemical Composition Test - The components present in
surface area and faster the development of strength. The cement for forming cement as the complete products are
fineness of cement can be determined by: lime or limestone, silica (SiO2), alumina (Al2O2),
a. Sieve Test - Air-set lumps are broken, and the magnesia (MgO), etc. Among which most important raw
cement is sieved continuously in a circular and materials required for making cement are limestone, clay,
vertical motion for a period of 15minutes. The and marl. Flame Photometer and ELE Flame Photometer
residue left on the sieve is weighed, and it should are the instruments used to know the constitutes of
not exceed 10% for ordinary cement. This test is Cement. A good cement should have the constitution of
rarely used for fineness. components: Lime or Limestone – 62% (Highest), Silica
b. Air Permeability test - Blaine's Air Permeability (SiO2) – 22%, Alumina (Al2O2) – 7.5%, Magnesia (MgO) –
Test is used to find the specific surface, which is 2.5 %, and Other Components – remaining 6%.
expressed as the total surface area in sq.cm/g. of CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING USE OF CEMENT
cement. The surface area is more for finer
particles. At present, the cement is widely used across the world in the
2. Consistency Test - This test is conducted to find the construction of various engineering structures. It has proved to be
setting times of cement using a standard consistency test one of the leading engineering material of modern times and has
apparatus, Vicat's apparatus. Standard consistency of no rivals in production and applications. Cements may be used
cement paste is defined as that water content which will alone, but the normal use is in mortar and concrete in which the
cement is mixed with inert material known as aggregate to form a HOW TO SELECT CEMENT FOR A GIVEN APPLICATIONS
strong binding material. The following are types of cement:
 Following are various possible applications or uses of 1. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)
cement: 2. Pozzolana Portland Cement (PPC)
1. The most significant use of cement is production 3. White Cement
of concrete and mortar. Cement mortar can be 4. Sulphate Resisting Cement
used for masonry work, plaster, pointing, etc. 5. Low Heat Portland Cement
2. It can be used for construction of important 6. Rapid Hardening Cement
engineering structures such as bridges, culvert,
dams, tunnels, storage reservoirs, light houses, 1. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) - OPC is a general
docks, etc. purpose portland cement suitable for all uses where
3. It can be used for creating fire-proof structures in the special properties of other types are not
the form of concrete. Also, it can be used for required. Three different grades of Ordinary Portland
making acid-resistance and waterproof Cement:
structures. a. Grade 33 - Grade 33 uses M20 grade
4. Colored cement can be used for decorating or concrete and is used for plastering.
coloring the structures. b. Grade 43 - Grade 43 uses M30 concrete and
5. It can be used for shotcreting the tunnel or is applied for precast, plastering, and
geological walls to strength the structure. flooring.
 Despite so many uses of cements, it has few demerits. c. Grade 53 - Grade 53 applies a higher
However, its usability far overcomes its demerits. Some concrete grade and is utilised for building
of the negatives of cement are as follows: roads, bridges, and multi-storeyed buildings,
1. Structure once build out of cement are difficult among others.
to be displaced or reused. They can’t be easily 2. Pozzolana Portland Cement (PPC) - is used for
recycled like plastics or steels. building dams, marine structures, retaining walls,
2. Cement structure are very heavy. So, while bridge footings, plastering, and masonry mortar
building skyscrapers, it can’t be totally build on production. The cement is denser and more
cement. Instead steel structures are placed. impermeable than ordinary Portland cement.
3. White Cement - is used to repair, floors, roofs, and
FACTORS TO CONSIDER FOR CEMENT SAFETY marble tile, among others. It is also applied for
1. Personal Protection interior and exterior decorative purposes such as
To protect skin from cement and cement mixtures, ornamental concrete products and facing slabs, and
workers should wear: others. Its chemical composition is almost similar to
alkali-resistant gloves the Ordinary Portland Cement but white in colour.
coveralls with long sleeves and full-length 4. Sulphate Resisting Cement - is used when the
trousers construction remains in contact with groundwater,
waterproof boots soil, seacoast, and seawater. It is used in such places
suitable eye protection replacing the Ordinary Portland cement.
2. Hygiene 5. Low Heat Portland Cement - is used for
Clothing contaminated by wet cement should be constructions aimed at retaining water such as dams,
quickly removed. bridge abutments, retaining walls, slabs, and piers,
Don’t wash your hands with water from buckets among others. The cement is used as it does not form
used for cleaning tools. cracks and shrink.
Provide adequate hygiene facilities on site for 6. Rapid Hardening Cement - is used to repair and
workers. Facilities for cleaning boots and speed up the construction process. It takes less time
changing clothes should also be available. to set and acquires strength quite early.
3. First Aid
Skin contaminated with wet or dry cement
should be washed with cold running water as
soon as possible. Open sores or cuts should be
thoroughly flushed and covered with suitable
dressings. Get medical attention if discomfort
persists. Contaminated eyes should be washed
with cold tap water for at least 15 minutes
before the affected person is taken to hospital.
4. Work Practice
Work in ways that minimize the amount of
cement dust released.
Where possible, wet-cut rather than dry-cut
masonry products.
Mix dry cement in well-ventilated areas.
Make sure to work upwind from dust sources.
When kneeling on fresh concrete, use a dry
board or waterproof kneepads.
Remove jewelry such as rings and watches.