KOLA PERUMAL CHETTY VAISHNAV SENIOR

SECONDARY SCHOOL
815,Kola Perumal School Street, Periyar EVR Salai,
Arumbakkam, Chennai – 600106
Email – [email protected]
Jai sri Krishna!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost,I would like to thank the Lord Almighty for his
gracious blessings to complete the project successfully.
I take this opportunity to express a deep sense of gratitude to Shri
T.Ramasubramaniam (Principal) Smt.S.SilambuSelvi (Vice Principal)
and Smt.Seema Tiwari (section head) for their great support and guidance
that helped me to complete this task through various stages.
I also take this opportunity to express my profound in debtness and deep
regard to my Chemistry teacher Smt.M.Sivagami for her exemplary
guidance and constant encouragement throughout the course of this
project. The grace, help and guidance given by her time to time will carry
me a long way in this journey of life on which I am about to embark.
I also thank my parents and friends for their consistent encouragement
and the unbroken confidence they had in me while undertaking this
project.
I also thank our Chemistry lab assistants Ms.A.L.Selvamani and the
attender Mr.K.Arun kumar for helping me with the required apparatus
whenever needed.

Name: Thanking you

 KOLA PERUMAL CHETTY VAISHNAV SENIOR
SECONDARY SCHOOL
815,Kola Perumal School Street, Periyar EVR Salai,
Arumbakkam, Chennai – 600106
Email – [email protected]
Jai sri Krishna!

Registration number:

Certified bonafied of work done by

C.B. RAJKANNA

During the Acedamic Year 2024-25

Submitted to the Practical Examination held on ,

at the Kolaperumal Chetty Vaishnav Senior Secondary
School,Arumbakkam,Chennai-106.

Internal Examiner

Extrenal Examiner Principal

School Seal
SETTING OF CEMENT
 INTRODUCTION

The conversion of a plastic paste of cement to

a non-plastic and rigid mass is known as
Setting of cement. The time required for this
process to take place is known as the setting
time of cement.

This change from a plastic mass to a non-plastic mass may take any time
between a few minutes to an hour or more.

In the most general sense of the word, CEMENT is a binder, a substance

that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together.
The word " cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus
caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was
made from crushed rock with burnt lime as binder. The volcanic ash and a
pulverized brick additive that
were added to the burnt lime to
obtain a hydraulic binder were
later referred to as cementum,
cimentum, cament and cement.

The most important use of

cement is the production of
mortar and concrete The bonding of natural or artificial aggregates to form
a strong building material that is durable in the face of normal
environment effects.

Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) :

Cement is made by heating limestone

(calcium cabonate), with small quantities of other
materials (such as clay) to 1450C in a kiln, in
aprocess known as calcination, 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 it
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', the most commonly used type of cement(often referred to as
OPC).
Portland cement is a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar and non
speciality 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 baering) element. Portland cement may
be gray or white.
S.NO CONTENTS PAGE NO.

1 INTRODUCTION 1

CONSTRUCTION OF
2 BUILDINGS USING 3
CEMENTS
SETTING TIME OF
3 4
CEMENT

TEST FOR SETTING

4 5
TIME OF CEMENT

5 TYPES OF CEMENT 6

6 BIBLIOGRAPHY 11

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING USING CEMENT

Cement used in construction is

characterised as hydraulic or non-
hydraulic. Hydraulic cements (eg.
Portland cement) harden because of
hydration chemical reactions that
occurs independently Of the mixture's
water content; they can harden even
underwater or when constantly
exposed to wet weather. The chemical reaction that results when the
anhydrous cement powder is mixed with water produces hydrates that are
not water-soluble. Non-hydraulic cements (eg. Lime and gypsum plaster)
must be kept dry in order to retain their strength.

The setting of cement is rather a complicated chemical phenomenon and is

believed to take place in following three stages:

(i) Hydrolysis and hydration stage:

It is the first stage and starts Immediately after addition of water.
In this process the four compounds of cement (C3S, C2S, 3CA1, 4CAFe)
get hydrated.
The first compound also undergoes hydrolysis.
As a result complex hydro silicates are formed.

ii) Colloidisation stage:

In this stage, the intricate system of hydro silicate crystals formed as above
separates out in the form of a gel which gets gradually thickened and acts
as glue around other particles.
Thereby initiating the setting of the cement.
During this stage, the mortar (cement-water-sand paste) becomes fully
saturated and can take no more water.

(iii) Crystallization stage:

In this stage, most of the components get transformed from a gel or
colloidal state to a crystalline state.
The least stable colloids of tri-calcium hydro aluminate and calcium
hydroxide are first to pass into a stable crystal phase.
Calcium hydro silicate gel also hardens almost simultaneously.
This nearly simultaneous development of crystals and hardening of gel
results into a strong and inter-grown mass of crystals and gels.
Hardening of cement is different than the setting of cement.
It may be defined as the capacity of the set cement to withstand loads
without disintegrating or cracking.

SETTING TIME OF CEMENT :

Some types of cement set quickly, within a few minutes whereas others
may take comparatively longer time.
However, the initial setting time of cement is 30 minutes for ordinary
portland cement.
The final setting time of cement is 600 minutes or 10 hours on average for
ordinary portland cement.
Moreover, the setting is not an abrupt process which may complete
immediately after its start; it is rather a progressive phenomenon, which
has a beginning, full development, and an end.
It is, on this latter basis, the setting of cement is distinguished into an
initial and final setting, qualified by the time required in each case.

The time required for setting of cement is greatly influenced by the

following factors:

(i) Temperature at which cement paste is allowed to set; very cold

temperatures retard the time of setting.

(ii) Percentage of water mixed to the cement (water-cement ratio) in

making the paste; it must be the right quantity for complete hydration and
crystal formation.
Less water will result in incomplete hydration; extra-quantity will bleed
out after the cement is set.

(iii) The humidity of the atmosphere in which setting is allowed to take

place. It acts through temperature and moisture conditions.
It is, therefore, essential that all the mists for setting time of cement are
performed at Standard conditions of temperature and humidity and on
cement pastes of known consistency.
TEST FOR SETTING TIME OF CEMENT :

The Indian Bureau of Standards has specified the use of Vicat Needle for
the testing setting time of cement.

Apparatus:
(i) It consists of a frame with a movable rod with a cup.

(ii) A needle of 1 mm2 cross-section is attached to the lower end of the

rod for determination of the initial setting time of cement only.
The total weight of the rod along with the needle is 300 gm.

(iii) Another needle like the above, but with hollow metallic attachment
with a circular cutting edge of 5 mm in diameter and having 0.5 mm
projecting end of the needle.
It is attached to the lower end of the rod when the final setting time of
cement is to be determined.

(iv) A standard Vicat Mold in which the test specimen is allowed to set.

Test Specimens:
From the sample of the cement to be tested, test specimens are prepared in
the following manner.

(i) Take 300 gm of cement.

Form a paste by mixing 0.85 P water (where P denotes the percentage of

water required to make a paste of normal consistency).
Note the time when the water is added to the cement with the help of a
stop watch.
Let it be “T2”.

(ii) Fill the Vicat Mold completely with the paste so prepared under the
standard conditions of temperature and humidity, (27 < 2 centigrade and at
least 90% relative humidity).

Procedure:
(i) Initial Setting Time of Cement:
Fix the specified needle (for the initial setting time of cement) with the
rod.
Place the mold with the test specimen under the rod and lower the rod
gently till it comes into contact with the block.
Then quickly release the rod.
Note the depth to which the needle penetrates the paste.
Repeat the experiment (of releasing the rod) till the depth of penetration is
35 mm above the base of the mold.
This means, the needle penetrates up to 35 mm and cannot penetrate the
last 5 mm at the base of the mold.
When this happens. Note the time once again.
Let it be “T1”.
The time that has elapsed between “T1″ and “T2″ is the initial setting time
for that sample of the cement.

(ii) Final Setting Time of Cement:

The needle with a circular cutting edge is used for this purpose.
It is attached to the rod.
Using the same sample that has been used for finding the initial setting
time, the rod with this needle is released again and again after bringing in
contact with the paste in the mold.
Initially, the needle along with the cutting edge may pierce in the paste but
a time would come when it fails to pierce at all.
The time is noted when the needle fails to penetrate the specimen but only
makes a slight impression (and the Cutting edge does not even make that
impression).
Let this time be “T3”.
Then the time that has elapsed from T1 to T3 is the FINAL SETTING
TIME OF CEMENT.
By this time the entire paste is fully set in the mold.

TYPES OF CEMENT

 Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)

 Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)
 Rapid Hardening Cement
 Quick setting cement
 Low Heat Cement
 Sulfates resisting cement
 Blast Furnace Slag Cement
 High Alumina Cement
 White Cement
 Colored cement
 Air Entraining Cement
 Expansive cement
 Hydrographic cement

1. ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENT (OPC):

Ordinary Portland cement is the most widely used type of cement,
which is suitable for all general concrete construction. It is the most
commonly produced and used type of cement around the world, with
annual global production of around 3.8 million cubic meters per year.
This cement is suitable for all kinds of concrete construction.

2. Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC) :

Portland pozzolana cement is
prepared by grinding pozzolanic
clinker with Portland cement. It is
also produced by adding pozzolana
with the addition of gypsum or
calcium sulfate or by intimately and
uniformly blending Portland cement and fine pozzolana. This cement
has a 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, sewage works, sewage works, and for
laying concrete underwater, such as bridges, piers, dams, and mass
concrete works, etc.

3. Rapid Hardening Cement :

Rapid hardening cement attains high
strength in the early days; it is used in
concrete where formworks are removed
at an early stage and are similar to
ordinary portland cement (OPC). This
cement has increased lime content and contains higher c3s content
and finer grinding, which gives higher strength development than
OPC at an early stage.The strength of rapid hardening cement at the
three days is similar to 7 days strength of OPC with the same water-
cement ratio. Thus, the advantage of this cement is that formwork
can be removed earlier, which increases the rate of construction and
decreases the cost of construction by saving formwork cost. Rapid
hardening cement is used in prefabricated concrete construction,
road works, etc.
4. Quick setting cement :
The difference between the quick
setting cement and rapid
hardening cement is that quick-
setting cement sets earlier. At the
same time, the rate of gain of
strength is similar to Ordinary
Portland Cement, while quick
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.

5. Low Heat Cement :

Low heat cement is produced by
maintaining the percentage of tricalcium
aluminate below 6% by increasing the
proportion of C2S. A small quantity of
tricalcium aluminate makes the concrete to
produce low heat of hydration. Low heat
cement suitable for mass concrete
construction like gravity dams, as the low heat of hydration, prevents
the cracking of concrete due to heat.This cement has increased power
against sulphates and is less reactive and initial setting time is
greater than OPC.

6. Sulfates resisting cement :

Sulfate resisting cement is used to reduce the
risk of sulfate attack on concrete and thus is
used in the construction of foundations where
the soil has high sulfate content. This cement
has reduced the contents of C3A and C4AF.
Sulfate resisting cement is used in
construction exposed to severe sulfate action by water and soil in
places like canals linings, culverts, retaining walls, siphons, etc.

7. Blast Furnace Slag Cement :

Blast furnace slag cement is
obtained by grinding the clinkers
with about 60% slag and
resembles more or less in
 properties of Portland cement. It can be used for works where
economic considerations are predominant.

8. High Alumina Cement :

High alumina cement is obtained by
melting a mixture of bauxite and lime and
grinding with the clinker. It is a rapid
hardening cement with initial and final
setting time of about 3.5 and 5 hours,
respectively.The compressive strength of
this cement is very high and more workable than ordinary portland
cement and is used in works where concrete is subjected to high
temperatures, frost, and acidic action.

9. White Cement :
It is prepared from raw materials free
from Iron oxide and is a type of
ordinary portland cement, which is
white. It is costlier and is used for
architectural purposes such as precast
curtain wall and facing panels, terrazzo
surface, etc. and for interior and
exterior decorative work like external renderings of buildings, facing
slabs, floorings, ornamental concrete products, paths of gardens,
swimming pools, etc.

10. Colored cement :

It is produced by mixing 5- 10% mineral
pigments with ordinary cement. They are
widely used for decorative works on floors.

11. Air Entraining Cement :

Air entraining cement is produced by adding
indigenous air-entraining agents such as resins,
glues, sodium salts of sulfates, etc. during the
grinding of clinker. This type of cement is
especially suited to improve the workability with a
smaller water-cement ratio and to improve frost
resistance of concrete.

12. Expansive Cement :

Expansive cement expands slightly with
 time and does not shrink during and after the time of hardening. This
cement is mainly used for grouting anchor bolts and
prestressed concrete ducts.

13. Hydrographic cement :

Hydrographic cement is prepared by
mixing water-repelling chemicals and
has high workability and strength. It has
the property of repelling water and is
unaffected during monsoon or rains.
Hydrophobic cement is mainly used for
the construction of water structures such as dams, water tanks,
spillways, water retaining structures, etc.
BIBLIOGRAPHY :

 https://www.wikipedia.org/

 https://www.toppr.com/

 https://edurev.in/

 https://mycbseguide.com/

 https://www.selfstudys.com/

 https://www.quora.com/