1

GENERAL
Cement is binding material used in building constructional present; cement is widely used in the
construction of various engineering structures. It has been proved to be one of the leading engineering
materials of modern times.

SCOPE
Following are the various possible scope of cement
1. Cement mortar for masonry work, plaster. Pointing, etc.
2. Concrete for laying flooring, roofs, and constructing lintels, beams, weather shade, stair, pillars, etc.
3. Construction of important engineering structure such as bridges, culverts, dams, tunnels, storage,
reservoir, light house, etc.
4. Construction of water tanks, wells roads, etc.
5. Manufacture of pre-cast pipes, piles etc.
6. Preparation of foundations watertight floors, footpaths etc.



COMPOSITION OF ORDINARY CEMENT
Ordinary cement contains two basic ingredients, namely argillaceous and calcareous. In
argillaceous material, clay predominates and in calcareous materials calcium carbonate pre-dominates.
A typical chemical analysis of good ordinary cement is as follows:-
INGREDIENT PERCENT
LIME (CaO) 62
SILICA (SiO2) 22
ALUMINA Al3O3 5
CALCIUM SULPHATE 4
IRON OXIDE 3
MANGNESIA (MgO) 2
SULPHUR S 1
ALKALIES 1
TOTAL 100








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TYPE OF CEMENT IN MARKET


TYPES OF CEMENT RELEVAN IS NO

ORDINARY PORTLAND IS-269-1976

RAPID HARDNING IS 8041 E-1976

BLAST FURNACE

IS 455-1976
SUPER SULPHATE IS 6909-1973

POZZOLANA

IS 1489-1976
HYDROPHOBIC IS 8043 E1976

OIL WELL

IS 8229 E 1976
HIGH ALUMINA IS 6452-1972

HIGH STRENTH

IS 8112-1976
EXTRA RAPID HARNING


SULPHATE RESISTING


QUIKE SETTING


LOW HEAT


AIR ENTERING


COLOURED


MASNORY


SEPANSIVE


REDI-SET


ACID RESISTING









3
CLASSIFICATION OF CEMENT ACCORDING TO IS CODE
The cements produced by inter grinding of cement clinker prepared in rotary cement kiln along with
3-5 % gypsum only are called as Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). Depending upon the strength
requirement OPC is further classified as OPC-33 grade, OPC-43 grade and OPC-53 grade. The range of
applications, the Physical / Chemical requirements as per Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and strength of
OPC are discussed in the following sections.


53 Grade OPC is a higher strength cement to meet the needs of the consumer for higher strength concrete.
As per BIS requirements the minimum 28 days compressive strength of 53 Grade OPC should not be less
than 53 MPa. For certain specialized works, such as pre-stressed concrete and certain items of pre-cast
concrete requiring consistently high strength concrete, the use of 53 grade OPC is found very useful. 53
grade OPC produces higher-grade concrete at very economical cement content. In concrete mix design, for
concrete M-20 and above grades a saving of 8 to 10 % of cement may be achieved with the use of 53 grade
OPC.

53 Grade OPC can be used for the following applications.
RCC works(Preferably where grade of concrete is M-25 and
above)
Pre-cast concrete items such as paving blocks, tiles building
blocks etc.
Pre-stressed concrete components
Runways, concrete Roads, Bridges etc.
Runways, concrete Roads, Bridges etc.


Physical Characteristics of 53 Grade OPC (BIS Requirement)
Is
Code
Finene
SS
(sq.m/k
g Min)
Soundness by Setting
Time
Compressive
Strength
Lechatlier
(mm)max
Auto
clave
Max
(%)
Initial
(mts)
min
Final
(mts)
Max
1
day
Min
Mpa
3
day
Min
Mpa
7
day
Min
Mpa
28
day
Min
Mpa
(IS
12269-
1987)
225 10 0.8 30 600 NS 27 37 53










4
Chemical Characteristics of 53 Grade OPC (BIS Requirement)
Is Code Lime
Saturation
Factor
Alumina
Ration
Min
Insoluble MgO
(%)
Sulphuric
Anhydride
Loss
ignition
(%)
Max
(IS
12269-
1987)
0.8 Min
1.02 Max
0.66 3 6 2.5% Max
when C3A is 5
or less. 3%
Max when
C3A is greater
than
4



43 Grade OPC

The 43 grade OPC is the most popular general-purpose cement in the country today. The
production of 43 grade OPC is nearly 50% of the total production of cement in the country.

The 43 grade OPC can be used for following applications:
General Civil Engineering construction work
RCC works (preferably where grade of
concrete is up to M-30)
Pre-cast items such as blocks, tiles, pipes
etc
Asbestos products such as sheets and pipes
Non-structural works such as plastering,
flooring etc.

The compressive strength of cement when tested as per IS code shall be minimum 43 MPa. The physical
and chemical properties of this cement are given in the table:



Physical Characteristics of 43 Grades OPC (BIS Requirement)
Is
Code
Finene
SS
(sq.m/k
g Min)
Soundness by Setting
Time
Compressive Strength
Lechatlier
(mm)max
Auto
clave
Max
(%)
Initial
(mts)
min
Final
(mts)
Max
1 day
Min Mpa
3
day
Min
Mpa
7
day
Min
Mpa
28
day
Min
Mpa
(IS
8112-
1989)
225 10 0.8 30 600 Not
specified
23 33 43

5


Chemical Characteristics of 43 Grade OPC (BIS Requirement)
Is
Code
Lime
Saturation
Factor
Alumina
Ration
Min
Insoluble MgO
(%)
Sulphuric
Anhydride
Loss
ignition
(%) Max
(IS
8112 -
1989)
0.66 Min
1.02 Max
0.66 3 6 2.5% Max
when C3A is 5
or less. 3%
Max when C3A
is greater than
5
5



33 Grade OPC

This cement is used for general civil construction work under normal environmental conditions. The
compressive strength of cement after 28 days test as per IS specification is 33 MPa. Due to low
compressive strength, this cement is normally not used where high grade of concrete vizualized, M-20 and
above is required. The availability of higher grades of OPC in the market is affecting the use of 33 grade
OPC and now a days 43 grade OPC is normally used for general construction work instead of 33 grade
OPC. It is More useful for mass concreting and plain cement concreting. Normally made to order basis. It
can be used for plastering and single storied individual houses. The physical and chemical requirement as
per BIS are given in table below:



Physical Characteristics of 33 Grade OPC (BIS Requirement)
Is
Code
Finene
SS
(sq.m/k
g Min)
Soundness by Setting
Time
Compressive Strength
Lechatlier
(mm) max
Auto
clave
Max
(%)
Initial
(mts)
min
Final
(mts)
Max
1
day
Min
Mpa
3
day
Min
Mpa
7
day
Min
Mpa
28
day
Min
Mpa
(IS
269 -
1989)
225 10 0.8 30 600 NS 16 22 33









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Chemical Characteristics of 33 Grade OPC (BIS Requirement)
Is Code Lime
Saturation
Factor
Alumina
Ration
Min
Insoluble MgO
(%)
Sulphuric
Anhydride
Loss
ignition
(%)
Max
33
Grade
OPC
(IS 269-
1989)
0.66 Min
1.02 Max
0.66 4 6 2.5% Max
when C3A is 5
or less. 3%
Max when
C3A is greater
than 5
5







PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND FIELD TEST

COLOUR: -
The colour of cement should be uniform. It should be typical cement colour i.e.
grey colour with light greenish shade.

TEXTURE: -
1. Cement should feel smooth when touched or rubbed in between fingers. If felt
rough, it indicates adulteration with sand.
2. If hand is inserted in a bag or heap of cement it should feel cool.
3. If small quantity of cement is thrown in a bucket of water, it should sink and not
float on surface.
4. It should be free from lump formed by absorption of moisture from atmosphere.

STRENTH TEST:-
Strengthen test of cement can roughly be ascertained by making briquettes with a
lean or weak mortar. The size of briquette may be about 75X25X12 mm. Proportion of
cement and sand may be 1:6. The briquettes are immersed in water for a period of three
days. If cement is of sound quality, such briquettes will not be broken easily and it will be
difficult to convert them into powder form.








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PRECAUTION RELATED TO MATERIAL

Following precautions are to b taken for storage of cement.

MOISTURE: -
If moisture is kept away from cement, it is found that cement will maintain its
quality for indefinite period. If the moisture absorption exceeds 5%, cement becomes
totally useless. Hence when cement is to store for long period, it should be stored in
airtight container.

PERIOD OF STORAGE: -
IT IS ADVISIBLE TO AVOID STORING OF CEMENT IN JUTE BAGS FOR
A PERIOD LONGER THAN 3 MONTHS.

PILE: -
It is economical to form a pile of 10 bags of cement. A distance of about 30 cm
should be kept between the piles of cement bags and exterior walls of building. Passage
of width about 90 cm should be provided between piles. Top and bottom of piles should
be covered with tarpaulins or any other waterproof paper.

QUALITY OF CEMENT: -
Cement, which is finely grounded, is more active and consequently, it absorbs
moisture rapidly from the atmosphere hence, extraordinary precautions to be taken.

REMOVAL OF CEMENT:
When cement bags are to be removed from piles of sufficient height, taking out 2
or 3 bags from front pile should form steps. It is also advisable to remove cement in
order of its storage period that is cement, which is stored, previously should be taken out
first.