15 Types of Cement – Their

Definition, Properties and Uses +

Infographics.
MAY 29, 2017
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Besides the Ordinary Portland Cement, a number of other types of

cement are also manufactured, by varying the ratio of the raw material and/or
by adding some additional materials.

Some of the most common cement classifications are:

1. Rapid hardening cement,

2. Ultra-rapid hardening cement.

3. Low heat cement,

4. Quick setting cement,

5. High alumina cement,

6. Blast furnace slag cement,

7. Pozzolana cement,

8. White cement,

9. Hydrophobic cement,

10. Super sulfate cement,

11. Low alkali cement,

12. Water proof cement,

13. Air entraining cement,

14. Expansive cement,

15. Colored cement.

We will discuss the above types of cement in detail below.

Infographic:

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Types of Cement:
Table of Contents [show]
Every type of cement has their own properties, advantages, and
disadvantages. In this article, you are going to learn the most important
properties of different types of cement in details.

Following are the cement types.

1. Rapid Hardening Cement:

Definition:
It is also known as High-Early-Strength cement. It is manufactured with such
adjustments in the proportion of raw materials.

So that the cement produced attains maximum strength with-in 24-72 hours.

Properties:
Two essential properties of Rapid Hardening Cement are following.

(i) It contains relatively more tri-calcium silicate. This is done by adding a

greater proportion of limestone in the raw materials compared to that required
for ordinary cement.

(ii) It is more fine-grained ( Air permeability 3250 cm2/gm ) than the ordinary
cement.

This factors helps in quicker and complete hydration of cement particles

during setting and helps in gaining early strength.
However, the setting time and ultimate strength of Rapid Hardening
Cement are same as of Ordinary Cement.

Uses:
It is a special purpose cement. It is used in that types of projects, where quick
hardening is required.

2. Ultra High Strength Cement.

In advanced countries, an Ultra-high early strength cement is produced by
separating the finest fraction ( above 700 m2/kg ) from the rapid hardening
cement at the manufacturing stage itself.

This is achieved by using special devices called cyclone air elutriator. Such
cement is used for very high early strength concrete.

3. Low Heat Cement:

Definition:
It is that type in which a very low amount of heat or hydration is liberated
during setting and hardening. Mostly it is used in massive concrete structures
like Dams etc.

Properties:
(i) The proportion of di-calcium silicate (C2S) is almost double than ordinary
cement.

(ii) The proportion of tetra calcium alumino-ferrite (C4AlFe) is also increased

to one and one-half time.
(iii) The proportion of tricalcium silicate (C3S) and tri-calcium
aluminate (C3Al) is reduced by about 50 percent. This is because these
compounds are known to liberate a very high amount of heat during
hydration.

Most important qualities of low heat cement are summarized as follows:

Fineness: The residue in the Sieve Test shall not exceed than 10 percent.

Setting Time: The initial setting time shall not be less than 60 minutes. And
the final setting time shall not be less than ten hours.

Strength: It should develop a compressive strength not less than:

(a) 70 kg/sq.cm in 3 days.

(b) 115 kg/sq.cm in 7 days.

(c) 265 kg/sq.cm in 28 days.

Uses:
It is mostly used in mega projects construction like DAMS. If we use
ordinary Portland cement instead of low heat cement in such structures,

Cracks will develop in such structures due to the great amount of heat
liberated during setting and hardening.

And a DAM with cracks is a useless structure. But when low heat cement is
used, this danger (development of cracks) can be eliminated.
4. Quick Setting Cement:
These Types of Cement are quite different than rapid hardening cement.
Its quality is that it set into a stone-like mass within a period of fewer than 30
minutes.

This property, of setting as quickly as possible is achieved by following

controls in the manufacturing process:

(i) The quantity of retarding agents like gypsum is reduced to a bare

minimum.

(ii) The quantity of alumina-rich compound is reduced.

(iii) The clinker is ground to extreme fineness.

Quick setting cement is used only in very specific situations such as while
constructing piers for bridges and other structures in running or standing
water.

Read More: Types of Stones | Their Structure, Composition, and

Properties.

5. High Alumina Cement:

Definition:
These Types of Cement contains alumina in considerably larger proportions
(average 40 percent) than normal cement.

High Alumina cement is manufactured by calcining a well-proportioned

mixture of Limestone and Bauxite (Al2O3, n H2O).

No other raw material is added, not even gypsum is mixed with the clinker
during grinding.
The total Alumina content is generally above 32 percent.

Properties:
The most important properties of high alumina cement are summarized
below:

(i) It is resistant to the corrosive action of acids and salts of seawater.

(ii) The ratio of alumina to lime is kept between 0.85 and 1.30.

(iii) It gains compressive strength of 400 kg/sq.cm within 24 hours and 500
kg/sq.cm after 72 hours.

(iv) It evolves great heat during setting. Due to this, it is not suitable for use
in mega projects like Dams.

But at the same time, it gives an advantage to high alumina cement for use in
frost forming areas.

(v) They react quickly with lime. Therefore, it must not come in contact with
lime.

Uses:
Unfortunately, it is more costly. Therefore it is used only in those situations
where resistant against corrosion is required.

It is commonly used in construction work near and along sea-shore.

6. Blast Furnace Slag Cement:

Definition:
It is a modified type of Portland cement which contains 25-65 percent (by
weight) of blast furnace slag.

It is manufactured by grinding clinker and specific amounts of blast furnace

slag together. A small percent of gypsum is also added for controlling its
setting time.

The slag, as we know, is a waste product from the blast furnace which is used
in the manufacture of iron (Ferrous Metal).

Properties:
The slag cement offers a number of advantages, which are the following.

(i) They possess better workability, cohesiveness, and plasticity. These

qualities are explained to be due to lesser specific gravity and greater specific
surface area of slag cement.

(ii) They have better resistance to sulfates of alkali metals, alumina, and iron.

(iii) It produces low heat. This property makes it useful for use in mega
projects like Dams.

(iv) It is economical as compared to ordinary cement.

Uses:
It is better suited for use in marine structures as in docks, harbors, and jetties.
It is also used in road construction in marshy and alkaline soils.

7. Pozzolana Cement:
In this cement type, clinker and pozzolanic material such as (volcanic ash, fly
ash, etc.) are mixed in a definite proportion with Portland cement.

The pozzolanic materials do not have any cementing qualities when used
alone, but when mixed with Portland cement, they react with cement
components and form compounds with cementing properties.

The pozzolana cement has many properties similar to ordinary Portland

cement. But it also offers some additional properties, which are given below.

(i) It produces less heat. Due to this property, it can be used in mega projects.

(ii) It offers greater resistance to sulfates and corrosive actions of sea water.

These qualities make it more useful for construction near or along the coast
and also in sulfate soil. It can also be used in sewage works and for
underwater construction.
Read More: Different Types of Concrete – Their Classification, Uses &
Properties.

8. Colored Cement:
In this type of cement, pigment (color) is mixed with the Portland cement in a
definite proportion.

The Pigment is mixed in a finest powdered state. The amount of pigment

used depends upon the shade of the desired color.

It is, however, generally less than 10 percent (by weight). The following
pigments are used to obtain colored cement.

(i) Chromium oxide is used for green color.

(ii) Cobalt is used for blue color.

(iii) Iron oxide is used for various shades of red, brown and yellow color.

(iv) Manganese dioxide is used to obtain black and deep brown color.

This type of cement is extensively used for top coat in flooring and
decorative purposes in various places in a building.

9. White Cement:
It may also be defined as a special type of Portland cement when used it gives
a milky or snow-white appearance.

White cement is manufactured from pure limestone (chalk) and clay that are
totally free from iron oxides and any other pigments like manganese and
chromium.

The kiln is fired by oil rather than by coal to avoid any contamination.

There strength and setting time is similar to ordinary Portland cement.

White cement is the most favored material for use in making highways curbs
and for a variety of ornamental work.

They are also used widely for making cast stones of appealing appearance.

White cement is comparatively a costly cement type and is, therefore, used
only selectively.

10. Hydrophobic Cement:

It is a special type of cement containing admixtures which reduce the affinity
of cement grains for water.

Such cement types are used especially in cold, frost-forming conditions.

Admixtures of naphtha a soap and acidol are generally added to achieve this
property.

Watch the video below to better understand the Types of Cement.

11. Super Sulfate Cement:

These types of cement are manufactured by adding additional quantities of
calcium sulfate and blast furnace slag in the Portland cement.

It is especially useful for mass concrete work especially in sulfate-rich

environment and marine conditions. Besides, it is comparatively economical
than other types of cement.

12. Low Alkali Cement:

Such types of cement are specially made Portland cement in which alkali
content is kept below in minimum amount, by exercising very strict control
over the composition of the raw material used.

They are used in those circumstances where aggregates -for making concrete-
are suspected to contain reactive silica.

13. Water Proof Cement.

Water proof cement is prepared by using some of the waterproofing material
like Ca, Al with the ordinary cement during the process of cement
manufacturing.

They are mostly used in the structures where water proofing is required, like
in the Dams, Water Tanks, etc.

14. Air Entraining Cement.

This cement type is manufactured by adding some indigenous air entraining
agents such as glues, resins, sulfates, etc., during the grinding stage of
clinker.

They are used to improve the workability of concrete with smaller water-
cement ratio and they also improve the frost resistance of concrete.

15. Expansive Cement.

These types of cement have he quality to expand slightly with time. But they
do not shrink during and after the time of hardening.

They are mostly used for grouting purposes in anchor bolt and prestressed
concrete ducts.
So, Finally, our article about “Types of Cement” is reached to an end.

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