Main Types of Cement
- Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)
- Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)
- Rapid Hardening Cement
- Quick setting cement
- Low Heat Cement
- Sulphate resistant cement
- Blast Furnace Slag Cement
- High Alumina Cement
- White Cement
- Colored cement
- Air Entraining Cement
- Expansive cement
- Hydrophobic 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 cement around the world. This cement is suitable for all kinds of concrete construction.
2. Portland Pozzolana Cement(PPC)
Portland Pozzolana Cement is prepared by grinding volcanic ash or pozzolana with Portland cement. It is also produced by adding pozzolana with the addition of gypsum
This cement has a high resistance to chemical attacks on concrete and thus, it is widely used in marine structures, sewage works, sewage works etc
3. Rapid Hardening Cement
Rapid hardening cement attains high strength in the early days. it is used in concrete where formwork are removed at an early stage. 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 3 days is similar to 7 days strength of OPC.Thus you can remove formwork earlier, which increases the rate of construction.
4. Quick Setting Cement
Quick Setting Cement sets earlier but its rate of strength gain is similar to ordinary Portland cement. If you want to complete the work in very short time you will use quick setting cement
5. Low Heat Cement
Low heat cement is produced by maintaining the percentage of tri-calcium aluminate C3A below 6% by increasing the proportion of C2S. C3A is mainly responsible for heat of hydration, so lowering its percentage lowers heat generation due to hydration. If you are using concrete in mass such as in dams you would use low heat cement.
6. Sulphate Resisting Cement
Sulphate resisting cement is used to reduce the risk of sulphate attack on concrete and thus is used in the construction of foundations, canals, culverts etc. where the soil has high sulphate content. This cement has reduced contents of C3A and C4AF.
7. Blast Furnace Slag Cement
Blast furnace slag cement is obtained by grinding clinkers with about 60% slag. 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.
You use this cement in places where concrete will be subjected to high temperature
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 interior and exterior decorative work
10. Coloured Cement
It is produced by mixing 5- 10% mineral pigments with ordinary cement. They are used for decorative works.
11. Air Entraining Cement
Air entraining cement is produced by adding indigenous air-entraining agents such as resins, sodium etc when grinding clinkers.
With this cement you can decrease water content and still maintain the same workability.
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. Hydrophobic Cement
Hydrophobic 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.
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