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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 pulverized brick additives that were added to
the burnt lime to obtain a hydraulic binder were later referred to as cementum, cimentum, cment,
and cement.
Cement used in construction is characterized as hydraulic or non-hydraulic. Hydraulic cements
(e.g., Portland cement) harden because of hydration, chemical reactions that occur 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 (e.g. gypsum plaster) must be kept dry in
order to retain their strength.
The most important use of cement is the production of mortar and concretethe bonding of natural or
artificial aggregates to form a strong building material that is durable in the face of normal environmental
effects.
Concrete should not be confused with cement, because the term cement refers to the material used to
bind the aggregate materials of concrete. Concrete is a combination of a cement and aggregate.
be cast in almost any shape desired, and once hardened, can become a structural (load bearing)
element. Portland cement may be grey or white.
Colored cements are used for decorative purposes. In some standards, the addition of pigments to
produce "colored Portland cement" is allowed. In other standards (e.g. ASTM), pigments are not allowed
constituents of Portland cement, and colored cements are sold as "blended hydraulic cements".
Very finely ground cements are made from mixtures of cement with sand or with slag or other pozzolan
type minerals that are extremely finely ground together. Such cements can have the same physical
characteristics as normal cement but with 50% less cement particularly due to their increased surface
area for the chemical reaction. Even with intensive grinding they can use up to 50% less energy to
fabricate than ordinary Portland cements.
consumption leads to a CO2 emission around half that associated with Portland clinker. However,
SO2 emissions are usually significantly higher.
"Natural" cements correspond to certain cements of the pre-Portland era, produced by
burning argillaceous limestones at moderate temperatures. The level of clay components in the limestone
(around 3035%) is such that large amounts of belite (the low-early strength, high-late strength mineral in
Portland cement) are formed without the formation of excessive amounts of free lime. As with any natural
material, such cements have highly variable properties.
Geopolymer cements are made from mixtures of water-soluble alkali metal silicates and aluminosilicate
mineral powders such as fly ash and metakaolin.
Types of Cement
This guide covers the three major cement categories, Portland cements, which dominate the market,
Blended cements, which are starting to make their presence increasingly felt in the cement field, and
Expansive cements, which are often used in bridges and other important load bearing applications where
cracking must be minimized.
Both Portland cement and Blended cements are hydraulic cements, which means that they require the
addition of water in order to form the bonds which make them set hard and strong. Once formed, the
bonds are not soluble in water, which means that hydraulic cements can be used in situations where they
will be exposed to water (such as rain water, drainage water, or sea water) without fear of them breaking
down and washing away.
There are six main types of hydraulic cements, and both Portland and Blended cements can be
categorized into these types.
Type GU General Use. Suitable for general applications, except those where ground water may be
involved, or where moderate to low heat of hydration is required. Heat of hydration is a term referring to
the amount of heat that is given out as bonds are formed within the cement. The reactions which form the
bonds in cement are exothermic, which means they give out heat. In some projects, such as large scale
dams, it is advantageous to use cement that has a low heat of hydration, as cements which release a
great deal of heat whilst setting and hardening can cause major problems.
Type HE High Early Strength. High early strength cements set and hardens quickly, and can be used
as load bearing structures much more quickly than their counterparts. These types of cement are ideal for
projects which must be finished quickly.
Type MS Moderate Sulphate Resistance. Moderate sulphate resistance makes cement suitable for
use in applications where the concrete will be exposed to normal levels of sulphates which are present in
ground water.
Type HS High Sulphate Resistance. High sulphate resistance is useful for projects where the cement
will be exposed to unusually high levels of sulphates.
Type MH Moderate Heat of Hydration. Moderate heat of hydration cements are suitable for large
applications, such as small bridges, or retaining walls.
Type LH Low Heat of Hydration. Low heat of hydration cements are designed for relatively rare major
construction projects.
Blended Cements
Blended cements are produced by blending two types of materials together to produce a new type of
cement. Portland cement, natural pozzolanic compounds, blast furnace slag, silica fume, calcined clay,
and fly ash are all common components of blended cements. Blended cements have been developed in
response to various needs and market pressures, including the need to find means of recycling materials
left over from other processes, such as the production of iron, which leaves blast furnace slag. Blended
cements also have certain properties that make them more useful in some cases than ordinary Portland
cement, and they quite often reduce the cost of cement as well.
Expansive cements are a type of hydraulic cement which expand as they begin to harden. Expansive
cements are designated with an ASTM label of E-1, and come in three categories, K, M, and S, though in
certain regions, such as the United States, only K may be available. E-1(K) cement contains lime, calcium
sulphate, anhydrous tetracalcium trialuminosulfate, and Portland cement as its main ingredients.
Expansive cements are exceedingly useful in construction applications where structural cracks must not
develop. Normal cement types shrink during drying, which can cause problems in some construction
applications. Expansive cements compensate for this shrinkage by expanding slightly. There are three
main uses for expansive cements the first one being crack resistance, the second being induction of
tensile stress in reinforcement applications, and the third being as a means to ensure that dimensions of
post tensioned concrete structures remain static.
Portland Cement
There are many different types of cement available on the market today, but by far and away the most
popular type of cement is Portland Cement, which comes in a range of specifications to suit various
conditions. The basic ingredients of Portland cement are calcium and silicone, along with iron, aluminum,
and very small amounts of other substances. Gypsum is also a component of Portland cement, added at
the very end of production in order to control the rate at which the cement will set. Gypsum (the lay term
for calcium sulfate) has been used since Egyptian times to regulate setting of cement like substances.
ASTM Standards For Portland Cement
As has been mentioned, there are various types of Portland cement which posses different properties
which make them suitable for different applications. The American Society for Testing and Materials has
classified eight different types of Portland Cement.
Type I Portland Cement
Type I Portland cement is general purpose cement with no particularly special attributes. It is suitable for
use in general applications, however it should not be used in applications where the cement will be in
contact with the ground, or with ground water, as these substances tend to contain sulphates which can
attack the cement and make it expand and distort out of shape.
Type II Portland Cement
Type II Portland cement has some sulphate resistance, and releases less heat during setting and
hardening than Type I Portland cement. Type II cement is therefore suitable for construction projects
which involve exposure of the cement to ground water, such as pavements and drainage systems. Type II
cement can also be used for large scale work such as retaining walls and other such masses.
Type III Portland Cement
Type III Portland cement develops strength much quicker than other types of Portland cement. The trade
off is that its final strength tends to be slightly less than other forms of Portland cement which take longer
to set and harden. Type III Portland cement is very useful for projects which must be completed quickly.
Type A Portland Cement
Type A Portland cement refers to Type IA, Type IIA, and Type IIIA Portland cements. These cements are
simply cement types of the aforementioned categories which have had special additives added to them
which cause small pockets of air to be trapped inside the cement in a uniform fashion. This provides
greater freeze/thaw resistance to the cement, preventing it from cracking in conditions which experience
large variances in temperature.
Type IV Portland Cement
Type IV Portland cement is a relatively rare type of Portland cement which is specially designed to
release heat slowly during setting and hardening. Designed for use on very large scale projects, such as
dams, Type IV Portland cement can generally only be obtained by special order in very large quantities.
Type V Portland Cement
Type V Portland cement was designed to be used in high sulphate conditions, where Type I and Type II
Portland cement cannot successfully be used. It is not typically necessary to use Type V Portland cement,
except in extreme conditions. Most applications requiring contact with water are adequately satisfied with
Type II Portland cement.
White Portland Cement
Whilst not truly a separate type of cement, white Portland cement is a unique kind of Portland cement that
can be produced to meet the specifications of most types of Portland cement. It is different from ordinary
Portland cement in that it has a white coloration, instead of a dull grey one. This effect is achieved by
limiting the amount of iron and magnesium oxide in the mix during production. White cement can also be
colored to achieve various effects, and is quite popular as an alternative to the traditional drab grey
coloration of ordinary Portland cement, especially in projects which have a strong aesthetic component.
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