CEMENT

• Cement is a well-known building material and has occupied an indispensable

place in construction works.
• Cement is a material which has cohesive and adhesive properties in the
presence of water.
• Cement is a product obtained by pulverizing clinker formed by calcinating raw-
materials primarily consisting of Lime(CaO), Silicate(SiO2), Alumina(Al2O3)
and Iron oxide(Fe2O3).
NOTE:
• Pulverize: make into a powder by breaking up or cause to become dust.
• Clinker: a hard brick used as a paving stone
• Calcination: the process of heating a substance to a high temperature but below the
melting or fusing point, causing loss of moisture, reduction on oxidation and
dissociation into simpler substances.

• When cement is mixed with water it forms a past which hardens and binds
aggregates (fine and coarse) together to form a hard-durable mass called
concrete.

Cements used in construction industry can be classified as hydraulic and non-hydraulic.

Hydraulic cement set and harden in presence of water (due to the chemical action
between cement and water known as hydration) and results in water-resistance product
which is stable. Ex: Portland Cement
Non-hydraulic cements are derived from calcination of gypsum or limestone because their
products of hydration are not resistance to water; however, the addition of pozzolanic
materials can render gypsum and lime cement hydraulic. Ex: Plaster of Paris

• Cement can be manufactured either from natural cement stones or artificially

by using calcareous and argillaceous
Argillaceous Calcareous
materials. Example of natural cements • Shale and clay • limestone
are Roman cement, Puzzolona cement, • Cement rock • chalk
• Blast furnace • marine shells
Medina cement and of artificial cement slag
are Portland cement and special • marl

cements.
• Various varieties of artificial cement (exceeding 30 in number) are available
in the market at present.
 Oxide Function Composition Aver Effect
(%) age

Lime,CaO Control strength and 60-65 63 Excess: makes the cement unsound and
soundness causes the cement to expand and
disintegrate
Deficit: reduce strength of cement and set
quickly

Silica, SiO2 Gives strength 17-25 20 Excess: causes slow setting

Alumina, Al2O3 Responsible for quick 3.5-9 6.3 Excess: reduces the strength of cement
setting

Iron Oxide, Gives colour and helps in 0.5-6 3.3

Ingredients of cement and their functions

Fe2O3 function of different

ingredients

Magnesia, MgO Impart colour and hardness 0.5-4 2.4 Excess: causes cracks in mortar and concrete
and unsoundness

Sulphur Trioxide, Makes cement sound 1-2 1.5 Excess: cement become unsound
SO3

Alkalis (soda and These are residues 0.5-1.3 1.0 Excess: cause efflorescence and cracking
potash), K2O and
Na2O