HISTORY OF

CEMENT
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION

Limestone Gypsum Pyramid

Combining of Limestone and Gypsum for the construction

of pyramids
ROMAN CIVILIZATION

Basilica of Constantine

Pozzolana

Mount Vesuvius
16TH CENTURY

Tabby
- A building material made
from oyster-shell lime,
sand, and whole oyster
shells to form concrete.

Tabby
EDDYSTONE LIGHTHOUSE
(18TH CENTURY)

Smeaton Discovery:

Cement made from

limestone containing
considerable proportion
of clay would harden
under water.
19TH CENTURY

Portland Cement

- One of the most

important manufactured
material

- Made through the

proportionate mixing,
burning, and grinding of
Joseph Aspdin
clay and limestones. (1778-1885)
ROSENDALE-PORTLAND CEMENT
(20TH CENTURY)

ROSENDALE PORTLAND
CEMENT CEMENT
PROPERTIES OF
CEMENT
 PROPERTIES OF CEMENT

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

❏ FINENESS OF CEMENT ❏ TRICALCIUM

❏ SOUNDNESS ALUMINATE
❏ CONSISTENCY ❏ TRICALCIUM SILICATE
❏ STRENGTH ❏ DICALCIUM SILICATE
❏ SETTING TIME ❏ TETRACALCIUM
❏ HEAT OF HYDRATION ALUMINOFERRITE
❏ LOSS OF IGNITION ❏ FREE LIME
❏ BULK DENSITY ❏ MAGNESIA
❏ SPECIFIC GRAVITY ❏ ALKALI OXIDES
PHYSICAL PROPERTY

Fineness of Cement

➢ Is a measure of the size of the particles of the cement

➢ Measured by doing:
PHYSICAL PROPERTY

Fineness of Specific Surface Rate of

cement Area Hydration

➢ results into the early and better development

of strength
PHYSICAL PROPERTY
Soundness of Cement
➢ the ability of cement to retain its volume while hardening
➢ Good quality cement retains its volume after setting without delayed
expansion

Le Chatelier Test
- tests the expansion of cement due to lime
- In a good quality cement,
the distance should not exceed 10 mm.
PHYSICAL PROPERTY

Autoclave Test (ASTM C151)

- Tests the expansion of cement due to autoclave
- The requirement for good quality cement is a maximum of 0.80%
autoclave expansion.
PHYSICAL PROPERTY

Consistency of Cement
➢ The ability of cement paste(cement+water) to flow under normal
condition.
➢ It is measured by Vicat Test.
PHYSICAL PROPERTY

Vicat Test
- The plunger of the apparatus is brought
down to touch the top surface of the
cement. The plunger will penetrate the
cement up to a certain depth depending
on the consistency.

- normal consistency: 10±1 mm.

PHYSICAL PROPERTY

Strength of Cement
➢ Three types of strength of cement are measured – compressive,
tensile and flexural.

Compressive Strength
➢ the most common strength test
➢ A test specimen (50mm) is taken and subjected to a compressive
load until failure.
➢ The loading sequence must be within 20 seconds and 80 seconds.
PHYSICAL PROPERTY

Standard tests:

i. AASHTO T 106 and ASTM C 109:

Compressive Strength of Hydraulic
Cement Mortars (Using 50-mm or
2-in. Cube Specimens)
ii. ASTM C 349: Compressive Strength of
Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using
Portions of Prisms Broken in Flexure)
PHYSICAL PROPERTY

Tensile Strength:

➢ Tensile Strength of Cement= P/A MPa

Where: P = failure load (N)

A = sectional area of specimen
(mm2)
PHYSICAL PROPERTY

Flexural Strength:

➢ a measure of tensile strength in

bending
➢ The test is performed in a 40 x40 x
160 mm cement mortar beam,
which is loaded at its center point
until failure.

Standard test:

i. ASTM C 348: Flexural Strength of

Hydraulic Cement Mortars
PHYSICAL PROPERTY

Setting Time of Cement

➢ Initial set: the time when the cement paste starts hardening or
stiffen noticeably (typically occurs within 30-45 minutes)

➢ Final set: the time when cement paste has hardened sufficiently
and being able to sustain some load (occurs below 10 hours)

➢ vary depending on multiple factors, such as fineness of cement,

cement-water ratio, chemical content, and admixtures.

➢ setting time can also be an indicator of hydration rate.

PHYSICAL PROPERTY

Standard Tests:

i. AASHTO T 131 and ASTM C 191: Time of Setting of Hydraulic Cement by

Vicat Needle
ii. ASTM C 266: Time of Setting of Hydraulic-Cement Paste by Gillmore
Needles
PHYSICAL PROPERTY

Heat of Hydration

➢ Hydration generates heat, which can affect the quality of the

cement and also be beneficial in maintaining curing temperature
during cold weather.
PHYSICAL PROPERTY

Heat of Hydration

➢ calculated by determining the

difference between the dry and the
partially hydrated cement (obtained
by comparing these at 7th and 28th
days).
Standard Test:
ASTM C 186: Heat of Hydration of
Hydraulic Cement
PHYSICAL PROPERTY

Loss of Ignition
➢ loss of weight upon heating
➢ Loss on ignition shows the pre-hydration or carbonation of
cement due to prolonged or improper storage
➢ Pre-hydration of cement reduce the strength of cement and
influences the setting time of cement.
➢ Carbonation of cement causes a change in strength, porosity,
pore size distribution, and chemistry in cement
paste/concrete/mortar.
➢ Standard Test:
- AASHTO T 105 and ASTM C 114: Chemical Analysis of Hydraulic
Cement
PHYSICAL PROPERTY

Bulk density
➢ the measure of the bulk of the material and is defined as the
weight per volume of the raw plastic materials
➢ The density of cement may be anywhere from 62 to 78 pounds per
cubic foot.

Specific Gravity (Relative Density)

➢ the ratio of the density(mass of a unit volume) of a substance to
the density of a given reference material
➢ Standard Test:
- ASTM C 188: Density of Hydraulic Cement
CHEMICAL
PROPERTIES
Main Constituents in a Typical Portland Cement
MAIN CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS

Tricalcium aluminate (C3A)

➢ This compound helps to develop strength in the first few days.
➢ It is responsible for hydration of cement and also responsible to
generate high heat of hydration.
➢ Low content of C3A makes the cement sulfate-resistant.
.
Tricalcium silicate (C3S)

➢ C3S causes rapid hydration as well as hardening and is

responsible for the cement’s early strength gain an initial
setting.
MAIN CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS

Dicalcium silicate (C2S)

➢ This compound helps cement to harden slowly and it is also
responsible for increase in strength after one-week of age.

Tetracalcium aluminoferrite (C4AF)

➢ This compound contributes in hydration process and slightly

influences the strength of cement.
SECONDARY CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS

Free lime (CaO)

➢ leads to expansion after hydration which results into the
disintegration of hardened concrete.

Magnesia (MgO)

➢ The excess amount of MgO leads to the expansion due to the

hydration of MgO in hardened concrete.
SECONDARY CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS

Na2O & K2O (Alkali Oxides)

➢ The excess amount of alkalis like Na2O & K2O leads to the
alkali-aggregate reaction, which results in disruptive expansion.
SOURCES

https://gharpedia.com/blog/properties-of-cement/

https://civiltoday.com/civil-engineering-materials/cement/111-properties-of-cemen
t-physical-chemical-properties

https://www.jklakshmicement.com/brief-history-of-cement/
 STANDARD TEST METHOD
FOR DENSITY OF HYDRAULIC
CEMENT
(ASTM C188)
APPARATUS
Le Chatelier’s Flask
● Circular in cross-section
● glass, transparent and free from striae
● Chemically resistant
● Low thermal hysteresis
Kerosine (Free of
water, Naphtha)
● 0.73 g/mL at 21°C - 25°C
PROCEDURE
1. Determine the density as received
2. Fill the flask with liquid specified (stem between 0 and 1-mL mark)
3. Dry inside of the flask above level of liquid then record after
immersed water in the flask
4. Introduce a quantity of cement (0.05g or 64g for portland cement)
(splashing and adhering should be avoided)
5. Vibrating apparatus
6. After that, place the stopper and roll in an inclined direction (gently
roll it in a horizontal circle)
7. Take the final reading after immeresed to water
8. Immerse flask in constant-temerature water (to avoid variations of
temperature over 0.2°C)
Calculation
● The difference between final and initial reading
represents volume of water displaced
● Calculate the cement density, r, as follows:
p(mg per cubic meter) = p(g per cubic centimeter)
= mass of cement, g/displaced volume, cm^3

Density = mass of cement, g / displaced volume,

cm^3
STANDARD TEST METHOD
FOR TIME OF SETTING OF
HYDRAULIC CEMENT
ASTM C191
APPARATUS
VICAT APPARATUS
● Movable rod (m 299.5-300.5g) (D 0.95mm-1.05mm)
(L > 50 mm)

GLASS GRADUATES
● 200 mL or 250 mL

PLANE NON-ABSORPTIVE
PLATE
● 95mm to 105 mm of similar planeness and
corrosivity and absorptivity
FLAT TROWEL
● Sharpened straight edged steel blade
(100 to 150mm)

CONICAL RING
● Rigid-non-corroding-non-absorbent

MIXER, BOWL, PADDLE

Automatic Vicat Needle
Apparatus for Method B

Specimen Mold for

Method B
 Conditioning
1. Maintain the air temperature (20°C to 26°C)
2. Maintain the water temperature (21°C to 25°C)
3. Humidity should not be less than 50%

Preparation for Cement Paste

1. Prepare a new batch of paste by mixing 650 g of cement with water of
normal consistency (Test Mthd C187)
2. For method A, use the test specimen used for normal consistency
Procedure
1. Molding the specimen
- form the cement into a ball, toss from one hand to the other about 6 in
apart
- press the ball into the conical ring filling it up with no void
- smooth the top using trowel
- careful not to compress the paste then put it in the moist cabinet
supported by the non-absoptive plate

2. Time of setting determinations

- be it in the cabinet for 30 mins and determine the 1-mm needle this time
and 15 mins thereafter until 25-mm needle is obtained.

3. The vicat final time of setting is between intitial contact of cement to water
and when the needle does not sink visibly to the paste.
4. Precautions. Keep all the apparatus free from vibration during the
penetration test and the needles should be kept clean.
 ASTM C188
- Determination of Density of
Hydraulic Cement
- Its connection is in connection
with design and control of
concrete mixtures
 ASTM C191

- This determines the time of setting the

hydraulic cement by means of Vicat
needles
Thank You for Listening