Types of Portland Cement
Different types of portland cement are manufactured
to meet various physical and chemical requirements for
specific purposes. Portlant cements are manufactured to
meet the specifications of ASTM C150.
ASTM C150 provides for ten types of portland cement:
Type I
Normal
Type IA
Normal, air-entraining
Type II
Moderate sulfate resistance
Type IIA
Moderate sulfate resistance, air-entraining
Type II (MH)
Moderate heat of hydration and moderate sulfate
resistance
Types of Portland Cement Continued
Type II (MH) A
Moderate heat of hydration and moderate sulfate
resistance, air-entraining
Type III
High early strength
Type IIIA
High early strength, air-entraining
Type IV
Low heat of hydration
Type V
High sulfate resistance
Type III:
Type III portland cement provides strength at an earlier period than
normally expected. Type III is chemically similar to Type I cement, except
that its particles have been ground finer. It is used when forms need to
be removed as soon as possible or when the structure must be put into
service quickly. In cold weather its use permits a reduction in the length of
the curing period.
Type IV:
Type IV portland cement is used where the rate and amount of heat
generated from hydration must be minimized. It develops strength at a
slower rate than other cement types. Type IV cement is intended for use in
massive concrete structures, such as large gravity dams, where the
temperature rise resulting from heat generated during hardening must be
minimized.
Type V:
Type V portland cement is used in concrete exposed to severe sulfate
environments (principally where soils or ground waters have a high sulfate
content). It gains strength more slowly than Type I cement. The high
sulfate resistance of Type V cement is attributed to a low tricalcium
aluminate content, not more than 5%.
Massive concrete structures
Air-Entraining Portland Cements
Specifications for four types of air-entraining portland cement (Types IA, IIA, II
(MH)A, and IIIA) are given in ASTM C150. They correspond in composition to ASTM
Types I, II, II(MH), and III, respectively, except that small quantities of airentraining additions are interground with the clinker during manufacture.
These cements produce concrete with improved resistance to freezing and thawing.
When mixed with proper intensity and for an appropriate duration, such concrete
contains minute, well-distributed, and completely separated air bubbles. Air
entrainment for most concrete is achieved through the use of an air-entraining
admixture, rather than through the use of air-entraining cements. Air-entraining
cements are available only in certain areas, so it is advisable to check on local
availability.
White Portland Cements
White portland cement is a portland cement that differs from gray cement chiefly
in color. It is made to conform to the specifications of ASTM C150, usually Type I or
Type III. The manufacture of white cement is accomplished by limiting the amount
of iron and magnesium oxides in the raw materials. These two oxides are
responsible for portland cement’s characteristic gray color. White portland cement is
used primarily for architectural purposes in structural walls, precast and glass fiber
reinforced concrete (GFRC) facing panels, terrazzo surfaces, stucco, cement paint,
tile grout, and decorative concrete. Its use is recommended wherever white or
colored concrete, grout, or mortar is desired and should be specified as white
portland cement meeting the specifications of ASTM C150, Type [I, II, III, or V].
Problems Associated with cold weather
• Frost damage in case of immature concrete
Sulphate attack:
1. External sulphate attack
2. Internal sulphate attack
Sulphate attack:
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External sulphate attack
When sulphates from
•
•
•
Ground water
Sea water
Sewerage pipes
Enter into concrete and react with Ca(OH)2. Forming calcium sulpho
aluminates.
Problems associated with
Calcium sulpho aluminates
1.
2.
3.
Reduction in PH value of concrete
Chances of reinforcement corrosion
Expansion and subsequent cracking
http://thehelpfulengineer.com/index.php/2010/10/carbonation-of-concrete-corrosion/
Reinforcement corrosion
http://www.nachi.org/inspecting-visible-masonry.htm
Compressive strength development of concrete containing SRC
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Blended Hydraulic Cements
Blended hydraulic cements are produced by intimately and uniformly
inter-grinding or blending two or more types of fine materials. The primary
materials are portland cement, slag cement, fly ash, silica fume, calcined
clay, hydrated lime, and pre-blended combinations of these materials.
Blended hydraulic cements must conform to the requirements of ASTM
C595 Specification for Blended Hydraulic cements.
Special Cements
Special cements are produced for particular applications.
• Masonry and Mortar Cements
Masonry and mortar cements are hydraulic cements
designed for use in mortar for masonry construction. They
consist of a mixture of portland cement or blended hydraulic
cement and plasticizing materials (such as limestone or hydrated
or hydraulic lime), together with other materials introduced to
enhance one or more properties such as setting time, workability,
water retention, and durability. These components are
proportioned and packaged at a cement plant under controlled
conditions to assure uniformity of performance.
Special Cements Continued
• Expansive Cements (also called shrinkage compensating concrete)
Expansive cement is a hydraulic cement that expands
slightly during the early hardening period after initial set. It must
meet the requirements of ASTM C845, Standard Specification
for Expansive hydraulic Cement. When expansion is
restrained, for example by reinforcing steel, expansive cement
concrete can be used to:
1. Compensate for the volume decrease associated with
drying shrinkage,
2. Induce tensile stress in reinforcement (post-tensioning),
and
3. Stabilize the long-term dimensions of post-tensioned
concrete structures in comparison to the original design
dimensions.
• Oil-Well Cements
Oil-well cements are used for oil-well grouting. (This
procedure is often called oil-well cementing). Oil-well cements
are usually made from portland cement clinker or from blended
hydraulic cements. Generally they must be slow-setting and
resistant to high temperatures and pressures.
Special Cements Continued
• Rapid Hardening Cements
Rapid hardening, high-early strength, hydraulic cement is used in
construction applications, such as fast-track paving, where fast
strength development is required (design or load-carrying strength in
about four hours). They are classified according to ASTM C1600,
Standard Specification for Rapid Hardening Hydraulic Cement.
• Cements with Functional Additions
Functional additions can be inter-ground with cement clinker to
beneficially change the properties of hydraulic cement. These
additions must meet the requirements of ASTM C226, Standard
Specification for Air-Entraining Additions for Use in the
Manufacture of Air-Entraining Hydraulic Cement, or ASTM C688,
Standard Specification for Functional Additions for Use in
Hydraulic Cements. ASTM C226 addresses air-entraining
additions while ASTM C688 addresses the following types of
additions: water-reducing, retarding, accelerating, water-reducing
and retarding, water-reducing and accelerating, and set-control
additions. These additions can be used to enhance the performance
of the cement for normal or special concrete construction, grouting,
and other applications.
Special Cements Continued
• Water-Repellent Cements
Water-repellent cements, sometimes called water-proofed
cements, are usually made by adding a small amount of waterrepellent additive such as stearate (sodium, aluminum, or other)
to cement clinker during final grinding. Manufactured in either white or
gray color, water-repellent cements reduce capillary water
transmission provided there is little to no hydrostatic pressure.
However, they do not stop water-vapor transmission. Water-repellent
cements are used in tile grouts, paint, stucco finish coats, and in the
manufacture of specialty precast units.
• Regulated-Set Cements
Regulated-set cement is a calcium fluoro-aluminate hydraulic
cement that can be formulated and controlled to produce concrete
with setting times ranging from a few minutes to one hour and with
corresponding rapid early strength development. It is a portland-based
cement with functional additions that can be manufactured in the
same kiln used to manufacture conventional portland cement.
Regulated-set cement incorporates set control and early-strengthdevelopment components. The final physical properties of the
resulting concrete are in most respects similar to comparable
concretes made with portland cement.
Special Cements Continued
• Geopolymer Cements
Geopolymer cements are inorganic hydraulic cements that are
based on polymerization of minerals. The term more specifically refers
to alkali-activated alumino-silicate cements. These cements often
contain industrial by-products, such as fly ash. They have been used
in general construction, high-early strength applications, and waste
stabilization. These cements do not contain organic polymers or
plastics.
• Ettringite Cements
Ettringite cements are calcium sulfo-aluminate cements that are
specially formulated for particular uses, such as the stabilization of
waste materials. They can be formulated to form large amounts of
ettringite to stabilize particular metallic ions within the ettringite
structure. Ettringite cements have also been used in rapid setting
applications, including use in coal mines.
Special Cements Continued
• Calcium Aluminate Cements
Calcium aluminate cement is not portland cement based. It is
used in special applications for early strength gain (for example, to
achieve design strength in one day), resistance to high temperatures,
and resistance to sulfates, weak acids, and seawater. Portland cement
and calcium aluminate cement combinations have been used to make
rapid setting concretes and mortars. Typical applications for calcium
aluminate cement concrete include: chemically resistant, heat
resistant, and corrosion resistant industrial floors and repair
applications. Calcium aluminate cement concrete must be used at low
water cement ratios (less than 0.4).
• Magnesium phosphate Cements
Magnesium phosphate cements is a rapid setting, early strength
gain cement. It is usually used for special applications, such as repair
of pavements and concrete structures, or for resistance to certain
aggressive chemicals. It does not contain portland cement.
Selecting and Specifying Cements
When specifying cements for a project, the availability of cement
types should be verified. Specifications should allow flexibility in cement
selection. Limiting a project to only one cement type, one brand, or one
standard cement specification can result in project delays and it may
not allow for the best use of local materials. Cements with special
properties should not be required unless special characteristics are
necessary. In addition, the use of SCMs should not inhibit the use of
any particular portland or blended cement. The project specifications
should focus on the needs of the concrete structure and allow use of a
variety of materials to accomplish those needs.