Cement plays a vital role in building materials. Cement is manufactured of chemical combination such as calcium, silicon, aluminum, iron, and other ingredients. It is made from a mixture of elements that are found in natural materials on earth. Common materials used to manufacture cement include chemical solutions such as limestone, shells, chalk or marl which is combined with shale, clay, slate, blast furnace slag, silica sand, and iron ore.

Uses of cement:

Cement is mixed with water and used as a binding agent that sets and hardens to adhere to building units such as stones, bricks, tiles, etc. Cement is also used in mortar for plastering, masonry work, pointing, etc. cement is used for making joints for drains and fixing pipes. It is used for a water tightness of the structure. It is used in concrete for laying floors, roofs and constructing lintels, beams, stairs, slabs, tiles, pillars, etc. Cement is used for small constructions as well as for large construction. Cement is the heart of constructing the building.

Cement products:

The manufacturing of and use of cement products make cement one of the most valuable products. Cement is a useful mineral product in the world. For all practical purposes, the only type of cement used in modern construction is called Hydraulic cement. Apart from Hydraulic cement, there are two major types of cement. There are Portland cement and masonry cement. Different cement products are used for different purposes. To color a cement you need to mix the concrete coloring pigment with water, and then add to the concrete, according to the instructions on the bag.

There are different types of cement with specific defining behaviors and chemical compositions. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) 43 Grade Cement is the best cement for house construction. It is used mainly for wall plastering works, Non-RCC structures, pathways, etc. Both OPC and PPC cement is good for construction of concrete slab. PPC (Portland Pozzolana Cement) is most commonly used for small residential constructions. Portland cement is used for underwater construction. Portland cement is made from heated clay and lime; it is the secret to concrete’s ability to set underwater.

Types of Cement properties:

There are two types of properties. There are physical properties and chemical properties. The best cement gives us excellent Fineness of cement, Soundness, Consistency, Strength, Setting time, the heat of hydration, Loss of ignition and Bulk density.

Strength of Cement:

Compressive, tensile and flexural are the three types of strength of cement. Various factors affect the strength, such as water-cement ratio, cement-fine aggregate ratio, curing conditions, size and shape of a specimen, the manner of molding and mixing, loading conditions and age. Cement mortar strength and cement concrete strength are not directly related.

Cement strength is merely a quality control measure. The tests of strength are performed on cement mortar mix, not on cement paste. Cement gains strength over time, so the specific time of performing the test should be mentioned. While testing the strength, these factors should be considered. Thus different cement is used for different purposes. Purchase the best cement from the market as mentioned above for best results.

James Montano