Mindanao State University – Main Campus

Civil Engineering Department

CVE171 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING

Lecture 3
Materials for Making Concrete II:
Portland Cement
Engr. Nhour R. Dibangkitun
Instructor
 Introduction
Portland cement concrete is the most widely used
manufactured construction material in the world.
Concrete is important in our daily lives. It is used in
structures such as buildings, bridges, tunnels, dams,
factories, pavements, and playgrounds.

Portland cement concrete consists of portland

cement, aggregates, water, air voids, and, in many
cases, admixtures.
 Introduction
There are many types of concrete, based on different
cements. However, portland cement concrete is so
prevalent that the term concrete is always assumed to
mean portland cement concrete.

Portland cement was patented by Joseph Aspdin in

1824 and was named after the limestone cliffs on the
Isle of Portland in England (Kosmatka et al., 2008).
 Introduction
Portland cement is an instant glue (just add water) that
bonds aggregates together to make portland cement
concrete.

Materials specialists concerned with the selection,

specification, and quality control of civil engineering
projects should understand the production, chemical
composition, hydration rates, and physical properties of
portland cement.
Portland Cement
Production
 Portland Cement Production
Production of portland cement starts with two basic raw
ingredients:
(1) Calcareous material. A calcium oxide, such as
limestone, chalk, or oyster shells.

(2) Argillaceous material. A combination of silica and

alumina that can be obtained from clay, shale, and
blast furnace slag.
Composition
 Chemical Composition

The raw materials used to manufacture portland

cement are lime, silica, alumina, and iron oxide.

These raw materials interact in the kiln, forming

complex chemical compounds. Calcination in the kiln
restructures the molecular composition, producing
four main compounds:
Chemical Composition
 Chemical Composition

In addition to these main compounds, there are minor

compounds, such as magnesium oxide, titanium oxide,
manganese oxide, sodium oxide, and potassium
oxide.
 Fineness of Portland Cement
Fineness of cement particles is an important property
that must be carefully controlled. Since hydration starts
at the surface of cement particles, the finer the cement
particles, the larger the surface area and the faster the
hydration.

Therefore, finer material results in faster strength

development and a greater initial heat of hydration.
 Specific Gravity of Portland Cement
The specific gravity of cement is needed for mixture-
proportioning calculations. The specific gravity of
portland cement (without voids between particles) is
about 3.15 and can be determined according to ASTM
C188.
 Hydration of
Portland Cement
 Hydration
Hydration is the chemical reaction between the
cement particles and water. The features of this
reaction are the change in matter, the change in energy
level, and the rate of reaction.
 Hydration
The hydration process occurs through two
mechanisms: (1) through-solution and (2)
topochemical.
The through-solution mechanism dominates the early
stages of hydration. Topochemical hydration is a solid-
state chemical reaction occurring at the surface of the
cement particles.
 Voids in
Hydrated Cement
 Voids in Hydrated Cement
Concrete strength, durability, and volume stability are
greatly influenced by voids. Two types of voids are
formed during hydration: (1) the interlayer hydration
space and (2) capillary voids.
 Voids in Hydrated Cement
Interlayer hydration space occurs between the layers
in the C-S-H (calcium-silicate-hydrate). It contribute
28% to the porosity of the paste. Water in the
interparticle space is strongly held by hydrogen bonds,
but can be removed when humidity is less than 11%,
resulting in considerable shrinkage.
 Voids in Hydrated Cement
Capillary voids are the result of the hydrated cement
paste having a lower bulk specific gravity than the
cement particles. The amount and size of capillary
voids depends on the initial separation of the cement
particles, which is largely controlled by the ratio of
water to cement paste.
 Voids in Hydrated Cement
In addition to the interlayer space and capillary voids,
air can be trapped in the cement paste during mixing.
The trapped air reduces strength and increases
permeability.
Properties of
Hydrated Cement
 Properties of Hydrated Cement
The proper hydration of portland cement is a
fundamental quality control issue for cement
producers.
Mix design, quality control, and the characteristics of
the mixing water and aggregates also influence the
quality of the concrete.
Properties of the hydrated cement are evaluated with
either cement paste (water and cement) or mortar
(paste and sand).
 Properties: Setting
Setting refers to the stiffening of the cement paste or
the change from a plastic state to a solid state.

Although with setting comes some strength, it should

be distinguished from hardening, which refers to the
strength gain in a set cement paste.
 Properties: Setting
Setting is usually described by two levels: (1) initial set
and (2) final set.
The initial set time must allow for handling and
placing the concrete before stiffening. The maximum
final set time is specified and measured to ensure
normal hydration.
During cement manufacturing, gypsum is added to
regulate the setting time.
 Properties: Setting
Other factors that affect the set time include the
fineness of the cement, the water–cement ratio, and
the use of admixtures.
If the cement is exposed to humidity during storage, a
false set might occur in which the cement stiffens
within a few minutes of being mixed, without the
evolution of much heat.
[To resolve this problem, the cement paste can be vigorously remixed,
without adding water, in order to restore plasticity of the paste.]
ASTM C191 ASTM C266
 Properties: Soundness
Soundness of the cement paste refers to its ability to
retain its volume after setting.

Expansion after setting, caused by delayed or slow

hydration or other reactions, could result if the cement
is unsound.
ASTM C151
In this test, cement
paste bars are
subjected to heat and
high pressure, and the
amount of expansion is
measured.
 Properties: Compressive Strength of Mortar
Compressive strength of mortar is measured by
preparing 50-mm (2 in.) cubes and subjecting them to
compression according to ASTM C109.

[However, the compressive strength of the concrete cannot be

predicted accurately from mortar cube strength, since the concrete
strength is also affected by the aggregate characteristics, the
concrete mixing, and the construction procedures.]
Water-Cement Ratio
 W/C Ratio

In 1918, Abrams found that the ratio of the weight of

water to the weight of cement, water–cement ratio,
influences all the desirable qualities of concrete.
For fully compacted concrete made with sound and
clean aggregates, strength and other desirable
properties are improved by reducing the weight of
water used per unit weight of cement. This concept is
frequently identified as Abrams’ law.
Types of Portland
Cement
 Types of Portland Cement
Different concrete applications require cements with
different properties. Some applications require rapid
strength gain to expedite the construction process.
Other applications require a low heat of hydration to
control volume change and associated shrinkage
cracking.
 Other Cement Types
▪ White portland cement
▪ Blended hydraulic cements (ASTM C595)
▪ Type IS (Portland blast furnace slag cement)
▪ Type IP (Portland-pozzolan cement)
▪ Masonry and mortar cements
▪ Plastic cements
▪ Finely-ground cements (ultrafine cements)
▪ Expansive cements
▪ Specialty cements
 Other Cement Types
▪ Hydraulic cements (ASTM C1157)
Type GU (General use)
Type HE (High early strength)
Type MS (Moderate sulfate resistance)
Type HS (High sulfate resistance)
Type MH (Moderate heat of hydration)
Type LH (Low heat of hydration)
 Supplementary
Cementitious Material
These materials have been used to improve some
properties of concrete and to reduce the problem of
discarding them. Since these materials are cementitious,
they can be used in addition to or as a partial
replacement for portland cement.
 1. Fly Ash
Fly ash is the most commonly used pozzolan in civil
engineering structures. Fly ash is a by-product of the
coal industry.
Fly ash (up to 20%) increases the workability of the
fresh concrete. In addition, fly ash extends the
hydration process, allowing a greater strength
development and reduced porosity.
 2. Slag Cement
Slag cement is made from iron blast furnace slag. It is
a nonmetallic hydraulic cement which is developed in a
molten condition simultaneously with iron in a blast
furnace.
Slag cement hydrates and sets in a manner similar
to portland cement and has been used since the
beginning of the 1900s. Slag cement commonly
constitutes between 30% and 45% of the cementing
material in the mix.
 3. Silica Fume
Silica fume is a byproduct of the production of silicon
metal or ferrosilicon alloys. One of the most beneficial
uses for silica fume is as a mineral admixture in
concrete.
Concrete containing silica fume can have very high
strength and durability and can reduce concrete
corrosion.
 4. Natural Pozzolans
A pozzolan possesses little or no cementitious value
but will react chemically with calcium hydroxide at
ordinary temperatures to form compounds possessing
cementitious properties.
Naturally occurring pozzolans, such as fine volcanic
ash, combined with burned lime, were used about 2000
years ago for building construction, and pozzolan
continues to be used today.
 SUMMARY
The development of portland cement as the binder material for
concrete is one of the most important innovations of civil
engineering.
It is extremely difficult to find civil engineering projects that do not
include some component constructed with portland
cement concrete.
The properties of portland cement are governed by the chemical
composition and the fineness of the particles. These control the
rate of hydration and the ultimate strength of the concrete.
?
 End of Lecture 3

Thank You!