You are on page 1of 6

Cement: Chemical Composition of

Cement is the mixture of cement is:


calcareous, siliceous, argillaceous
Lime 63%
Silica 22%
and other substances. Cement is Alumina 06%
used as a binding material in Iron oxide 03%
mortar, concrete, etc.
Gypsum 01 to 04%

(a) Dry process:


MANUFACTURING OF CEMENT: In this process calcareous material such as lime
stone (calcium carbonate) and argillaceous
(1) Mixing and crushing of raw material such as clay are ground separately to
fine powder in the absence of water and then are
materials a. Dry process
mixed together in the desired proportions. Water
b. Wet process
is then added to it for getting thick paste and
then its cakes are formed, dried and burnt in
(2) Burning kilns. This process is usually used when raw
(3) Grinding materials are very strong and hard.
In this process, the raw materials are changed to

powdered form in the absence of water.

(b) Wet process:


In this process, the raw materials are changed to
powdered form in the presence of water. (b) Wet Process: Continued------
In this process, raw materials are pulverized by using a
Ball mill, which is a rotary steel cylinder with hardened This process is generally used when raw
steel balls. When the mill rotates, steel balls pulverize
materials are soft because complete mixing
the raw materials which form slurry (liquid mixture). The
slurry is then passed into storage tanks, where correct is not possible unless water is added.
proportioning is done. Proper composition of raw Actually the purpose of both processes is to
materials can be ensured by using wet process than dry
process. Corrected slurry is then fed into rotary kiln for
change the raw materials to fine powder.
burning.

1
(3) Grinding:
(2) Burning: Now the final process is applied which is
Corrected slurry is feed to rotary kiln, which
grinding of clinker, it is first cooled down to
is a 150-500 feet long, 8-16 feet in diameter atmospheric temperature. Grinding of clinker

and temperature arrangement is up to 1500-


is done in large tube mills. After
proper grinding gypsum (Calcium
1650 degree C.At this temperature slurry
sulphate Ca SO4) in the ratio of 01-04
losses moisture and forms into small lumps,
% is added for controlling the setting
after that changes to clinkers. Clinkers are
time of cement. Finally, fine ground
cooled in another inclined tube similar to kiln
cement is stored in storage tanks
but of lesser length.
from where it is drawn for packing.

TYPES OF CEMENT:
1. Ordinary Portland Cement
2. Sulphate Resisting Cement (1) ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENT: It is
3. Rapid Hardening Cement (or) the variety of artificial cement. It is called
High Early Strength cement Portland cement because on hardening
4. Quick Setting Cement (setting) its colour resembles to rocks
5. Low Heat Cement
near Portland in England. It was first of all
6. High Alumina Cement
7. Air Entraining Cement introduced in 1824 by Joseph Asp din, a
8. White Cement bricklayer of Leeds, England.

2
(i) Lime (CaO):
Lime forms nearly two-third (2/3) of the
Functions of Cement cement. Therefore sufficient quantity of the
lime must be in the raw materials for the
manufacturing of cement. Its proportion has

Manufacturing an important effect on the cement.


Sufficient quantity of lime forms di-
calcium silicate (C2SiO2) and tri-calcium
Constituents
silicate in the manufacturing of cement.
Lime in excess, causes the cement to

expand and disintegrate.

(ii) Silica (SiO2): The quantity of


silica enough to form di-calcium (iii) Alumina (Al2O3): Alumina
silicate (C2SiO2) and tri-calcium supports to set the cement. It
silicate in the manufacturing of also lowers clinkering
cement. Silica gives strength to temperature. Alumina excess,
the cement. Silica in excess reduces the strength of the
causes the cement to set slowly
cement.

(iv) Iron Oxide (Fe2O3):


Iron oxide gives colour
(v) Magnesia (MgO):
to the cement. It also helps in giving colour to the
cement. Magnesium in excess
makes the cement unsound.

3
(2) SULPHATE RESISTING CEMENT: It is modified form of
O.P.C and is specially manufactured to resist the
sulphates. In certain regions/areas where water and soil
may have alkaline contents and O.P.C is liable to
(vi) Calcium Sulphate (or) Gypsum (Ca
disintegrate, because of unfavourable chemical reaction
SO4) : between cement and water, S.R.C is used. This cement
At the final stage of contains a low %age of (tricalcium aluminate) C3A not
more than 05%. This cement requires longer period of
manufacturing, gypsum is added curing. This cement is used for hydraulic structures in

to increase the setting of cement. alkaline water and for canal and water courses lining. It
develops strength slowly, but ultimately it is as strong as
O.P.C.

(3) RAPID HARDENING CEMENT:


The chemistry of rapid-hardening hydraulic cement, which differs from
(4) QUICK SETTING CEMENT: When
portland cement, is composed primarily of hydraulic tetracalcium concrete is to be laid under water,
trialuminate sulphate (CSA) and dicalcium silicate (C2S). C2S is the
most durable compound found in portland cement. The CSA compound, quick setting cement is to used. This
often referred to as calcium sulfoaluminate, hydrates to form ettringite-a cement is manufactured by adding
strong needle-like crystal that develops quickly to give rapid-hardening
hydraulic cement its high performance. Another significant aspect of small %age of aluminum sulphate
this product's chemistry is the absence of tricalcium aluminate (C3A),
(Al2SO4) which accelerates the setting
which makes a cement susceptible to sulfate attack. Because rapid-
hardening hydraulic cement has little or no C3A, it is very durable in action. The setting action of such
sulfate environments.One type of this cement is manufactured by
cement starts with in 05 minutes after
adding calcium chloride (CaCl2) to the O.P.C in small proportions.
Calcium chloride (CaCl2) should not be more than 02%. When this type addition of water and it becomes
of cement is used, shuttering material can be removed earlier.
stone hard in less than half an hour.

(6)
(5) LOW HEAT CEMENT: HIGH ALUMINA CEMENT:
In this cement the heat of hydration is
This cement contains high aluminate %age
reduced by tri calcium aluminate (C3A ) usually between 35-55%. It gains strength
content. It contains less %age of lime than very rapidly with in 24 hours. It is also used
ordinary port land cement. It is used for for construction of dams and other heavy
mass concrete works such as dams etc. structures. It has resistance to sulphates
and action of frost also.

4
(7) AIR ENTRAINING CEMENT: (8) WHITE CEMENT:
This type of cement was first of all developed in U.S.A to
produce such concrete which would have resistance to This cement is called snowcrete. As iron
weathering actions and particularly to the action of frost. It oxide gives the grey colour to cement, it
is found that entrainment of air or gas bubbles while
applying cement, increases resistance to frost action. Air
is therefore necessary for white cement
entraining cement is produced by grinding minute air to keep the content of iron oxide as low
entraining materials with clinker or the materials are also as possible. Lime stone and china clay
added separately while making concrete. Entrainment of
air also improves workability and durability. It is free from iron oxide are suitable for its
recommended that air contents should be 03-04 % by manufacturing. This cement is costlier
volume.
than O.P.C. It is mainly used for
Natural resins, fats, oils are used as air
architectural finishing in the buildings.
entraining agents.

TO CHECK THE QUALITY OF


CEMENT IN THE FILED:
1.Colour greenish grey.
2.One feels cool by thrusting one’s
hand in the cement bag.
3.It is smooth when rubbed in
between fingers.
4.A handful of cement thrown in a

bucket of water should float.

You might also like