Lecture Summary - Portland Cement

The lecture is centered around Portland cement which is an important component of

concrete.
It is made by heating limestone and clay together in a kiln, forming what is
collectively called
clinker, then adding gypsum. A typical composition of ordinary Portland cement
includes ~55%
of Tricalcium silicate (C3S), ~18% Dicalcium silicate (C2S), ~10% Tricalcium
aluminate (C3A),
~8% Tetracalcium aluminoferrite (C4AF), and ~6% Calcium sulfate dihydrate (CSH2) or
gypsum.
Manipulating the proportions of these compounds can be made to achieve certain
properties
suitable for particular applications. There are 5 types of Portland cement as
classified by ASTM:

1. Type I: Ordinary Portland cement

- Most widely used cement in construction wherein there are no special properties
or
specifications required. It cures in 28 days, reaching its full strength and
rigidity at
that period.

2. Type II: Modified cement

- It has a higher amount of C3S than IV providing moderate heat of hydration with a

more normal rate of strength gain. It has a lower percentage of C3A and higher
C4AF giving it moderate sulfate-resisting properties

3. Type III: High early strength

- This type has a faster rate of strength gain, and the concrete can cure in 7
days.
- It is commonly used when concreting at low temperatures or in precast concrete
where the concrete needs to cure fast in the mold for it to be demolded and reused.

- Its high early strength is achieved by increasing its grain fineness which
increases
the surface area in contact with water. This speeds up hydration and strength gain.

Increasing C3S content can also do this, but there are limitations to the amount of

each compound per mixture.

- High C3S content increases the heat of hydration. When there is high internal
heat
generated and not allowed to escape, this may result in tensile/thermal cracking
when the concrete has cooled off and become rigid due to the thermal stresses.
Therefore, this type of cement is not used in thick (>0.5m) concrete such as in
piers
or abutments

4. Type IV: Low heat of hydration

- Commonly used in mass concrete such as piers or abutments due to its reduced
thermal cracking.
- It has low C3S and C3A and is high in C2S, therefore has a slow rate of
hydration.
- It has a slow rate of hardening due to low C3S and moderate sulfate resistance
due
to high C4AF
5. Type V: Sulfate resisting
- More sulfate resistant than type II, because of its higher C4AF
- It is used in certain areas prone to sulfate attacks like near seawater or
groundwate