ASSIGNMENT- 3

MATERIAL INFORMATION OF LIME,

CEMENT,SURKHI,NEERU AND WATER

GROUP 1 - SECTION A

ANJALI VARDANI - BA19ARC001 RUSHALI JAIN - BA19ARC037

ATUL PRABHAKAR - BA19ARC015 SAL S S - BA19ARC038
ABHINAV ANAND - BA19ARC022 DIKSHA - BA19ARC039
NACHIKET N. - BA19ARC026 PRANAV UBALE - BA19ARC040
HIMANSHU J - BA19ARC027 RUSHAB MAHORE-BA19ARC041

VISVESVARAYA NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PAGE NO : 1

INDEX
CONTENT PAGE NO.

1 LIME 3-7
➢ General classification of lime and their uses
➢ Indian standard classification of lime and their uses
➢ Properties of lime
➢ Precautions in handling lime
➢ Advantages of lime in construction
➢ Applications
➢ Properties of lime for use in construction

2 CEMENT 7-13
➢ Function of cement
➢ Classification of cement
➢ Physical properties
➢ Benefits of cement
➢ Limitations of cement
➢ Storage
➢ Uses of cement
➢ Sustainability
➢ Safety issues

3 SURKHI 13-16
➢ Functions of surkhi
➢ Mechanism of manufacturing
➢ Strength characteristics
➢ Types of surkhi
➢ Uses
➢ Advantages
➢ Disadvantages

4 NEERU 17

5 WATER 18-21
➢ Effects of bad quality of water on cement concrete
➢ Chemical requirements
➢ Permissible limit for solids in water for construction (as
per is 456)
➢ Advantages
➢ Disadvantages of mixing too much water in mortar and
concrete
➢ Quantity of water for one bag mix
➢ Water for curing

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LIME
➔ Lime is not freely available in nature but is
obtained by burning natural materials such as
limestone, seashells, kankar, coral, etc.
➔ The main sources of obtaining lime are the stones
which possess clay, magnesium carbonate, soluble
silica, alkalis and metallic oxides, sulphates, iron
compounds and carbonaceous matter.
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF LIME AND THEIR USES:
Lime is classified based on the calcination of limestone, and they are:
● Fat Lime
➢ Fat lime is white in colour, which has high calcium
oxide content. This lime can set and become hard only
in the presence of carbon dioxide.
➢ It is also called high-calcium lime, pure lime, rich lime
or white lime. But, it is mostly known as fat lime as it
slakes quickly. It contains specific properties such as
very slowly hardening, a high degree of plasticity and
soluble in water.

Uses of fat lime:

❖ It is used in plastered surfaces for whitewashing.

❖ It is used as lime mortar (a combination of lime and sand) for plastering and
pointing works.
❖ It is used as a Lime Surkhi mortar for foundations, thick masonry walls, etc., where
surkhi is the powder obtained by pounding burnt bricks.

● Hydraulic Lime
➢ Hydraulic lime is the lime that contains small
quantities of silica, alumina and iron oxide, which are
collectively in the chemical composition with
calcium oxide.
➢ It is also known as water lime because it can set
under water and become hard even in the absence of
carbon dioxide.

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 ➢ Based on the percentage of the clay, hydraulic lime is available in different forms such
as Feebly hydraulic lime, Moderately hydraulic lime and Eminently hydraulic lime. The
increase in clay content makes slaking difficult and increases hydraulic properties.

Uses of hydraulic lime:

❖ It resembles cement as it contains 30% of clay and can be used in major civil
engineering works.

❖ It can be set in thick walls where there is no free-flowing air.

❖ It forms a thin paste with water.

● Poor Lime
➔ This lime is also known as lean lime or impure lime. As it
contains more than 30% of clay, which makes lime to
slake slowly.
➔ It sets and hardens very slowly compared to other types of
limes. It has very poor binding properties and can form a
thin paste with water. It is used for inferior types of works
because of its inferior quality.

INDIAN STANDARD CLASSIFICATION OF LIME AND THEIR USES:

➔ As per Bureau of Indian Standards (IS: 712 - 1984), limes are classified into six classes,
and they are:

Class A: Eminently Hydraulic Lime

➔ It is available in hydrated form and can be used for structural

works like arches, domes, etc.

Class B: Semi-hydraulic Lime

➔ It is available as both quicklime and hydrated lime. This mortar is used

for masonry works.

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Class C: Fat Lime

➔ It is available in quick or hydrated form. It is used for finishing coats in

plastering, whitewashing etc. It is used for masonry mortar with the
addition of pozzolanic material.

Class D: Magnesium or Dolomite Lime

➔ It is also available in a hydrated or quick form. It can be used for

whitewashing and finishing coats for plastering.

Class E: Kankar Lime

➔ It is produced by burning lime nodules which are seen in soils

like black cotton soil containing silica in the hydrated form. It is
also preferred for masonry works.

Class F: Siliceous Dolomite Lime

➔ It is usually used as an undercoat and finishing coat of plaster.

PROPERTIES OF LIME
Lime is one of the oldest binding materials used in several ancient
architectural works. A good quality lime should own the following properties:

➔ It should possess good plasticity.

➔ It should be flexible and easily workable.
➔ When used in mortar, it should provide greater strength to the masonry.
➔ It should solidify in less time and become hard.
➔ It should comprise of excellent binding properties which adhere to brick or stone
masonry units perfectly.

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 ➔ It possesses high durable properties as it is less shrinkable when used in mortar.

➔ It should be highly resistant to moisture and can be used for pointing works.

PRECAUTIONS IN HANDLING LIME

➔ Lime is a health hazard if breathed in and also affects the skin resulting in skin diseases.
It can be avoided by coating the skin with oil.

➔ Slaking of lime is an exothermic reaction and generates a large amount of heat. Proper
care should be taken by workers by using goggles, respirants, gloves, and boots as
protection while working with lime.

ADVANTAGES OF LIME IN CONSTRUCTION

➔ Provides building breathing property- the lime was regarded as a material by the society
for protection against the depletion of ancient buildings. This material lets the building
be vapor permeable, thus allowing it to breathe. This reduces the chances of trapped
moisture and the damage of the building.
➔ Renders Comfortable Environment- Absorbing moisture by the lime, stabilize internal
humidity
➔ Ecological Benefits- energy conservation than cement, small scale production of lime is
possible
➔ Protection of adjacent materials- Porous texture of lime handle the moisture movement,
without affecting the adjacent materials
➔ Provides good workability
➔ Durability is high
➔ Beautiful finish for the building
➔ Self-healing properties- Any movement of the building made of lime, creates
micro-cracks. Presence of moisture make the free lime active to precipitate and heal
these micro cracks

APPLICATIONS OF BUILDING LIME IN CONSTRUCTION

➔ Masonry Construction- For the construction of the monument, retaining walls. Also,
used in load bearing walls.
➔ Structural Applications like canopies, arches, domes of different size and form
➔ Used for construction of wall structures like wells, fountains and water channels
➔ Used for plastering purposes- For different types like decorative, plain plastering
➔ Used to make intricate patterns as well as geometrical profiles
➔ Used for finishing works

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PROPERTIES OF LIME FOR USE IN CONSTRUCTION

The white powdered slaked lime has a wide range of applications in construction. The
properties of lime are:

➔ Cementing capability- This is obtained by their carbonation with carbon dioxide. Lime
is used as lime mortar for brick masonry construction.
➔ Have a higher acid resistance- due to its alkaline nature
➔ Gain Pozzolanic activity- this gives cementitious products
➔ Sealing of micro cracks- This is done by the precipitation made by the calcium
carbonate when carbon dioxide passes through the lime mortar mix.

CEMENT
Cement is most important material in building construction .
The name “cement” refer to the material manufacture from
lime stone and clay and made available in powder form,
which mixed with water can set to hard durable mass even
under water.

FUNCTION OF CEMENT
To bind the sand and coarse aggregate together to fill voids in between sand and coarse
aggregate particle to form a compact mass

CLASSIFICATION OF CEMENT
1. opc ordinary portland cement ppc
2. Portland Pozzolzna Cement
3. Sulpahte Resisting portland cement
4. Portland blast furnace slag cement
5. Hydrophobic Cement
6. Blended Cement
7. Rapid hardening portland cement

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1.Ordinary Portland cement

Chemical composition of Portland Cement:

1. C3S: Tricalcium Silicate = 3CaO.SiO2 (50%)

2. C2S :Dicalcium Silicate = 2CaO.SiO2 ( (25%)
3. C3A :Tricalcium Aluminate = 3CaO.Al2O (10%)
4. C4AF :Tetracalcium Aluminoferrite = 4CaO. Al2O3.Fe2O3 (10%) e) Gypsum
(5%)

2.Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)

● This type of cement is most common type available now in market.

● This is made by blending 10-25% reactive pozzolana like fly ash or calcined clay with
OPC
● Addition of pozzolana makes cement sensitive to curing and it requires longer curing
than OPC.

3.Sulphate Resistant Portland Cement

● Sulphate-resisting Portland cement (SRPC) is a special purpose cement used where

sulfates are present in concentrations that would damage Normal Portland cement
concrete or mortar. Sulfate resistance is achieved by adjustments to chemical
composition to limit the level of tricalcium aluminate (C3A) in the SRPC
● SRPC is made by fusing together a precisely controlled blend of very finely ground
limestone, shale and iron oxide at high temperatures to form cement clinker.
● A small quantity of gypsum is added to this clinker before grinding to produce the final
fine powder - Sulfate-resisting Portland cement.
● SRPC is manufactured in a modern dry process works at Castlemungret, Co. Limerick
and is supplied either in bulk or in bags.

PROPERTIES

● Applied at place where there is exposure to sulphate such as used in concrete below
ground
● Higher content of Tetracalcium Aluminoferrite & reducing the Tricalcium aluminate to
aluminium
● Has darker color than OPC

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4.Portland blast furnace slag cement

● Even though it is equated with OPC it behaves more like PPC and has lower heat of
hydration and better sulphate resistance.
● At present BFSC produced in India is only Grade-33 and there are proposals to make
Grade-43 cements with 45-70% slag content.
● BFSC with more than 50% slag has good sulphates resistance

5.Hydrophobic cement

● In places of high rainfall and humidity normal cement tends to set when stored, due to
moisture present in the atmosphere.
● By grinding the cement clinker with water repellent film forming substance like oleic
acid, a water repellent film is formed around cement particles during manufacturing
itself. This prevent setting of cement during storage.
● During mixing with aggregates this film is broken and cement behave as ordinary
cement

6.Blended cement

For economy a mixture of portland cement, blast furnace slag and fly ash is allowed to be used
in some countries. This is known as blended cement. In India this type of cement is not
produced.

7.Rapid Hardening Portland cement (RHPC)

● Rapid Hardening Portland cement (RHPC) is a special purpose cement used in concrete
to ensure a higher rate of early age strength development than that typically achieved
using Normal Portland cement (NPC).
● The improved early age strength performance of RHPC is principally achieved through
increased product fineness.
PROPERTIES

● Similar chemical composition as OPC but different proportion Causes to the increased
rate of early hardening
● Concrete made with RHPC develops in 7 days the same strengths
● High early strength is achieved by increasing the CS & CA content

ADVANTAGES

● More finely grounded than OPC

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 ● Allows formwork to be struck earlier
● Providing savings either the quantity of formwork required in time
● Produce heat earlier than OPC, so it can be used in cold weather

QUALITIES

● RHPC is produced using carefully selected raw materials.

● Strict quality control throughout each stage of the manufacturing process ensures that a
consistent final product is achieved.

STRENGTH

● Rapid Hardening Portland cement achieves higher earlier strengths than OPC because it
is more finely ground.
● Rapid Hardening Portland cement is chemically similar to OPC and as such concrete
mixes should be designed with this in mind.
● In particular, optimum ultimate strength of concrete using RHPC will depend, like OPC,
on careful attention to the water/cement ratio, consistent with ensuring satisfactory
placing and compaction.

HYDRATION OF CEMENT

➔ In the presence of water the cement compounds chemically combined with water (hydrate)
to form new compounds that are the infrastructure of the hardened cement paste in concrete.
➔ Both C3S and C2S hydrate to form calcium hydroxide and calcium silicate hydrate (CSH).
➔ Hydrated cement paste contains 15% to 25% Calcium hydroxide and about 50% calcium
silicate hydrate by mass.
➔ The strength and other properties of hydrated cement are due primarily to calcium silicate
hydrate.

SAFETY ISSUES
➔ Bags of cement routinely have health and safety warnings printed on them because not
only is cement highly alkaline, but the setting process is exothermic. As a result, wet
cement is strongly caustic (pH = 13.5) and can easily cause severe skin burns if not
promptly washed off with water. Similarly, dry cement powder in contact with mucous
membranes can cause severe eye or respiratory irritation.
➔ Some trace elements, such as chromium, from impurities naturally present in the raw
materials used to produce cement may cause allergic dermatitis.

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 ➔ Reducing agents such as ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) are often added to cement to convert the
carcinogenic hexavalent chromate (CrO42−) into trivalent chromium (Cr3+), a less toxic
chemical species. Cement users need also to wear appropriate gloves and protective
clothing.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF CEMENT

Different blends of cement used in construction are characterized by their physical properties.
Some key parameters control the quality of cement. The physical properties of good cement are
based on:
➔ Fineness of cement
➔ Soundness
➔ Consistency
➔ Strength
➔ Setting time
➔ Heat of hydration
➔ Loss of ignition
➔ Bulk density
➔ Specific gravity (Relative density)
BENEFITS OF CEMENT
Cement is so integral to our communities because it is the only building material that
cost-effectively delivers:

➔ the lowest carbon footprint for a structure or pavement over its lifecycle
➔ unparalleled strength, durability, longevity and resilience
➔ maximized energy efficiency via thermal mass
➔ durability in any environment
➔ a building material that doesn’t burn, rust or rot
➔ safety and security
➔ versatility – it can be molded into any shape, colour or pattern imaginable
➔ no off-gas
➔ excellent vibration and sound insulating
➔ low maintenance costs
➔ 100 % recyclability, plus the materials needed to make concrete are abundant in just
about every locale on the planet

LIMITATIONS OF CEMENT
The limitations of cement include:

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 ➔ Relatively low tensile strength when compared to other building materials.
➔ Low ductility.
➔ Low strength-to-weight ratio.
➔ It is susceptible to cracking.

STORAGE OF CEMENT

Cement storage guidelines as per IS 4082

IS 4082-1996 laid down the stipulation for storage of cement as follows:

➔ The height of stack shall not be more than 10 bags to prevent the possibility of
lumping up under pressure.
➔ Do not store cement in the open. Under exceptional conditions, cement can be stored
on a raised damp proof floor and covered with tarpaulins on the top and sides. Ensure
that rain water does not stagnate on the tarpaulin. Storage in the open should be
limited to the minimum
possible time i.e. about 48
hours.
➔ On building contracts, lower
stories and other completed
portions of buildings may be
used for cement storage. In
such cases cement should be
protected from rain that may
blow in through the openings.
Also protect cement from
water dripping from curing or other operations in
the upper floors.
➔ Normally store cement in weatherproof sheds.
➔ The floor in the shed should be dry and raised at
least 150 mm from ground level.
➔ Place the bags tightly together to avoid air
circulation.

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USES OF CEMENT
Some of the numerous functions of cement are given below.

➔ It is used in mortar for plastering, masonry work, pointing, etc.

➔ It is used for making joints for drains and pipes.
➔ It is used for water tightness of structure.
➔ It is used in concrete for laying floors, roofs and constructing lintels, beams, stairs,
pillars etc.
➔ It is used where a hard surface is required for the protection of exposed surfaces of
structures against the destructive agents of the weather and certain organic or inorganic
chemicals.
➔ It is used for precast pipes manufacturing, piles, fencing posts etc.
➔ It is used in the construction of important engineering structures such as bridges,
culverts, dams, tunnels, lighthouses etc.
➔ It is used in the preparation of foundations, watertight floors, footpaths etc.
➔ It is employed for the construction of wells, water tanks, tennis courts, lamp posts,
telephone cabins, roads etc.

SUSTAINABILITY

➔ Concrete has a relatively high embodied energy, resulting from its extraction,
manufacture and transportation. Waste materials can be included within the concrete mix
such as Recycled Crushed Aggregate (RCA), Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag
(GGBS) and Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA).

SURKHI
➔ Surkhi,Powdered broken brick (burnt brick)
locally called surkhi is used as fine aggregate in
lime mortar.
➔ Surkhi,Powdered broken brick shall be
prepared by finely grinding well burnt good
quality bricks free from under burnt particles of
soluble salts, pyrites and adherent coatings of
soil or silt.

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➔ The maximum quantity of clay, fine silt and fine dust present shall not exceed five per cent
by weight.

FUNCTIONS OF SURKHI IN MORTAR

➔ Surkhi,Powdered broken brick is used as an adulterant but it imparts strength and hydraulic
properties to the mortar. To develop more strength it should be ground very finely with lime
in the mortar grinding mill.
➔ Surkhi mortar is a mixture of lime,surkhi and water. It is lime mortar in which sand has been
substituted by surkhi for economy and strength.

MECHANISM OF MANUFACTURING
➔ In the factory; clay containing silica, alumina, lime, oxides of iron, and magnesia is burnt the
same as bricks but at a high temperature of about 600° C in a furnace.
➔ Then, an over-burnt product gains reddish-like color.
➔ It is then transferred to a mill to grind it into coarsen (like sand) or finely(like cement)
powdered form as a requirement.
➔ Thus the obtained product is surkhi.

STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF SURKHI MORTAR DEPEND

UPON THE FOLLOWING

➔ The physical and chemical composition of lime or cement or surkhi.

➔ Mineralogical composition of surkhi.

➔ Degree of the burning of lime or cement or surkhi.

➔ Fineness of surkhi.

➔ Mix proportion.

➔ The period of grinding and curing of mortar.

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TYPES OF SURKHI
a. Fine Surkhi
● This is a finely powdered surkhi that is used in place of cement, lime,, or other binding
materials.
● Concrete or mortar prepared using fine surkhi as binding material is generally used only
for temporary constructions.

b. Coarse Surkhi

● This is a coarsely powdered surkhi that is used in place of filling material like sand.
● Concrete or mortar prepared using coarse surkhi as filling material is generally used in
permanent constructions.

FEATURES

Some of the features are:

➔ It contains a high amount of silica.

➔ It is a reddish colored powdery material.
➔ It increases its compressive strength and compatibility with time and hydraulicity (
property to set and hardens).
➔ It is a good binding and filling material having good bond strength, abrasion resistance,
durability, and thermal resistivity.

USES
➔ It can be used as sand in a mortar known as Surkhi mortar. ( Surkhi mortar is the
mixture of lime/cement, surkhi, and water. It is economically accessible too.)
➔ It can be used as binding material like cement or lime.
➔ As its strength increases with more immersion on water, it can be also used for
hydro-constructions like constructions in sea, ocean, rivers, blockage, etc.
➔ It can be used for plastering of internal walls. (External wall plastering is not preferred.)

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ADVANTAGES
➔ Addition of (10- 20) % of quick lime in the clay gives quality surkhi that can give good
finishing to the mixture during construction.
➔ The alkalis and salt solutions cannot reduce the binding property to some extent.

DISADVANTAGES
➔ Un-proportion amount of silica-containing clay can cause less cohesion, cracking,
shrinking, and warping.
➔ It cannot resist the long exposure of humidity, weathering, etc.

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 NEERU

➔ Neeru shall be made of the best description of hydraulics lime slaked with fresh water
and sifted. The lime shall be ground to fine powder by grinding in a mortar.
➔ The neeru shall be kept moist until used and no more than what can be consumed in 15
days shall be prepared at one time.

INTERNAL PLASTERING WITH NEERU FINISH

Providing 12 mm thick plastering in cement mortar (1:4) with neeru finish to internal
surfaces including scaffolding, curing, etc. complete.

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WATER

➔ Water shall be fresh, sweet and potable. Storage for

water shall be made as directed by the unless
approved by the Architect. The Contractor shall
make his own necessary arrangement for storage at
his own cost.
➔ The Contractor shall allow the use of the water to
other contractors working on site, if any and unless
approved by the Architect shall apportion the cost of
the same. Due care shall be taken to see that the
water is not contaminated in any way.
➔ The water shall be clean and shall not contain sugar,
molasses or gur or their derivatives, or sewage, oils, organic substances.
➔ If the quality of water to be used for mixing is in doubt, cubes of 75 mm in cement
mortar 1:3 mix with distilled water and with the water in question shall be made
separately. The latter type of cubes should attain 90% of the 7 days’ strength obtained in
cubes with the same quantity of distilled water. Alternatively, the water shall be tested in
an approved Laboratory for its use in preparing concrete / mortar.

EFFECTS OF BAD QUALITY WATER ON CEMENT CONCRETE

➔ Presence of salt in water such as Calcium Chloride, Iron Salts, inorganic salts and
sodium etc. are so dangerous that they reduce initial strength of concrete and in some
cases no strength can be achieved. There is a rusting problem in steel provided in RCC.
➔ Presence of acid, alkali, industrial waste, sanitary sewage and water with sugar also
reduce the strength of concrete.
➔ Presence of silt or suspended particles in water has adverse effects on the strength of
concrete.
➔ Presence of oil such as linseed oil, vegetable oil or mineral oil in water above 2 %
reduces the strength of concrete up to 25 %.
➔ Presence of algae/vegetable growth in water used for mixing in cement concrete reduces
the strength of concrete considerably and also reduces the bond between cement paste
and aggregate.

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CHEMICAL REQUIREMENTS

➔ Following criteria should be followed in order to assess the suitability of water for
construction:
➔ The pH value of water shall be not less than 6.
➔ To neutralize a 100 ml sample of water, using phenolphthalein as an indicator, it should
not require more than 5 ml of 0.02 normal NaOH. The details of the test are given in
clause 8.1 of IS 3025 (Part 22).
➔ To neutralize a 100 ml sample of water, using a mixed indicator, it should not require
more than 25 ml of 0.02 normal H$O,. The details of the test shall be as given in clause
8 of IS 3025 (Part 23).
➔ For plain and reinforced cement concrete permissible limits for solids shall be as
follows:

PERMISSIBLE LIMIT FOR SOLIDS IN WATER FOR CONSTRUCTION

(AS PER IS 456)

Type of Solid in water Permissible Limits for Construction

Organic matter 200 mg/l

Inorganic matter 3000 mg/l

Sulphates (SO4) 500 mg/l

Chlorides (Cl) a) 1000 mg/l for RCC work and, b) 2000 mg/l for PCC work

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 Suspended matter 2000 mg/l

TEST FOR COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

Average 28 days compressive strength of at least three 150 mm concrete cubes prepared with
water proposed to be used shall not be less than 90 percent of the average strength of three
similar concrete cubes prepared with distilled water. The cubes shall be prepared, cured and
tested in accordance with the requirements of IS 516.

TEST FOR INITIAL SETTING TIME

The initial setting time of the test block made with the appropriate cement and the water
proposed to be used shall not be less than 30 min and shall not differ by 30min from the initial
setting time of the control test block prepared with the same cement and distilled water. The test
blocks shall be prepared and tested in accordance with the requirements of IS 4031 (Part 5).

TREATMENT OF WATER

It is advisable that water should be tested in the lab and if found unsatisfactory, it should be
treated according to the directions of the laboratory. It is generally observed that groundwater
has some quantities of salt. In case of small work or in a situation where good water is not
available, salty water must be treated with HCL @ 10 ml for 100 liters of water.

ADVANTAGES

➔ It can reduce 10% of water consumption.

➔ It can improve the mixture of cement concrete for workability.
➔ Compression strength improves by more than 15 %.
➔ It can reduce the initial stage of cement heat hydration by a large margin.
➔ It has no corrosion reinforcing bars.
➔ It increases workability, density and strength without increasing the quantity of cement.
Hence in the area where there is less availability of water and the water is carried from long
distances for construction work, the water reducing admixture is most beneficial for cement
concrete work as it saves water up to 10%. It also increases the strength of cement concrete with
the same quantity of cement

DISADVANTAGES OF MIXING TOO MUCH WATER IN MORTAR AND

CONCRETE

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 ➔ The water occupies space in sand and it evaporates to create voids. Moreover the water
voids will be more and this will reduce the density, strength and durability of mortar or
concrete.
➔ When more water is used in concrete excess water brings a mixture of excess cement
paste with water floating on the surface. This material forms a thin layer of chalky
material on the surface which reduces proper bonding with the second layer of cement
concrete in case of water tanks and dams etc. This will affect the strength of concrete.
➔ When more water is used, the cement slurry starts coming out from from cement
concrete mix. The excess slurry formed by water and cement comes out through
shuttering joints. This makes concrete less cement and reduces the strength of concrete.
➔ When more water is used, proper compaction is not achieved and there is bleeding, large
voids and more shrinkage, less durability and less strength.
➔ When more water is mixed in cement concrete, the problem of segregation of material is
faced at the time of laying the mix. As a result Coarse Aggregate and cement paste
separate from each other.
Hence strict control should be kept on water cement ratio for preparing the mortar or concrete
for qualitative finish/ strength.

QUANTITY OF WATER FOR ONE BAG MIX

➔ Approximate 32 liters of water is required where the ratio 1:2:4 of cement concrete is
used.
➔ Approximate 30 liters of water is required where the ratio 1:1.5:3 of cement concrete is
used.

WATER FOR CURING

Water found satisfactory for concrete mixing is also considered suitable for curing of concrete.
However, water used for curing should not produce any objectionable stain or unsightly deposit
on the concrete surface. It is not recommended to use water for curing which has tannic acid or
iron compounds dissolved.

GROUP 1/ SECTION A / SEM V / THIRD YR / VNIT PAGE NO : 21