A Study on Properties and Quality

Assessment Test of OPC Cement

TABLE OF CONTENT
Objective of the Study
Statement of the Problem
Literature Review
Introduction/Background
Methodology
Significance of the project
Limitation of the Study
Work Schedule/Time Schedule
Reference
Introduction
 Cement is a product obtained by burning a well proportioned mixture
of siliceous (containing silica), argillaceous (containing alumina) and
calcareous (containing lime) materials and crushing the same into grey
colour fine powder.
 Cement is basically manufactured through a closely controlled
chemical combination of calcium, silicon, aluminum, iron and various
other(raw material) ingredients.
 Cement is any substance which binds together other materials by a
combination of chemical processes known collectively as setting.
Objectives of the Study
 To study about the properties of OPC cement.
 To study about the tests for quality assurance of OPC
cement.
Statement of Problem
 Chemical properties of Cement may not be studied in detail.
 All the test mentioned in this project proposal may not be possible in
the college laboratory.
Literature Review
INTRODUCTION TO CEMENT
A cement is a binder, a substance used for construction that sets,
hardens, and adheres to other materials to bind them together. Cement
is seldom used on its own, but rather to bind sand and gravel (aggregate)
together. Cement mixed with fine aggregate produces mortar for masonry,
or with sand and gravel, produces
concrete. Concrete is the most widely
used material in existence and is behind only water as the planet's
most-consumed resource.
Properties of Cement
A good cement possesses the following properties
(which depend upon its chemical composition,
thoroughness of burning and fineness of grinding).
 Provides strength to masonry.
 Stiffness or hardens early.
 Possesses good plasticity.
 An excellent building material.
 Easily workable.
 Good moisture-resistant.
Ingredients of Cement

Silica Provides strength

Lime Provides strength

Alumina Makes the cement quick setting

Iron Oxide Provides colour, hardness and strength

Magnesia Provides hardness and colour

Calcium Sulphate(Gypsum) Increase the initial setting time

 PROPERTIES OF OPC CEMENT
Chemical Properties:
S.N Chemical Name Chemical Notation Percentage
. Formula Composition
1 Tricalcium Silicate 3CaO, SiO2 C3S 30-50

2 Dicalcium Silicate 2CaO, SiO2 C2S 20-45

3 Tricalcium Aluminate 3CaO, Al2O3 C3A 8-12

4 Tetra-calcium 4CaO, C2AF 6-10

Alumino-ferrite Al2O3,
Fe2O3
Physical Properties
Properties Values

Specific Gravity 3.1 - 3.16

Normal Consistency 29%

Initial Setting Time 30 min

Final Setting Time 600 min

Fineness Up to 225 kg/m^2

Soundness < 10 mm

Bulk Density 830-1650 kg/m3

TESTING OF ORDINARY PORTLAND
CEMENT
For normal setting or ordinary Portland cement the following tests
(laboratory) are carried out.
 Fineness test
 Consistency test
 Setting times test
 Soundness test
 Compressive strength test
 Tensile strength test
 TESTING OF ORDINARY PORTLAND
CEMENT
Fineness Test

The fineness of cement is a measure of its cementing value. Finer cement produces a
stronger mortar and it can be mixed with large proportion of sand than a coarser one
and yet attain the same strength. It will be tested by sieve test or surface area test.
Sedimentary residue of OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement) should not greater than
10% of sample in IS sieve no.90 micron and with a rapid hardening cement should
not exceed 5% for 15 minutes as per standard.

Consistency Test

It Will be done to find the proper amount of water to be added to the cement. The
percentage of water corresponding to the penetration between 33 to 35mm in vicat
test indicates the normal consistency.
Standard Consistency of Cement= (Quantity of water for 5-7 mm penetration) *100
Weight of Cement
TESTING OF ORDINARY PORTLAND
CEMENT
Setting Time Test
The time to which cement can be moulded in any desired shape without
losing it’s strength is called initial setting time of cement.The time to
which cement completely loses it’s plasticity and became hard is a final
setting time of cement.It will be done by Vicat after apparatus. Initial
setting time of cement is that stage after which any cracks that may
appear do not reunit. Final Setting time is that when it has sufficient
strength and hardness. The standard setting time of OPC cement are:

Cement Initial setting Final setting time(min)

time(min)
Ordinary Portland 30 600
cement
TESTING OF ORDINARY PORTLAND
CEMENT

Fig: Vicat’s Apparatus

TESTING OF ORDINARY PORTLAND
CEMENT
Soundness Test:
It will be done by le chatelier’s apparatus to check presence of impurities.
Soundness means ability to resist volume expansion.
Compressive Strength Test:
This test is done to determine the suitability of cement for developing
required compressive strength of concrete. The most common strength
test, compressive strength, is carried out on a 50 mm (2-inch) cement
mortar test specimen. The test specimen is subjected to a compressive
load (usually from a hydraulic machine) until failure. This loading
sequence must take no less than 20 seconds and no more than 80 seconds.
TESTING OF ORDINARY PORTLAND
CEMENT
Tensile Strength Test:
Tensile strength of cement will be tested by briquette testing machine. Six
cubes will be tested to find the tensile strength of cement. As per standard
values the tensile strength of good cement should not be less than
20kg/cm^2 and 25kg/cm"2 after 3 and 7 days respectively.
Methodology
The study team of our students were guided by ours respected
teachers during the field study. We visited cement factory in order
to know about the properties and quality assessment test for
cement. The idea obtained was noted and photographs of important
spots were taken.
Primary sources:
 Field visit of Hetauda Cement Industries Ltd.

 Interaction with site supervisor

Secondary Sources:
 Leaflet and magazines

 Internet and official website

Significance of the Study
The study of the proposal is to study about the different properties of
Cement and it’s quality assurance test.This project will helps us
differentiate the different grades of OPC Cement and to use the relative
grade of Cement in relative areas.
Limitations of the Study
i. Properties of cement is not studied in detail.
ii. Data of tests are not included in this proposal.
 Time Schedule
This research study planned to completed in 2 months from the data
successful registration as:

S.N Description Mangsir Mangsir Poush Poush

1st-2ndweek 2nd-last week 1st-2ndweek 2nd-last week

1. literature review

2. Project class

3. Proposal writing

4. Submission of

final proposal
Conclusion
The proposal has been prepared with including the knowledge we have
about the OPC cement. From this proposal we were able to study and
identify about the properties and quality assessment test of OPC cement.
Bibliography
This proposal contains the notes materials from book(Engineering
Materials R.K. Rajput) and the collective data from the field visit(i.e.
answers of questions asked to site supervisor).