Difference between 43 Grade Cement and 53 Grade Cement

Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is graded according to their strength in India. The grade indicates the compression strength (mpa) the concrete will attain after 28 days of setting Compression Strength Cement grade indicates the compression strength of the cement concrete after 28 days of setting. 43 Grade cement attains compression strength of 43 mpa (mega pascals) in 28 days of setting compared to 53 mpa attained by 53 Grade cement.

Initial Strength 53 Grade cement are used for fast paced construction were initial strength is to be achieved quickly. 53 Grade cement has fast setting compared to 43 grade cement. 53 Grade attains 27 mpa in 7days compared to 23 mpa by 43 grade cement

Uses & Application 53 Grade OPC cement is Used in RCC and pre-stressed concrete of higher grades, cement grouts, instant plugging mortars etc. where initial higher strength is the criteria. 43 Grade OPC Cement are commonly used for plastering works, Non-RCC structures, pathways etc where initial setting time is not of importance

43 grade ordinary Portland cement IS Designation This type of cement should confirm according to IS:8112-1989 Uses 43 grade cement is used in general Civil Engineering construction work i.e. brick masonry, plastering, pointing, flooring and in RCC Work etc.

53 grade ordinary Portland cement IS Designation This type of cement should confirm according to IS:12269-1987 Uses 53 grades of cement are used where high early strength in 1 to 28 days range is required. These days Structural Engineers propose these cements mainly for RCC works, where a member takes high tensile stress. Design Strength Design Strength for 28 days= 530 kg/ sq cm Strength with time

Design Strength Design Strength for 28 days= 430 kg/ sq cm

Strength with time 43 grade cement early strength is less but with time it will attain same strength as 53 grades. Initial setting of mix or hydration process. In 43 grade cement the initial setting of cement is slow than 53 grade cement. In other words, the hydration process is not so fast i.e. release of heat is less as in case of 53 grade and micro cracking is less which is control by proper curing of concrete.

53 grade cement attain early strength. Does not increase much after 28 days. Initial setting of mix or hydration process. In addition, due to faster hydration process, the concrete releases heat of hydration at much faster rate initially and release of heat is the highest in case of 53 grades. The heat of hydration being higher, the chances of microcracking of concrete is much greater. Thus during initial setting period of concrete, the higher heat of hydration can lead to the damage of micro-cracking within the concrete which may not be visible at surface. This cracking is different from shrinkage or cracks which occur due to faster dryness of concrete in windy conditions. The situation can be worse when we tend to increase the quantity of the cement in concrete with a belief that such increments are better for both strength and durability of concrete. Thus it is very essential to be very careful in advance that higher grade cement specially GRADE 53 SHOULD be used only where such use is warranted for making the concrete of higher strength and also where good quality assurance measures are in place by which proper precautions are taken to relieve the higher heat of hydration through chilling of aggregates or by proper curing of concrete