ENGINEERING MATERIALS

TYPES OF PORTLAND CEMENT ISI SPECIFICATIONS

THEORY

Classification of Cement
Cement can be classified mainly in to the following
classes:
(a)

Natural Cement.

(b)

Portland Cement.

(c)

Pozzolanic Cement.

(d)

High Alumina Cement

(e)

Super Sulphate Cement

(f) Special Cement

(i)

Quick Setting Cement

(ii)

Expanding Cement.

Portland Cement
Of all above types, Portland cement is most important.
Chemically Portland cement is defined as a mixture of
complex silicates and aluminates of calcium containing
less than 1.0% free lime and gypsum. Such cement when
mixed with adequate quantity of water, forms a paste
which on settling hardens and is durable.

The most common use for Portland cement is in the

production of concrete. Concrete is a composite material
consisting of aggregate (gravel and sand), cement, and
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ENGINEERING MATERIALS

TYPES OF PORTLAND CEMENT ISI SPECIFICATIONS

THEORY

water. As a construction material, concrete can be cast in

almost any shape desired, and once hardened, can
become a structural (load bearing) element. Concrete can
be used in the construction of structural elements like
panels, beams, and road ,dams.

When water is mixed with Portland cement, the product

sets in a few hours and hardens over a period of weeks.
These processes can vary widely depending upon the mix
used, but a typical concrete sets in about 6 hours and
develops a compressive strength of 8 MPa in 24 hours.
The strength rises to 15 MPa at 3 days, 23 MPa at
1 week, 35 MPa at 4 weeks and 41 MPa at 3 months
(Mpa stands for Mega Pascal, 1Pascal = 1 N/m 2 and is
unit of pressure).

In principle, the strength continues to rise slowly as long

as water is available for continued hydration, but concrete
is usually allowed to dry out after a few weeks and this
causes strength growth to stop.

ENGINEERING MATERIALS

TYPES OF PORTLAND CEMENT ISI SPECIFICATIONS

THEORY

a. Chemical Composition &

Constitution of Portland Cement.
Average

composition

with

respect

to

constitutional

compounds of ordinary Portland cement is given in the

following Table 1.2

Table 1.2
Sr.

Name

Abrivation/Formula Percentage

No.
1.

Dicalcium silicate

27

2.

Tricalcium silicate

48

3.

Tricalcium

10

08

aluminate
4.

Tetracalcium
aluminoterite

5.

Free lime

CaO

0.9

6.

Magnesium oxide

MaO

2.5

7.

Gypsum

2.8

ENGINEERING MATERIALS

TYPES OF PORTLAND CEMENT ISI SPECIFICATIONS

THEORY

Types of Portland Cement

There are five types of Portland cement in which varying
the percentage of constituents changes the rate of setting,
heat evolution and strength characteristics.

Type A : Regular Portland Cement:

Regular Portland cement is also called as general
Portland cement, normally used for general concrete
constructions. Other types of this cement are white
cement, quick setting cement, oil well cement and other
for special uses. Average compound composition of this
cement is : 3 : 40 60%, 2 : 10 30%, 3 : 7 13%,
4 8 %, 4 2.9%, CaO : 0.8%, and MgO : 2.4%. It
hardens to full strength in 28 days.

Type B : Moderate heat of hardening

cement
This type of cement is also called as sulphate resisting
Portland cement, used in general construction exposed to
moderate sulfate attack and is meant for use when
concrete is in contact with soils and ground water or
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ENGINEERING MATERIALS

TYPES OF PORTLAND CEMENT ISI SPECIFICATIONS

THEORY

where moderate heat of hydration (Heat of hydration :heat

resulting from chemical reactions with water) is required.
Average compound composition of this cement is

3 : 46%, 2 : 29%, 3 : 6%, 4 12 %, 4 2.8%,

CaO : 0.6%, and MgO : 3%.

Type C : High early strength cement

As the name suggest this cement gives high compressive
strength in its early days i.e. this type of cement gives a
three-day compressive strength equal to the seven-day
compressive strength of types I and II .These are ground
finer than type I cement containing lime to silica ratio
higher than that of regular cement. They contain a higher
proportion of tricalcium silicate than regular Portland
cement. This cement is finely ground, quicker hardening
and quicker heat evolution is observed, therefore can be
used for road construction than regular cement. Average
percentage composition is 3 : 56%, 2 : 15%, 3 : 12%,
4 8%, 4 3.9%, CaO : 1.3%, MgO : 2.6%.

ENGINEERING MATERIALS

TYPES OF PORTLAND CEMENT ISI SPECIFICATIONS

THEORY

Type D : Low heat Portland cement :

This type of cement contains lower percentage of
tricalcium

silicate

and

tricalcium

aluminate.

The

percentage of tricalcium aluminoferrite is increased in

addition to 2 3 to reduce the percentage of tricalcium
aluminate. As 3 and 3 which are largest contributors
to heat of hydration are low , the heat is given off by the
hydration reaction at a slower rate. However, as a
consequence the strength of the concrete develops
slowly. After one or two years the strength is higher than
the other types. This type of cement is used when low
heat of hydration is required. Average percentage
composition is
3 : 28%, 2 : 49%, 3 : 5%, 4 18%, 4 3.0%,
CaO : 0.3%, MgO : 2.7%.

Type E: Sulphate resisting Portland

cement
This type of cement is better than other four types,
because it is good for sea water contact and it can
withstand to the action of sulphate. Tricalcium aluminate is
much lower than tricalcium aluminoferrite. Average
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ENGINEERING MATERIALS

TYPES OF PORTLAND CEMENT ISI SPECIFICATIONS

THEORY

percentage composition is: 3 : 38%, 2 : 45%, 3 4%,

4 9%, 4 2.7%, CaO: 0.5%, MgO : 1.9%.

ISI Specification of Portland

Cement.
As per Indian standards 269 : 1975, the ordinary Portland
cement should have following specification,
(i)

Lime saturation factor

0.73
2.8 2 + 1.2 2 3 + 0.65 2 3

0.66 to 1.02
(ii)

The ration

2 3
2 3

should not be less than 0.66

(iii) Insoluble residue should not exceed 2%

(iv) The weight of magnesia (MgO) should not exceed
6%
(v)

Total sulphur

content,

calculated

as

sulphuric

anhydride (3 ) should not exceed 2.75%

(vi) Loss on ignition should not exceed 4% ( Loss on
Ignition is a test that consists of strongly heating
("igniting") a sample of the material at a specified
temperature, allowing volatile substances to escape,
until its mass ceases to change.)
(vii) Fineness should not exceed 10% after sieving
residue (by weight) on BS 170 mesh test sieve.
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ENGINEERING MATERIALS

TYPES OF PORTLAND CEMENT ISI SPECIFICATIONS

THEORY

(viii) Setting time = Initial = 30 minutes.

Final = 10 hrs.

(ix) Heat of hydration,

(x)

After seven days

65 cal/gm.

After twenty eight days

75 cal/gm.

After three days

1600 lb/sq. inch

After seven days

2500 lb/sq. inch

After three days

300 lb/sq. inch

After seven days

375 lb/sq. inch

Compressive Strength

(xi) Tensile strength,