Scribd
Upload
508 views

Composition of Cement: Ingredient Percentage in Cement

The document summarizes the key ingredients of cement and their functions. It discusses the typical percentage composition of lime, silica, alumina, magnesia, iron oxide, calcium sulfate, sulfur trioxide, and alkalines in cement. It then explains the role of each ingredient and how they impact the properties and strength of cement. Excess of certain ingredients like magnesia and sulfur trioxide can reduce the strength of cement. The document also discusses the chemical reactions of sulfuric acid with different cement components like magnesia and alkalines.

Uploaded by

Devinder Chawla
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
508 views

Composition of Cement: Ingredient Percentage in Cement

The document summarizes the key ingredients of cement and their functions. It discusses the typical percentage composition of lime, silica, alumina, magnesia, iron oxide, calcium sulfate, sulfur trioxide, and alkalines in cement. It then explains the role of each ingredient and how they impact the properties and strength of cement. Excess of certain ingredients like magnesia and sulfur trioxide can reduce the strength of cement. The document also discusses the chemical reactions of sulfuric acid with different cement components like magnesia and alkalines.

Uploaded by

Devinder Chawla
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Composition of Cement

There are eight major ingredients of cement. The general percentage of these ingredients
in cement is given below:

Ingredient Percentage in
cement
Lime 60-65
Silica 17-25
Alumina 3-8
Magnesia 1-3
Iron oxide 0.5-6
Calcium Sulphate 0.1-0.5
Sulphur Trioxide 1-3
Alkaline 0-1

Functions of Cement Ingredients


The main features of these cement ingredients along with their functions and usefulness
or harmfulness are given below:

1. Lime: Lime is calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide.

o Presence of lime in a sufficient quantity is required to form silicates and


aluminates of calcium.
o Deficiency in lime reduces the strength of property to the cement.
o Deficiency in lime causes cement to set quickly.
o Excess lime makes cement unsound.
o Excessive presence of lime cause cement to expand and disintegrate.
2. Silica:Silicon dioxide is known as silica, chemical formula SiO2.
o Sufficient quantity of silica should be present in cement to dicalcium and
tricalcium silicate.
o Silica imparts strength to cement.
o Silica usually presents to the extent of about 30 percent cement.
3. Alumina: Alumina is Aluminium oxide. The chemical formula is Al2O3.
o Alumina imparts quick setting property to the cement.
o Clinkering temperature is lowered by the presence of the requisite quantity
of alumina.
o Excess alumina weakens the cement.
4. Magnesia: Magnesium Oxide. Chemical formula is MgO.
o Magnesia should not be present more than 2% in cement.
o Excess magnesia will reduce the strength of the cement.
5. Iron oxide: Chemical formula is Fe2O3.
o Iron oxide imparts color to cement.
o It acts as a flux.
o At a very high temperature, it imparts into the chemical reaction with
calcium and aluminum to form tricalcium alumino-ferrite.
o Tricalcium alumino-ferrite imparts hardness and strength to cement.
6. Calcium Sulfate: Chemical formula is CaSO4
o This is present in cement in the form of gypsum(CaSO4.2H2O)
o It slows down or retards the setting action of cement.
7. Sulfur Trioxide: Chemical formula is SO3
o Should not be present more than 2%.
o Excess Sulfur Trioxide causes cement to unsound.
8. Alkaline:

Alkalines are Basic salts of Alkali metals such as Sodium(Na) and Potassium(K) which
are in form of NaOH & KOH

o
o Should not be present more than 1%.
o Excess Alkaline matter causes efflorescence.

INTERACTION OF H2SO4 WITH DIFFERENT COMPONENT OF CEMENT

Magnesia is in form of MgO. Magnesium oxide react with sulfuric acid


MgO + H2SO4 → MgSO4 + H2O

MgSO4.7H2O + Ca(OH)2 CaSO4.2H2O+Mg(OH)2 + 5.H2O

Worst Effect: Attack to CSH besides C3A & Ca(OH)2

3CaO.2SiO2.aq + MgSO4.7H2O CaSO4.2H2O +Mg(OH)2 + SiO2.aq

Alkalines are Basic salts of Alkali metals such as Sodium(Na) and Potassium(K) which are in
form of NaOH & KOH

NaOH + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + H2O

Na2SO4.10H2O + Ca(OH)2 CaSO4.2H2O + 2NaOH + 8.H2O


Gypsum

2(3CaO.Al2O3.12H2O) + 3Na2SO4 . 10H2O


3CaO.AL2O3.3CaSO4.31H2O+ 2Al(OH)3 + 6NaOH + 17H2O

You might also like