Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs)

Supplementary cementitious materials are soluble siliceous, aluminosiliceous, or calcium

aluminosiliceous powders used as partial replacements of clinker in cements or as partial
replacements of Portland cement in concrete mixtures. When used with Portland cement, it
contributes to the properties of the hardened concrete through hydraulic or pozzolanic activity or
both. The most commonly used SCMs are fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and
silica fume. The proper use of SCMs help produce more durable and sustainable concrete
infrastructure. Parameters to consider include appropriate levels of SCM use for given applications,
compatibility of different SCMs, and specific practices for various on-site conditions.

The incorporation of SCMs into a concrete mixture generally tends to

• Improve the workability, and to reduce the water requirement at a given consistency
• Enhance the ultimate strength of concrete and improve both the impermeability and
durability of concrete to chemical attack.
• Mitigate thermal cracking by lowering the heat of hydration.
• Reduce GHGs and air pollutants.
• Because SCMs are by-products of other industrial processes and are typically directed to
landfills, recycling these materials as raw materials for another process reduces waste.
Overall, the use of SCM contributes to enhanced sustainability in the construction industry.

*Supplementary cementitious materials: New sources, characterization, and performance insights

Maria C.G. Juengera, Ruben Snellingsb , Susan A. Bernalc
General reaction mechanisms

SCMs impact the hydration of blended or composite cements in two main ways.

• Firstly, by physical effects that also occur for inert fine powders or fillers, hence the
collective term ‘filler effect’.
• Secondly by taking part in chemical reactions to form hydration products.

This chemical reaction follows a dissolution-precipitation mechanism, the three main components
being the solid reactants, the solid hydrate reaction products, and the (pore) solution. For the SCM as
a solid reactant, two main types of chemical behaviour are distinguished. In case Ca (OH)2 is consumed
by the reaction of the SCM, then it is designated as a ‘pozzolanic reaction’. In case the reaction does
not require Ca (OH)2, or Ca (OH)2 acts mostly for pH activation, then it is termed as ‘hydraulic’ or
‘latent hydraulic reactions’, respectively. In blended cements, the pozzolanic and hydraulic reactions
of SCMs produce a restricted range of (meta)stable hydrates. The apparent paucity of products is
explained either by the predominance of clinker phase hydration or by the underlying dissolution-
precipitation mechanism shared by cement hydration reactions.

The aqueous solution, often referred to as ‘pore solution’, plays a pivotal role as both reaction medium
and reactant at the same time. This enables the application of solution thermodynamics to predict
which phases will form by minimization of Gibbs energy. Thus, the pore solution composition reflects
the balance between source and sink term, where the source term is supplied by the dissolution of
the solid reactants, and the sink term depends on the precipitation and solubility of the hydration
products. This means that for a hydration reaction to occur, the aqueous solution needs to be in
disequilibrium or undersaturated towards the reactants, and in equilibrium or supersaturated with
respect to the hydration products. Therefore, a larger difference between the solubilities of the
reactants and the products will result in an increased driving force and potential to overcome kinetic
barriers.

Common SCM reaction schemes

Generally, SCMs consist of the same chemical elements as Portland clinker phases, only their
proportioning and combination in the constituent solid phases is different. In consequence the
reaction of SCMs in blended cements results in similar hydration products as long as Ca (OH)2 is
available. Proportions and composition of the hydration products do shift significantly upon
progressive reaction of the SCM. Reaction of a mainly siliceous pozzolanic SCM such as silica fume (S)
leads to formation of C-S-H1:

S + 1.7CH + 2.3H = C1.7SH4 - (1)

For aluminosilicate SCMs, such as metakaolin (AS2), also calcium aluminate hydrates appear in the
reaction equation, the type depending on the counter-anion, for instance monosulfoaluminate in the
case of stoichiometric calcium sulfate (CS) availability:

AS2 + 6.4CH + CS + 13.6H = 2C1.7SH4 + C4ASH12 -(2)

For systems where calcium carbonate (CC) is present in the blended cement, calcium carbo-aluminate
hydrates form instead of monosulfoaluminate and the balance sulfate will precipitate as ettringite:

AS2 + 6.4CH + CS + 0.5CC + 1.5CS + 23.1H = 2C1.7H4 + 0.5C4ACH11 + 0.5C6AS3H32 -(3)

Comparing Eqs. (2) and (3), it is apparent that the combined use of Al-rich SCMs and limestone enables
to bind more water into solids, a reaction scheme which is exploited in a new generation of ternary
blended cements such as limestone – fly ash – cements, limestone – slag – cements, or limestone –
calcined clay – cements. When the SCM contains magnesium and aluminium as in the case of blast
furnace slag, hydrotalcite is formed as additional reaction product. As latent hydraulic SCM, blast
furnace slag consumes less Ca (OH)2 and can thus reach a higher degree of reaction before Ca (OH)2
is depleted. An important shift in product assemblage and pore solution composition occurs upon
depletion of Ca (OH)2. Ca (OH)2 acts as a buffer for both Ca and pH, and depletion of Ca (OH)2 by the
pozzolanic reaction therefore leads to a lowering of pH of the system, falling Ca/Si ratio in C-S-H and
formation of strätlingite as hydration product (C2ASH8) in cases of Al-rich SCMs. It should be noted
that only blended cements containing highly reactive SCMs such as metakaolin or silica fume, or very
high clinker replacement levels reach the point of Ca (OH)2 depletion. At high degrees of hydration, a
reducing availability (activity) of reactants such as Ca (OH)2 or water can no longer drive the reaction.

*Reactivity of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in cement blends Jørgen Skibsteda,

Ruben Snellingsb

1) REACTIVITY AND COST

Cost - silica fume > Metakaolin > bagasse ash  rice husk ash > fly ash

1. When it comes to cost fly ash is considered to be one of the cheapest SCM material 1 to 2
rupee per kg since it is just obtained as by product of thermal plant. Grade: F Fly Ash 40 Kg Bag,
costs 50 rupees in India

2. Ground granulated blast furnace slag cost around 3500 rupees per ton used next to flyash.

3. Material like bagasse ash and rice husk ash costs 5000 and 4000 per ton in India respectively

4. Silica fume is the costly SCM material mentioned above and cost around 17 rupees per kg

5. Volcanic ash 40 rupees per kg

6. Metakaolin is the most costly choice among the above mentioned material and cost about 22
to 60 rupees per kg

Reactivity - Metakaolin > Silica fume > Rice husk ash > Fly ash > bagasse ash (BA)
 1. Silica fume because of its chemical and physical properties, it is a very reactive pozzolan.
Concrete containing silica fume can have very high strength and can be very durable. Because
of its fine particles, large surface area, and the high SiO2 content, silica fume is a
very reactive pozzolan when used in concrete.

2. The particle size of metakaolin is smaller than cement particles, but not as fine as silica fume.

3. Finer particles like bagasse ash and rice husk ash reacts much more faster than fly ash and
GGBF

4. Next comes ground granulated blast furnace which is also slow in reacting pozzolanic reaction

5. Since fly ash has the lesser surface are for given volume the reactivity is very slow when
compared to other mineral admixtures. specific surface area may range from 170 to 1000 m2
/kg

2)HYDRATION MECHANISMS

FLY ASH

Fly ash (FA), a by-product of thermal power industry. Primary mechanisms of the impact of fly ash on
concrete refer to grain morphology, activity (mainly pozzolanic) and the filling effect. Fly ash
morphology depends on the coal combustion temperature, chemical composition and the post-
combustion cooling rate (method). The spherical shape of FA grains with a diameter of 1-100 μm,
mainly composed of glassy phase, allows obtaining a more liquid concrete mix with the same or less
water. Concrete mix with the FA addition shows better workability due to the increased content of
fine fraction in the concrete composition (cement, ash) owing to the difference in specific density of
fly ash (2.0-2.5 g/ cm3) in relation to cement density (3.0-3.2 g/cm3).

A characteristic feature of the ultrafine ash grains is the high content of glassy phase, proved by the
low intensity of reflections from the crystalline phases on the diffractograms. The chemical and phase
composition of fly ash has an effect on the rheological properties of a concrete mix. High calcium fly
ash (HCFA) is composed of active ingredients (CaO free, aluminates and calcium silicates), which in a
short time after mixing with water, participate in the hydration process and affect the rheology of
concrete mixes. The higher the content of active compounds in HCFA, the higher the water demand.
*Fly ash and slag Zbigniew Giergiczny

Pozzolanic reaction of fly ash

1.5CH+S =C1.5SH1.5

A +4CH +9H =C4AH13

A+CSH2+3CH +7H =C4SH12

SILICA FUME

Silica fume is a by-product from the production of elemental silicon and its alloys. Silica fume is
typically used at replacement levels of 5–10% in high performance concrete to improve strength and
durability. It not only can react with calcium hydroxide to produce C–S–H, but also modifies the
microstructure of the cement paste due to its fine particle size. Mixes with silica fume is found to have
increased C–S–H mean chain length compared to mixes without silica fume. An acceleration of the
cement reaction at early age in the presence of silica fume is noticed and a lower Ca/Si of the C–S–H
in mixes with silica fume is estimated.

Pozzolanic reaction of SF

As a pozzolana, SF reacts with calcium hydroxide (CH) liberated by the hydrolysis of C3S and C2S of
Portland cement. The CH constitutes about 20 –25% of the volume of the hydration products and CH
crystals grow in solution. Due to their morphology, they are relatively weak, brittle and not
cementitious. Cracks can easily propagate through regions populated by CH crystals, especially at the
aggregate cement paste matrix interface. The percentage of CH consumed by SF is represented as an
index of the pozzolanic activity of SF. It has been reported that due to high pozzolanic action of SF,
about 25% of SF consumes most of the liberated Ca(OH)2 at about 28 days. The reaction process is
given by the following equations:

2C3S + 6H = C3S2H3 +3CH

2C2S+ 4H =C3S2H3 + CH, On addition of Silica

3CH + 2S= C3S2H3

There is a clear enhancement of the heat released during the first 10 h of hydration when 10% of the
cement is replaced by silica fume. The acceleration period is highly impacted and shows a higher heat
flow rate. This reflects the acceleration of the cement reaction at early age due to the important and
well-known filler effect of silica fume.

Studies have confirmed the impact of silica fume on hydration kinetics. There is an enhancement of
the cement reaction at early age due to the small size and high surface area of the silica fume which
increases the C–S–H nucleation. However, the evolution of the different water populations follows a
very similar pattern in the system with silica fume to those without, indicating no fundamental change
in the underlying mechanisms. Several phenomena occur simultaneously at 1 day.

In addition to the plateau of the gel pore water intensity, there is an important change in the rate of
consumption of capillary water. This moment coincides with the time at which the capillary pore size
reaches 8 nm, the interhydrate specific size. This behaviour, observed previously for the plain white
cement, suggests at this stage that the hydration processes in cement paste are affected by the lack
of water filled space for C–S–H growth. The changes in the C–S–H due to the pozzolanic reaction also
confirm previous findings of a decrease in the Ca/ (Si + Al) ratio of the C–S–H.

BAGASSE ASH

In sugar cane plants, boilers are usually fired by pure bagasse, which generate SCBA in an amount
around 0.3% of the total mass of processed sugar cane. Due to burning conditions of bagasse and the
presence of contaminants, SCBA with several different chemical compositions can be found. In
general, silica (SiO2) – present in an amorphous form or in a variety of crystalline polymorphs – is the
main component of SCBA. With proper burning, SCBA with predominantly amorphous silica can be
produced. However, most SCBA is produced from industrial burning where partially crystalline silica-
based SCBA is produced through of the crystallization of the original hydrated silica (SiO2·nH2O) in
crystalline forms (normally cristobalite) or contamination of SCBA with quartz from soil.

Early-stage of hydration kinetics investigated by isothermal calorimetry show that the cumulative heat
released in pastes containing SCBA is intermediate between those observed for the RHA and quartz
pastes. Moreover, the both the cumulative heat released and the time of acceleration (associated with
the tricalcium silicate reaction) expressively increases with decreasing in particle size of SCBA.

RICE HUSK

Rice husk ash (hereafter RHA), is the solid residue derived from burning rice husks. In many cases –
depending on the nature of husks and burning/cooling conditions – the total silica of RHA exceeds
90%. At lower temperatures the nature of RHA silica is predominantly amorphous, thus reactive under
alkaline conditions like the ones created in the hydrating cement paste. By heating at higher than
approximately 700 °C, crystallization of the ash occurs from amorphous SiO2 to cristobalite or
tridymite. When the husk is subjected to the typical thermal treatment in the rice industry – without
modifications of the burning and/or cooling conditions – it is possible that the derived ash will be
enriched in residual carbon and exhibit different mineralogy and lower glassy phase, factors
compromising its reactivity, grindability and ultimately its applicability

2C3S + 6H = C3S2H3 +3CH

2C2S+ 4H =C3S2H3 + CH

In presence of RHA that contains 68% SiO2, the SiO2 will combine with the released Ca (OH)2.

2SiO2 + 3CH = C3S2H3, This means that the Ca(OH)2 is being depleted from the system.

RHA activity is governed by its content in amorphous silica and size. Best results were achieved when
the more reactive RHA was ground to 7000 cm2 /g. Under similar fineness level, less reactive ash failed
to provide similar strength (in mortar and concrete) for a good range of cement replacement levels
(10–30% b.w.).

Supplementary grinding increases the percentage of RHA that can be rated equal to Portland cement.
Its beneficial effect is primarily located at 28 days, while it remains marginal at early ages.

A good ability of RHA to consume available lime is recorded; this is comparable or even higher than
the respective ability of fly ash (high or low calcium ones) but lower than very active by-products such
as spent catalyst from oil cracking processes. Part of this ability should be attributed to its relatively
quick reaction rate (approximately 55% after 90 days), a result of its high amorphousness.

GRANULATED BLAST FURNACE SLAG

GBFS is formed by melting the waste rock from iron ore (mainly silicon and aluminium compounds) in
the temperature of 1300-1600 °C, with calcium and magnesium compounds from the composition of
fluxes (limestone, dolomite) and residues from the combustion of coke. Chemical and physical
properties (including activity) of GBFS depend on the type of raw material used (ore, fluxes, fuel) and
the blast furnace process. The cooling conditions of the slag melt play an important role in shaping
the GBFS properties. If the cooling is carried out fast enough, usually by granulating with a water
stream or dry, the glass crystallization process may not take place and then, the slag becomes an
overcooled liquid.

GBFS usually contains 30 -50% of CaO, 28 - 40% of SiO2, 6 -24% of Al2O3 and 1- 18% of MgO. In a
rapidly cooled slag, the glassy phase dominates, with small inclusions, mainly of melilite. The process
of dissolving glass is of fundamental importance in the slag hydration process, especially in the initial
period. The GGBFS reaction rate with water is limited. A hardly permeable layer of hydrated
aluminosilicates with calcium deficiencies is very quickly formed on the surface of the slag grains and
slows down the further reaction. In the industrial production of concrete, Ca(OH)2 from the hydration
of Portland clinker silicate phases, acts as an activator. The alkaline materials can include other
products, for example: CaO, Ca(OH)2 and Na-based additives, reactive MgO and Ba(OH)2.

METAKAOLIN

When clay containing kaolinite is calcined, metakaolin is formed which is essentially an amorphous
alumino silicate (Al2Si2O7), this can react with calcium hydroxide as a conventional pozzolan to give
C-(A)-S-H and aluminate hydrates. In addition, the alumina can react with the limestone to produce
carbo-aluminate hydrates . All these products fill space and contribute to the development of
properties (e.g. strength and durability)

Metakaolin is an aluminosilicate mineral product, produced in volumes exceeding several million

tones per annum worldwide by thermal transformation of kaolinite, which is mined in many parts of
the world. Calcination of kaolinite at between 550-750°C dehydrates and amorphizes its crystalline
structure, resulting in a material which lacks long-range order. The chemical and structural strain
induced by thermal processing result in an aluminosilicate material which is sufficiently reactive to
provide effective pozzolanic activity

CALCINED CLAYS

There is a growing interest in utilizing calcined clays rather than industrial by-products as SCMs, as
these materials are highly available all over the world and present more homogeneous physico-
chemical properties compared with by-products, simplifying the process of quality control of the
finished cement As calcination demands the utilization of fuels to reach high temperatures to enhance
the reactivity of the clays, it is imperative to optimize the time– temperature profile of the calcination
process, so that the best cost-benefit balance is obtained. Clay minerals can be converted into
pozzolanic SCMs by either rotary kiln or flash calcination.
3.CHARECTERIZATION OF SCM

*Supplementary cementitious materials: New sources, characterization, and performance insights

Maria C.G. Juengera,⁎ , Ruben Snellingsb , Susan A. Bernalc

4.TYPES OF CEMENT

Cement is mainly classified into two categories depending on the hardening and setting mechanism.
These are-

1. Hydraulic Cement

2. Non-hydraulic Cement

Along with these main types, depending on the composition and characteristics there are many types
of cement. Followings are the other cement types:

1. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)

2. Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)

3. Rapid Hardening Cement

4. Quick Setting Cement

5. Low Heat Cement

6. Sulphate Resisting Cement

 7. Blast Furnace Cement

8. High Alumina Cement

9. White Cement

10. Colored Cement

11. Air Entraining Cement

12. Expansive Cement

13. Hydrophobic Cement

Brief descriptions of these cement types with their uses are given below.

Hydraulic Cement

As the name indicates, hydraulic cement is those which harden by hydration in the presence of
water. Limestone, clay, and gypsum are the main raw material to produce non-hydraulic cement. This
raw material is burned at a very high temperature to manufacture Hydraulic Cement.

Hydraulic cement (cement that not only hardens by reacting with water but also forms a water-
resistant product) produced by pulverizing clinkers which consist essentially of hydraulic calcium
silicates, usually containing one or more of the forms of calcium sulfate as an inter ground addition.

Non-Hydraulic Cement

The non-hydraulic cement doesn't require water to get harden. It gets with the help of carbon dioxide
(CO2) from the air. This type of cement needs dry conditions to harden. Lime, gypsum plasters, and
oxychloride are the required raw material to produce non-hydraulic cement. Example: slaked lime is
a non-hydraulic cement.

Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)

In usual construction work, Ordinary Portland Cement is widely used.

Portland cement clinker is a hydraulic material which shall consist of at least two-thirds by mass of
calcium silicates, (3 CaO·SiO2, and 2 CaO·SiO2), the remainder consisting of aluminium- and iron-
containing clinker phases and other compounds. The ratio of CaO to SiO2 shall not be less than 2.0.
The magnesium oxide content (MgO) shall not exceed 5.0% by mass.

The composition of Ordinary Portland Cement:

• Argillaceous or silicates of alumina (clay and shale)

• Calcareous or calcium carbonate (limestone, chalk, and marl)

Uses of Ordinary Portland Cement

• It is used for general construction purposes.

• It is also used in most of the masonry works.

Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)

Pozzolans are natural or synthetic materials that contain silica in reactive forms. It reacts with calcium
hydroxide generated by hydrating cement to form additional cementations materials when it is finely
divided. The composition of Portland Pozzolana Cement:

• OPC clinker

• Gypsum

• Pozzolanic Materials (Fly ash, volcanic ash, and Calcined clay or silica fumes.)

Uses of Portland Pozzolana Cement

• PPC is usually used in hydraulic structures, marine structures, construction near the seashore,
dam construction, etc.

• It is also used in pre-stressed and post-tensioned concrete members.

• As it gives a better surface finish, it is used in decorative and art structures.

• It is also used in the manufacture of precast sewage pipes.

Rapid Hardening Cement

When finely grounded Tri-calcium silicate (C3S) is present in OPC with higher content, it gains strength
more quickly than OPC. This type of OPC is called Rapid Hardening Cement. It’s initial Setting Time 30
minutes and Final Setting Time 600 minutes.

Uses of Rapid Hardening Cement

• Rapid hardening cement is mostly used where rapid construction is needed like the
construction of pavement.

• It also gives high strength.

We have published three articles on rapid hardening cement on our website. In case you want to learn
more about RHC, you can visit the following link.

• Rapid Hardening Cement - All You Need to Know

• Uses of Rapid Hardening Cement

• Advantages & Disadvantages of Rapid Hardening Cement

Quick Setting Cement

Quick setting cement is the cement which sets in a very short time. The initial setting time is 5 minutes
and the final setting time is 30 minutes. The composition of Quick Setting Cement:

• Clinker

• Aluminum sulfate (1% to 3% by weight of clinker)

• The aluminum sulfate increases the hydration rate of silicate.

Uses of Quick Setting Cement

 • It is used in underwater construction.

• It is also used in rainy & cold weather conditions.

• It is used a higher temperature where water evaporates easily.

• Used for anchoring or rock bolt mining and tunneling

Low Heat Cement

It is a spatial type of cement which produces low heat of hydration during the setting. Some chemical
composition of Ordinary Portland Cement is modified to reduce the heat of hydration. The chemical
composition of low heat cement:

• A low percentage (5%) of tricalcium aluminate (C3A)

• A higher percentage (46%) of declaiming silicate (C2S).

Uses of Low Heat Cement

• It is used for the construction of dam’s large footing, large raft slabs, and wind turbine plinths.

• It is also used for the construction of chemical plants.

Sulphate Resisting Cement

Sulfate resisting cement is used to resist sulfate attacks in concrete. Due to the lower percentage
of Tricalcium aluminate, the production of calcium sulpho-aluminates gets reduced.

Uses of Sulphates resisting Cement

• Construction in contact with soils or groundwater having more than 0.2% or 0.3 % g/l sulfate
salts respectively.

• Concrete surfaces subjected to alternate wetting and drying such as bridge piers, concrete
surface in the tidal zone, apron, Building near the seacoast.

• Effluent treatment plans, Chimney, Chemical industries, water storage, sumps, drainage
works, Cooling towers, Coastal protective works such as sea walls, breakwaters, tetrapods,
etc.

Blast Furnace Cement

Portland cement clinker and granulated blast furnace slag are intergraded to make blast furnace
cement. A maximum of 65 percent of the mixture could be comprised of blast furnace slag.

Uses of Blast Furnace Cement

• It is highly sulfate resistant

• Frequently used in seawater construction.

High Alumina Cement

High Alumina cement is obtained by mixing calcining bauxite (it’s an aluminum ore) and ordinary lime
with clinker during the manufacture of OPC. In which the total amount of alumina content should not
be lesser than 32% and it should maintain the ratio by weight of alumina to the lime between 0.85 to
1.30.
Uses of High Alumina Cement

• It is used where concrete structures are subjected to high temperatures like workshops,
refractory, foundries, etc.

• It also used where the concrete is subjected to frost and acidic action.

White Cement

White cement is quite similar to Ordinary Portland Cement except for color. Amounts of iron oxide
and manganese oxide are low in White Cement. It is expensive then OPC so not economical for
ordinary work.

Uses of White Cement

• It is usually used in decorative work.

• It can also use for traffic barriers, tile grouts, swimming pools, roof tiles patching materials,
and terrazzo surfaces.

Read More about White Cement:

• What is White Portland Cement?

• Uses of White Portland Cement

Colored Cement

To make 5 to 10 percent of suitable pigments are ground with OPC. Types of pigments are selected
according to the desired color.

Uses of Colored Cement

• Colored cement is used for different decorative work.

Air Entraining Cement

It is seen that entrainment of air or formation of gas bubbles while applying cement increases
resistance to frost action, fire, scaling, and other similar defects. Air-entraining cement is a special
type of cement which entrains tinny air bubbles in concrete.

It is produced by grinding minute air entertaining materials with clinker by adding some resinous
materials e.g. vinsol resin to ordinary portland cement.

When the water in concrete gets frizzed due to low temperature, it expands. When air-entraining
cement, the air voids in concrete provides space for water to expand without cracking concrete. But
this type of cement does not provide high strength in concrete.

Uses of Air-Entraining Cement

• Especially it is used in areas where the temperature is very low.

• It also resists the Sulphate attack.

• It is used where the de-icing chemical is used.

Expansive Cement

In the hydration process, the expansive cement expands its volume. It can be possible to overcome
shrinkage loss by using expansive cement.

There are three types of expansive cement:

1. K Type expansive cement

2. M Type expansive cement

3. S Type expansive cement

K Type expansive cement

Raw materials of these types of cement

• Portland cement

• Anhydrous tetracalcium trialuminate sulfate (C4A3S)

• Calcium sulfate (CaSO4)

• Lime (CaO).

M Type Expansive Cement

Raw materials of these types of cement

1. Portland cement clinkers

2. Calcium sulfate.

S Type Expansive Cement

Raw materials of these types of cement

1. Portland cement clinkers

2. Calcium sulfate (High amount)

• Tricalcium aluminate (C3A) (High amount)

Uses of Expansive cement

• It is used in the construction of the pre-stressed concrete component.

• It is also used for sealing joints and grouting anchor bolt.

• In the construction of different hydraulic structures, this type of cement is used.

Hydrophobic Cement

To resist the hydration process in the transportation or storage stage, clinkers are ground with water
repellent film substance such as Oleic Acid or Stearic Acid. These chemicals form a layer on the cement
particle and do not allow water to mix and start the hydration process. When cement and aggregate
are thoroughly mixed in the mixer, protective layers break and start normal hydration with some air-
entrainment which increases workability.

Uses of Hydrophobic Cement

 • Usually, it is used in the construction of water structures such as dams, spillways, or other
submerged structures.

• It is also used in the construction of underground structures like tunnel etc

Masonry cement

Masonry cement is obtained by intergrading a mixture of Portland cement clinker with inert materials
(non-pozzolanic), such as limestone.

Conglomerates, dolomite, limestone and gypsum, and air-entraining plasticizer in suitable

proportions. Masonry cement is slow hardening, has high workability and high water retentivity that
makes it especially suitable for masonry work.

Oil well cement

Oil-well cement is a special purpose cement for sealing the space between steel casing and
sedimentary rock strata by pumping slurry in the oil-well which is drilled for the search of oil. This
cement prevents the escape of oil or gas from the oil-well. This cement also prevents from sulphur
gases or water containing dissolved salts. This all properties of oil-well cement is obtained by adding
the compound composition of cement with retarder agents like starches or cellulose products or acids.

At the condition of high pressure and temperature in sealing water and gas pockets, and setting casing
during the drilling and repairing of oil wells Hydraulic cement is suitable to use, often contains
retarders to meet the requirements of such use in addition to coarser grinding and/or
reduced tricalcium aluminate (C3A) content of clinker.

Slurries of such cement have to remain pumpable at high-temperature and pressures for a sufficient
length of time then harden very rapidly. So this is a very useful type of cement.