Understanding Key Cement Varieties and Their Properties

This document outlines various types of cement, detailing their composition, properties, and specific applications. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for selecting the appropriate cement for diverse construction needs.

BL: White Cement

BL White Cement is produced through a collection process involving special low-clinker content, iron, and specific additions, followed by milling. The additions used in its production do not alter its whiteness indices.

BC: Cement with Low Heat of Hydration

BC Cement is characterized by its low heat of hydration. Its production involves a special clinker (obtained with moderate contents of AC and SC3 and moderate fineness of grind), along with other major and minor components. This is followed by additions and grinding processes.

S: Granulated Blast Furnace Slag

Granulated Blast Furnace Slag is a latent hydraulic material, meaning it possesses hydraulic properties when properly activated. It must consist of at least two-thirds by mass containing Al2O3, along with small amounts of other oxides. It is collected by the rapid cooling of molten iron ore slag from a blast furnace.

P: Natural Pozzolan of Volcanic Origin

Natural Pozzolan of volcanic origin refers to materials or sedimentary rocks with appropriate chemical and mineralogical composition, as generally described for pozzolanic materials. In these materials, the proportion of reactive calcium oxide is negligible.

L: Limestone in Cement

Limestone, when used in proportions greater than 5% by mass as a main component, must meet specific criteria:

• Calcium carbonate content: less than or equal to 75% by mass.
• Clay content: less than or equal to 1.20 g/100g.
• Organic matter content: less than or equal to 0.50% by mass.

V: Fly Ash in Cement

Fly Ash is a fine powder consisting essentially of spherical particles with vitreous pozzolanic properties. It consists mainly of SiO2, Al2O3, and Fe2O3, with the remainder containing other oxides. The proportion of reactive CaO is less than 10% by mass, and the loss on ignition shall not exceed 7% by mass. Fly ash is obtained by electrostatic or mechanical precipitation of dust particles carried by the gases from pulverized coal-fired boilers. Note: Fly ash obtained by other methods should not be used in cement.

D: Silica Fume in Cement

Silica Fume possesses pozzolanic properties, characterized by very fine spherical particles rich in amorphous silica. If the proportion of silica fume in cement exceeds 5% by mass (as a main component), it may only be used if it fulfills the following requirements:

• Loss on ignition: less than or equal to 6.0% by mass.
• BET specific surface: greater than or equal to 15m²/g.

MR & SR: Sulfate and Seawater Resistant Cement

MR and SR Cement types are resistant to sulfates and seawater. Their production involves a special clinker with low proportions of AC3, which is the Portland cement compound most vulnerable to both sulfate and seawater attacks. This cement also includes gypsum, other major components, minor components, additions, and undergoes milling.