Cement is made by heating limestone (calcium carbonate) with small quantities of other

materials (such as clay) to 1450°C in a kiln. The resulting hard substance, called 'clinker', is then
ground with a small amount of gypsum into a powder to make 'Cement', the most commonly
used type of cement. This cement is called Ordinary Portland Cement

Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is the most common cement used in general concrete
construction when there is no exposure to sulphates in the soil or groundwater.

Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general use around the world, used as a
basic ingredient of concrete, mortar, stucco, and most non-specialty grout. It was developed from
other types of hydraulic lime in England in the mid-19th century and usually originates from
limestone.

To retard the faster setting time of cement resulted from (C3A) compound a percentage of raw
gypsum (selenite) is added during the grinding of the clinker.

OPC is environment friendly as well as economical.

Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC-53, OPC-43, OPC-33).

The 43 grade OPC is the most popular general-purpose cement in India. The OPC can be used
for following applications:

 General Civil Engineering construction work

 RCC works (preferably where grade of concrete is up to M-30)
 Pre-cast items such as blocks, tiles, pipes etc.
 Asbestos products such as sheets and pipes
 Non-structural works such as plastering, flooring etc.

Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)

The Portland Pozzolana Cement is a kind of Blended Cement which is produced by either inter
grinding of OPC clinker along with gypsum and pozzolanic materials in certain proportions or
grinding the OPC clinker, gypsum and Pozzolanic materials separately and thoroughly blending
them in certain proportions.

Portland Pozzolana Cement also commonly known as PPC cement. These types of cement are
manufactured by using pozzolanic materials as one of the main ingredient. The percentage of
pozzolanic material used in the preparation should be between 10 to 30. If the percentage is
exceeded, the strength of cement is reduced.

Pozzolana is a natural or artificial material containing silica in a reactive form. It may be further
discussed as siliceous or siliceous and aluminous material which in itself possesses little, or no
cementitious properties but will in finely divided form and in the presence of moisture,
chemically react with calcium hydroxide at ordinary temperature to form compounds possessing
cementitious properties. It is essential that pozzolana be in a finely divided state as it is only then
that silica can combine with calcium hydroxide (liberated by the hydrating Portland Cement) in
the presence of water to form stable calcium silicates which have cementitious properties.

The pozzolanic materials commonly used are:

 **Volcanic ash
 Calcined clay
 **Fly ash
 silica fume
Sources and Types of Pozzolanic Material
Definition
A simple everyday definition of 'pozzolan' could be 'a finely
powdered material which can be added to lime mortar (or to
Portland cement mortar) to increase durability. A more formal
definition is given by ASTMC618-84 as 'a siliceous or siliceous
and aluminous material which, in itself, possesses little or no
cementitious value but which will, in finely divided form in the
presence of moisture, react chemically with calcium hydroxide at
ordinary temperature to form compounds possessing cementitious
properties'

Pozzolanic materials can be divided into the categories listed

below, according to their origin and properties.

Natural, Very Finely Divided, Highly Reactive

Materials of Volcanic Origin:

These materials are formed from a combination of minerals,

(mainly consisting of silica and alumina with smaller and variable
quantities of other minerals containing calcium, magnesium, iron,
potassium, and sodium), ejected from volcanoes in the form of
very finely divided vitreous material. Other vitreous volcanic
material, such as basalt, may have mild pozzolanic properties if
very finely ground.
These natural pozzolans were widely used in 19th century
engineering works in conjunction with natural hydraulic limes.
They were recognized as being particularly appropriate for marine
engineering and other works in difficult wet conditions, and for
civil engineering works generally. Well known sources include
puozzolana from Puozzoli in Italy, volvic pozzolan from South-
east France, trass from the Rhineland and tuff from the Aegean
islands. Crushed pumice was also used.

Low Temperature Calcined Clay Products In Various

Forms

Pozzolanic additives derived from lightly fired and finely crushed

clay products, such as clay tile or brick, were used by the Romans
and combinations of non-hydraulic lime and low temperature
brick dusts have been used over a long period of time. Similar
specifications are successfully employed in modern conservation
practice where additional set and durability are required without
seriously reducing the permeability and flexibility of the mortar.

Bodies such as English Heritage have promoted the use,

particularly for conservation work, of low temperature clay
pozzolans in non-hydraulic mortars. Current advice is that the
material should be derived from clay fired at temperatures below
950 °C, and ground to a range of particle sizes between 38 and
600 microns.Modern sources of potentially suitable material
include reject bricks and tiles from traditional producers, which
can be crushed in a roller pan mill. Some manufacturers also
produce low temperature purpose-made dusts for sale as
pozzolans.

Clay or Kaolin Products Specifically Manufactured as

Pozzolans

These are produced primarily for use with Portland cement and all
currently available technical and performance data relates to their
use in that context. These materials are highly reactive and
combine readily with calcium hydroxide to form calcium silicate
hydrates and calcium alumino-silicate hydrates. Their effect on
the performance and characteristics of lime mortars is not
currently known but, subject to adequate investigation and trials, it
is possible that their use could be extended into this field.

Also falling into the category of fired clays is the material known
as HTI (high temperature insulation) powder. This was widely
specified in the 1980s but has now largely been superseded by
lower temperature materials which are thought to be more
consistent in their performance.

Mineral Slag:

Furnace slag is a vitrified material, produced as a by-product of

processes such as smelting, and requires grinding to convert it to a
reactive material. It contains silica, alumina, lime and other
minerals in various proportions and, in modern practice, is more
commonly used as an additive in Portland cement concretes.
Historically, forge scale and iron-rich slag, known as minion, were
also used.
Ashes of Organic Origin:

Coal cinders generally have an acceptable balance of silica and

alumina, and have been used historically as a pozzolanic additive,
but their physical structure tends to weaken the mortar and to
absorb excessive water. Coal ash is widely used, in the form of
PFA (pulverised fuel ash) as an additive to cementitious mortars
and in lime-based grouts. The use of coal-based products carries a
risk of sulphate contamination and the materials should always be
selected from low sulphate coals. The residue of fuels from lime
burning, whether from coal-, coke-, or wood-fired kilns, known as
lime-ash, is well known historically as a pozzolan and is still
available. Other vegetable ashes, such as rice husk ash, are used as
pozzolans in other parts of the world. Bone ash is also known to
have been used.

Certain Natural Sands and Crushed Rock Products:

Certain types of sand, such as argillaceous (clayey) sands

containing high proportions of schist, basalt, feldspar and mica,
can have mildly pozzolanic properties. Whilst these sands are not
generally specified for modern lime-based mortars it may be
useful to recognize that, historically, in certain localities, their use
could have influenced the nature of local lime mortars. Finely
crushed rock products from sources containing an appropriate
balance of minerals may also produce a mild pozzolanic effect.
Traditionally, mortars were often produced using techniques
which brought the sand into contact with hot slaking lime, and it is
possible that this heat would have encouraged any potential for a
mild pozzolanic reaction between sand and lime.