Types of Cement – Uses and Composition of Various Types of Cements

 There are various types of cement used in construction works for various purposes. Thus, it is important to understand properties of each types of cement and their uses.

Types of Cement, their Composition and Uses

The following are the types of cement that are in practice:

1. Rapid Hardening Cement
2. Quick setting cement
3. Low Heat Cement
4. Sulphates resisting cement
5. Blast Furnace Slag Cement
6. High Alumina Cement
7. White Cement
8. Coloured cement
9. Pozzolanic Cement
10. Air Entraining Cement
11. Hydrographic cement

Table below shows different types of cement, their composition and uses:

Types of Cement	Composition	Purpose
Rapid Hardening Cement	Increased Lime content	Attains high strength in early days it is used in concrete where form work are removed at an early stage.
Quick setting cement	Small percentage of aluminium sulphate as an accelerator and reducing percentage of Gypsum with fine grinding	Used in works is to be completed in very short period and concreting in static and running water
Low Heat Cement	Manufactured by reducing tricalcium aluminate	It is used in massive concrete construction like gravity dams
Sulphates resisting Cement	It is prepared by maintaining the percentage of tricalcium aluminate below 6% which increases power against sulphates	It is used in construction exposed to severe sulphate action by water and soil in places like canals linings, culverts, retaining walls, siphons etc.,
Blast Furnace Slag Cement	It is obtained by grinding the clinkers with about 60% slag and resembles more or less in properties of Portland cement	It can used for works economic considerations is predominant.
High Alumina Cement	It is obtained by melting mixture of bauxite and lime and grinding with the clinker it is rapid hardening cement with initial and final setting time of about 3.5 and 5 hours respectively	It is used in works where concrete is subjected to high temperatures, frost, and acidic action.
White Cement	It is prepared from raw materials free from Iron oxide.	It is more costly and is used for architectural purposes such as precast curtain wall and facing panels, terrazzo surface etc.,
Coloured cement	It is produced by mixing mineral pigments with ordinary cement.	They are widely used for decorative works in floors
Pozzolanic Cement	It is prepared by grinding pozzolanic clinker with Portland cement	It is used in marine structures, sewage works, sewage works and for laying concrete under water such as bridges, piers, dams etc.,
Air Entraining Cement	It is produced by adding indigenous air entraining agents such as resins, glues, sodium salts of Sulphates etc during the grinding of clinker.	This type of cement is specially suited to improve the workability with smaller water cement ratio and to improve frost resistance of concrete.
Hydrographic cement	It is prepared by mixing water repelling chemicals	This cement has high workability and strength