Types of Cement and Their Uses in Construction

Types of Cement and Their Use:

Mainly cement is classified into two categories based on setting time and hardening; those categories and uses are written below:

Name of the Cement	Uses
#1. Hydraulic Cement:	Heavy construction places. Bridges and culverts. Walls, floor, stairways. Footing and foundations. An abutment wall. In retaining wall, seal wall. Tower substructure construction. Sewer construction. Monolithic concrete houses and concrete block houses. Dam construction. Water pipe, reservoir, and electric duct construction. Irrigation ditch, filter construction. Road foundation, road paving, sidewalks, and tunnel construction. Railroad and rail sleeper construction. Post, milestone, and electric pole construction. Foundation, columns, and pillars. Prison cells and chimneys. Foundation repair, basement crack, and leak repair.
#2. Non-Hydraulic Cement:	Used for brickwork, cement work and stonework. It does not use underwater because the reaction is very slow; that’s why it’s only used on the upper surface of the water.

There are also thirteen different types of cement-based on their activities and composition; those name and uses are:

Name of the Cement	Uses
#3. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC):	The main use of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is in masonry work. The another important use of ordinary Portland cement is in construction site.
#4. Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC):	Portland pozzolana cement is used in prestressed and posts tensioning structural material. The main uses of Portland pozzolana cement are marine construction, hydraulic structures, dam construction, seashore construction, etc. It is also used to construct precast sewer pipes. PPC cement gives a neat and smooth finish, so it’s decorative and attractive.
#5. Rapid Hardening Cement:	The use of Rapid Hardening cement is in Road pavement construction, where you need to finish your work as soon as possible. The another main factor of using rapid hardening cement is its high strength.
#6. Quick Setting Cement:	Quick hardening cement is good to use in rainy and cold water condition. Quick hardening cement is mainly used in underwater condition. Quick hardening cement is used in higher temperature condition, where water evaporates easily. This type of cement is mainly used in rock ball mining and tunnelling.
#7. Low Heat Cement:	Low heat cement is that type of cement which is used in the footing in dam construction, wind turbine plinth construction, raft slab construction, etc. Low heat cement is also used in chemical plant construction.
#8. Sulphate Resisting Cement:	This type of cement is used in building piers, building near the seacoast, concrete surface in the tidal zone, etc. Sulphate resisting cement is used in effluent treatment plants, chimneys, chemical plants, water storage, cooling tower, drainage works, etc.
#9. Blast Furnace Cement:	Blast furnace cement is a high sulphate resisting material and mainly used in seawater construction.
#10. High Alumina Cement:	High alumina cement is mainly used in workshops and foundries. This type is cement is good to resist acid and frost reaction.
#11. White Cement:	White cement is mainly used for decorative purpose. The other uses of white cement are swimming pools, traffic boundaries, roof tile setting material, tile grouts, etc.
#12. Coloured Cement:	Coloured cement is that type of cement that is used in different types of decorative purposes.
#13. Air Entraining Cement:	Air entraining cement is mainly used in the low-temperature region, and it’s also good to resist sulphate attacks. This type of cement is used for the chemical de-icing purpose.
#14. Expansive Cement: K type expensive cement M type expensive cement S type expensive cement	This type of cement is mainly used in prestressed concrete construction. Expansive cement is also used in sealing joints and other grouting purposes.
#15. Hydrophobic Cement:	Hydrophobic cement is mainly used in submerged structures like dams, spillways, etc. This type of cement is also used in underground tunnels.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Types of Cement and Their Uses

What are the main categories of cement based on setting time and hardening?

Cement is mainly classified into two categories based on setting time and hardening:

Hydraulic Cement
Non-Hydraulic Cement

What are the primary uses of Hydraulic Cement?

Hydraulic Cement is used in heavy construction projects such as bridges, culverts, walls, floors, stairways, footings, foundations, abutment walls, retaining walls, seal walls, tower substructures, sewer constructions, monolithic concrete houses, dams, water pipes, reservoirs, electric ducts, irrigation ditches, road foundations, paving, tunnels, railroads, rail sleepers, posts, milestones, electric poles, foundations, columns, pillars, prison cells, chimneys, foundation repairs, basement cracks, and leak repairs.

Where is Non-Hydraulic Cement typically used?

Non-Hydraulic Cement is used for brickwork, cement work, and stonework. It is not suitable for underwater applications due to its slow reaction time and is typically used above the water’s surface.

What are the uses of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)?

Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is mainly used in masonry work and general construction sites.

What is Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC) used for?

Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC) is used in prestressed and post-tensioning structural materials, marine construction, hydraulic structures, dam construction, seashore construction, and precast sewer pipes. It also provides a neat and smooth finish, making it suitable for decorative purposes.

Why is Rapid Hardening Cement used in road pavement construction?

Rapid Hardening Cement is used in road pavement construction because it allows the work to be completed quickly and provides high strength.

In what conditions is Quick Setting Cement beneficial?

Quick Setting Cement is beneficial in rainy and cold water conditions, underwater conditions, high-temperature conditions where water evaporates quickly, and in rock ball mining and tunneling.

What are the applications of Low Heat Cement?

ALow Heat Cement is used in footing for dam construction, wind turbine plinth construction, raft slab construction, and chemical plant construction.

Where is Sulphate Resisting Cement typically used?

Sulphate Resisting Cement is used in building piers, structures near seacoasts, concrete surfaces in tidal zones, effluent treatment plants, chimneys, chemical plants, water storage facilities, cooling towers, and drainage works.

What is the primary use of Blast Furnace Cement?

Blast Furnace Cement is mainly used in seawater construction due to its high sulfate resistance.

Where is High Alumina Cement commonly used?

High Alumina Cement is commonly used in workshops and foundries due to its resistance to acid and frost.

What are the decorative applications of White Cement?

White Cement is used for decorative purposes, including swimming pools, traffic boundaries, roof tile settings, and tile grouts.

What are the uses of Coloured Cement?

Coloured Cement is used for various decorative purposes.

Where is Air Entraining Cement typically utilized?

Air Entraining Cement is used in low-temperature regions and for resisting sulfate attacks. It is also used for chemical de-icing purposes.

What is Expansive Cement used for?

Expansive Cement is used in prestressed concrete construction, sealing joints, and other grouting purposes.

What are the applications of Hydrophobic Cement?

Hydrophobic Cement is used in submerged structures like dams and spillways, as well as in underground tunnels.

Types of Cement and Their Uses in Construction