A Comparative Study of Two Cement Brands:

Ordinary Portland Cement vs Pozzalana Cement

A Project Design

Presented to

The Faculty of the College of Engineering

University of Perpetual Help Calamba Campus

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements for the Degree of

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Sanidad, Christian Joshua O.

Valencia, Ghio Karlo M.

Zamora, Ted Alden M.

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 CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEMS AND ITS BACKGROUND

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 CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEMS AND ITS BACKGROUND

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Construction materials in our world have come a long way. From the wood

and rock structures millennia ago, we now have superstructures that reach to the sky.

Much of this is because of the development of technology, particularly in the

production of concrete which is based on cement. A cement is a binder, a substaance

used in construction that sets, hardns and adheres to other materials, binding them

together. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is the most common and popularly used

cement in the world, but another option which is Portland Pozzolana Cement has also

risen to prominence in recent times.

OPC is the acronym commonly used in reference to Portland Cement (or

Ordinary Portland Cement, which explains the O in the acronym). Ordinary

Portland Cement is the most common cement used in general concrete construction

when there is no exposure to sulphates in the soil or groundwater. It is designated as

a type of hydraulic cement, which means it is a type of cement that doesnt only harden

as a reaction to being mixed with water, but also becomes a water-resistant once it

cures. It is produced through pulverizing Portland cement clinkers, which consists of

hydraulic calcium silicates, producing a fine powder. The Portland cement clinkers

are initially created through heating a mixture of raw materials, the most important

being limestone. Secondary materials include a source of aluminosilicate (often clay,

but could also be impure limestone). Other common secondary materials are shale,

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 sand, iron ore, bauxite, fly ash, and slag. These are then heated at around 1450 C,

which is the standard temperature

used for producing most cements in this day and age. When water is mixed with OPC,

it takes some hours to settle and gradually hardens and increases in durability. This

process can vary depending on what the mixture is and what the desired result

is.Ordinary Portland Cement is the most prevalent because of the readily available raw

materials in the area where it is produced. This is also why OPC is an ideal option for

cement needs throughout the world today as the costs of producing it is very low

without compromising quality. Being a low-cost cement product leads to OPC being

widely used in the production of concrete, which is the most popular material used for

construction in the world for roads, houses, buildings, dams, and the like. OPC is also

used for mortars and in making grouts.

The Portland Pozzolana Cement on the other hand, is a kind of blended cement

which is produced by either intergrinding of OPC clinker along with gypsum and

pozzolannic materials in certain proportions or grinding the OPC clinker, gypsum and

Pozzolanic materials in certain proportions. It may be further discussed as siliceous or

siliceous and aluminous material or no cementitious properties but will in finely dived

form and in the presence of moisture, chemically react with calcium hydroxide at

ordinary temperature to form compounds possessing cementitious properties.

But these two cements have their advantages and disadvantages. OPC has less

setting time than PPC so it is recommended in projects where props are to be removed

early while PPC is the best choice for mass concreting, plaster and masonry.When it

comes to fineness, PPC has a higher fineness than OPC, hence has lower permeability

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 and as a result it has durability. But due to its high fineness, it is difficult to handle

than OPC.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

This research focuses on the study of characterizations of the two different

cement brands; pozzolan cement and portland cement. Most of the construction uses

these two cement brands. However, many of the construction industry in our country

still looks for the best and good quality of a cement that will reach their standards. In

general, at the end of this research we will be able to differentiate the characteristics

of the two cement brands, identify some of the potential uses of the brands, Identify

the testing factors that affect measured concrete strength in the laboratory and Explain

the term workability as it applies to the two cement brands. Identify the four main

chemical "compounds" in cement and explain what each contributes to the behavior

of the fresh and hardened cement.

1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The Civil Engineering Industry as well as the students have been wondering the

different characterizations of the cements. There are two types of cement, Ordinary

Portland Cement (OPC) which is the most common cement used in general concrete

construction when there is no exposure to sulphate in the soil or groundwateran and

Portland Pozzalana Cement (PPC) which are manufactured by using pozzalanic

materials as one of the main ingredient. This research, studies the properties and

strength of every brand of cement that would contribute to construction industry.

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 1.4 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

This study was conducted to achieve the following objectives.

To determine the difference between Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and

Portland Pozzalana Cement (PPC).

To study the properties and strength (compressive and flexural) of the different

brands of cement.

To determine the best cement to use on concrete.

To study the effect of moisture, aggregate type, time of curing and water to
cement (w/c) ratio.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This paper plans to help and contribute to the civil engineering industry

through knowing the different characteristics and quality of a cement. This study is

performed for the welfare of everyone who hopes to build better quality structures. If

the study succeeds, then it will most likely be a valuable contribution to construction

industry and will hopefully be a means to create more cost effective and accessible

construction for the public.

The study also helps on to analyze and evaluate variations in cement properties

and its effect on quality of concrete before choosing a supplier for a sustainable

concrete construction.

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 1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

1.6.1 SCOPE

This study is composed of four different cement brands that will be compared

to each other according to its performance, that will undergo in four different test.

These tests are flexural strength test, compressive strength test, slump test and water

absorption test.

For flexural and compressive strength tests, we will prepare six specimens for

each different brands of cement. We will produce six specimens for test ages. We have

two test ages, the 7th day and the 28th day. To elaborate, we will conduct five

laboratories

tests, Strength test would come to two concrete specimens for the batch age

containing CEMEX, HOLCIM, EAGLE and LAFARGE brand of cement, both

flexural and compressive strength test. For water absorption test, test ages will not be

conduct, but still we will prepare 4 specimens for this test. In total we will prepare

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 1.6.2 LIMITATIONS

The experiment is only limit to four lab tests, Slump test, compression test,

flexural test and water absorption test. For each test we will prepare different brands

of cement; Ordinary Portland Cement and Portland Pozzolana Cement.

Slump test is used to determine the correct hydration of a batch of concrete. The

slump is the distance the wet concrete settles after the slump cone is lifted off. It is

essential test to test the workability of fresh concrete, this test very useful in detecting

variations in the uniformity of a mix of given nominal proportions. All of the

specimens were subjected to immerse in water tank for curing process for being test.

Compressive test is to determine the strength of the concrete cylinders at the

7th, 14th and 28th day of the casting period. The value obtained from the test must be

higher than the standard specified strength for the concrete cylinders to pass.

The main reason of water absorption is to determine the rate of absorption

(sorptivity) of water by hydraulic cement concrete by measuring the increase in the

mass of a specimen resulting from absorption of water as a function of time when only

one surface of the specimen is exposed to water.

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 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

2.1 Related Literature

Construction materials in our world have come a long way. From the wood

and rock structures millennia ago, we now have superstructures that reach to the sky.

Much of this is thanks to the development of technology, particularly in the

production of concrete which is based on cement. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)

is the most common and popularly used cement in the world, but another option

which is Portland Pozzolana Cement has also risen to prominence in recent times.

OPC is the acronym commonly used in reference to Portland Cement (or

Ordinary Portland Cement, which explains the O in the acronym). It is the most

common cement type used worldwide. OPC is the basic component used for

concrete, mortars, stucco, and other common construction essentials that require

cement in the mixture. It is designated as a type of hydraulic cement, which means

that it is a type of cement that doesnt only harden as a reaction to being mixed with

water, but also becomes water-resistant once it cures. It is produced through

pulverizing Portland cement clinkers, which consists of hydraulic calcium silicates,

producing a fine powder. The Portland cement clinkers are initially created through

heating a mixture of raw materials, the most important being limestone. Secondary

materials include a source of aluminosilicate (often clay, but could also be impure

limestone). Other common secondary materials are shale, sand, iron ore, bauxite, fly

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 ash, and slag. These are then heated at around 1450 C, which is the standard

temperature used for producing most cements in this day and age. When water is

mixed with OPC, it takes some hours to settle and gradually hardens and increases in

durability. This process can vary depending on what the mixture is and what the

desired result is.

Ordinary Portland Cement is the most prevalent because of the readily

available raw materials in the area where it is produced. This is also why OPC is an

ideal option for cement needs throughout the world today as the costs of producing it

is very low without compromising quality. Being a low-cost cement product leads to

OPC being widely used in the production of concrete, which is the most popular

material used for construction in the world for roads, houses, buildings, dams, and

the like. OPC is also used for mortars and in making grouts.

In relation to this, PPC refers to a form of Portland Cement which is Portland

Pozzolana Cement. PPC is produced when pozzuolans are used in the mixture. A

pozzuolana is a cement extender improving the strength and durability of the cement

or even reducing the costs of producing concrete. The term came from the root word

pozzuolana which is a form of volcanic ash. The introduction of pozzuolana into a

hydraulic cement like OPC, or any similar material, leads to a pozzuolanic reaction.

This, in turn, leads to a cementitious material that uses less cement but has the same

or even greater material durability than without this addition. A pozzuolanic material

by itself has few, if any, cementitious properties by itself, but adding it into a cement

mixture will result in the above-mentioned results (provided the cement has a greater

volume in relation to the pozzuolanic material added). PPC may take a longer time

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 to settle than OPC, but it will eventually produce similar results given time. Though

volcanic ash is the first form of pozzuolana used, this now includes natural and

artificial siliceous or siliceous, aluminous materials such as clay, slag, silica fume,

fly ash, and shale. Note that some of these are effectively waste materials from

other processes but are ideal to produce PPC. With the production of PPC, the use of

overall OPC is greatly reduced in the mixture (by close to 50 per cent) to produce the

same results.

Knowing about the differences and the relationship between OPC and PPC is

certainly useful, particularly for those in the construction industry. Determining

which of the two is best suited for the needs and costs of a project can be very

important in ensuring a successful endeavor.

1.Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is the most common cement used in the world

because of the abundance and low cost to produce it.

2.Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC) is a variation of OPC which includes a mixture

of a pozzuolanic material which can increase the strength of the concrete and reduce

the amount of OPC used.

3.OPC is produced simply by grinding to a powder limestone and secondary

materials; PPC is the result of adding pozzuolan or similar materials such as volcanic

ash, clay, slag, silica, fume, fly ash, or shale with OPC.

4.PPC can greatly reduce the amount of OPC used in concrete.

Celine. "Difference Between OPC and PPC." DifferenceBetween.net. January 13, 2012 <

http://www.differencebetween.net/object/difference-between-opc-and-ppc/ >.

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 2.2 Related Studies

First, Rajendra Rajdev ,Shalini Yadav and Rakesh Sakale on their study

entitled Comparison between Portland Pozzolana Cement & Processed Fly Ash

blended Ordinary Portland Cement This paper presents a comparison between two

different procedures for the use of Fly ash (FA) in cement industry. The first which

is very often used is by adding FA to clinker as in the manufacture of Portland

Pozzolana Cement (PPC).The second which is recent trend is to process FA & by

blending it with Ordinary Portland cement (OPC).Strength parameters are compared

of both the types of cement. For the same target strength of the cubes OPC blended

with Processed FA (PFA) proved to be more economical than PPC.

To make economical use of the resources of our planet we should maintain a

sustainable environment and preserve our future. There is strong need to explore the

possibilities to reduce the use of material, to reuse the waste and to reduce the carbon

dioxide (CO2). Our cement industry produces about 251.2 million tonnes cement per

year. The type of fuel used in cement manufacture directly impact on CO2 emission.

Decarbonisation of raw material at high temperature being the major source of CO2

emission. Therefore approximately 5% of manmade emission originate in the cement

industry.

Second. Alhassan A. Y. and 2Apata A. O. on their study entitled The

Behaviour of Portland - Pozzolana Cement Concrete in Aggressive Environments

The study present the behaviour of fly ash/Portland cement mix, Calcined clay

/Portland cement mix and rice husk ash/ Portland cement mix as cementing agents in

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 the production of concrete. Mix ratio of 1:2:4 and percentage replacement level: 0,

10, 20, and 30 percents of cement by the various pozzolanas were used. Concrete

cubes of size 150 mm x150 mm x 150 mm were cast, cured in aggressive media

(CuSO4 and NaCl solutions) and crushed at 30 days, 60 days and 90 days to

determine their compressive strength hence durability.

Test results indicated that fly ash, calcined clay, and rice husk ash were

pozzolanic. Compressive strength increases for calcined clay as its contents

increases from 10% -30% signifying improved durability, while it is the opposite for

fly ash and rice husk ash. All three pozzolanas showed improved durability, with fly

ash been the most workable and calcined clay the least workable. Though, the results

of the compressive strength of the concrete cubes made from portland-pozzolana

cement (PPC) were not higher than that of the control (0% Portland cement

replacement), they were all higher than the minimum strength specified in the British

Standard

code (ASTM C618, 1992). It was also observed that NaCl solution have a

more severe effect on the durability for all three pozzolanas. The purpose of the

study is to develop alternative to cement for use in aggressive environment.

Third, Bright J. A. Y. Sogbey on his study entitled Concrete Formula, Uisng

Pozzalana/Portland Cement for Superstructures in Nuclear Engineering This paper

presents an overview of preliminary results of structural strenght analysis of concrete

made from a mixture of Pozzalana and ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) at varied

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 ratios (0%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% and 100%), that confiremed the

above title.

Destructive tests (Compression tests) performed so far have shown that

concrete of Pozzo/Port cement at a particular ratio has more compressive strenght

than that of the OPC at ages seven days, fourteen days and twenty-eight days.

Further tests, including shielding, ultrasonic and flexure for its suitabilty for nuclear

engineering applications are underway.

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 2.3 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Collection of different
Ordinary Portland brands of Ordinary
Cement (OPC) Portland Cement
&
Portland Pozzalana Collection of different
Cement (PPC) brands of Portland
Pozzalana Cement

Compute
Design Mix

Conduct Test

Compressive Water
Slump Test Flexural Test Absorption Test
Strength Test

Yes Examine the Data No

Conclude what will be the difference

between OPC and PPC.
Conclude if this best
quality brand of
Conclude what will be the most durable
cement (OPC or PPC)
brand of cement. is effective in
construction industry
in our country.
Conclude if this brand of cement is
more effective.

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 2.4 Paradigm of the Study

2.5 Hypothesis of the Study

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 2.6 Test Summary

Table 2.1 No. of Sample that have been cure for Compressive Test

BRAND OF CEMENT 7TH DAY 14TH DAY 28TH DAY

CEMEX TYPE 1 3 3 3

EAGLE TYPE 1 3 3 3

LAFARGE TYPE 1 3 3 3

CEMEX TYPE P 3 3 3

EAGLE TYPE P 3 3 3

LAFARGE TYPE P 3 3 3

TOTAL = 54 Sample

Table 2.1 No. of Sample that have been cure for Flexural Test

BRAND OF CEMENT 7TH DAY 14TH DAY 28TH DAY

CEMEX TYPE 1 3 3 3

EAGLE TYPE 1 3 3 3

LAFARGE TYPE 1 3 3 3

CEMEX TYPE P 3 3 3

EAGLE TYPE P 3 3 3

LAFARGE TYPE P 3 3 3

TOTAL = 54 Sample

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 Table 2.3 No. of Sample for Water absorption

WATER ABSORPTION SAMPLE

CEMEX TYPE 1 3

EAGLE TYPE 1 3

LAFARGE TYPE 1 3

CEMEX TYPE P 3

EAGLE TYPE P 3

LAFARGE TYPE P 3

TOTAL = 18 Sample

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 2.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Agreggates - is a broad category of coarse particulate material used in construction,

including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete and geosynthetic

aggregates. Aggregates are the most mined materials in the world.

Cement - is a binder, a substance used in construction that sets, hardens and adheres

to other materials, binding them together. Cement is seldom used solely, but is used

to bind sand and gravel (aggregate) together. Cement is used with fine aggregate to

produce mortar for masonry, or with sand and gravel aggregates to produce concrete.

Concrete - Concrete is a composite material composed of coarse aggregate bonded

together with a fluid cement that hardens over time. Most concretes used are lime-

based concretes such as Portland cement concrete or concretes made with other

hydraulic cements, such as ciment fondu.

Concrete slump test - measures the consistency of fresh concrete before it sets. It is

performed to check the workability of freshly made concrete, and therefore the ease

with which concrete flows. It can also be used as an indicator of an improperly mixed

batch. The slump test is used to ensure uniformity for different loads of concrete under

field conditions.

Compressive strength or compression strength - is the capacity of a material or

structure to withstand loads tending to reduce size, as opposed to tensile strength,

which withstands loads tending to elongate. In other words, compressive strength

resists compression (being pushed together), whereas tensile strength resists tension

(being pulled apart).

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 Coarse aggregates - are particles greater than 4.75mm, but generally range between

9.5mm to 37.5mm in diameter.

Curing - The process of maintaining satisfactory moisture content and temperature in

freshly cast concrete for a definite period of time immediately following placement.

Fine aggregate - are basically sands won from the land or the marine environment.

Fine aggregates generally consist of natural sand or crushed stone with most particles

passing through a 9.5mm sieve.

Flexural strength - also known as modulus of rupture, or bend strength, or transverse

rupture strength is a material property, defined as the stress in a material just before

it yields in a flexure test. The transverse bending test is most frequently employed, in

which a specimen having either a circular or rectangular cross-section is bent until

fracture or yielding using a three point flexural test technique. The flexural strength

represents the highest stress experienced within the material at its moment of yield.

Pozzolans - are a broad class of siliceous or siliceous and aluminous materials which,

in themselves, possess little or no cementitious value but which will, in finely divided

form and in the presence of water, react chemically with calcium hydroxide at ordinary

temperature to form compounds possessing cementitious properties.

Rectangular beam mold a rectangular shape mold that used to pour concrete inside

to form a beam that used to be cast for flexural test.

Sieve a device for separating wanted elements from unwanted material or for

characterizing the particle size distribution of a sample, typically using a woven screen

such as mesh or net.

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 Water Absorption Test used to determine the amount of water absorbed under

specified conditions.

Water-Cement ratio is the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of cement used
in a concrete.

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