225R-16 Preview
225R-16 Preview
225R-16 Preview
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Cement is the most active component of concrete and usually has CONTENTS
the greatest unit cost; therefore, its selection and proper use is
imperative to attaining the desired balance of properties and cost CHAPTER 1—INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE, p. 2
for a particular concrete mixture. Selection should include consid- 1.1—Introduction, p. 2
eration of the cement properties in relation to the required perfor-
1.2—Scope, p. 2
mance of the concrete. This guide covers the influence of cement on
the properties of concrete, summarizing the composition and avail-
ability of commercial hydraulic cements and the factors affecting CHAPTER 2—NOTATION AND DEFINITIONS, p. 3
their performance in concrete. It includes a discussion of cement 2.1—Notation, p. 3
types, a brief review of cement chemistry, the influences of chem- 2.2—Definitions, p. 3
ical admixtures and supplementary cementitious materials, and
the effects of the environment on cement performance, and reviews CHAPTER 3—CEMENT TYPES, AVAILABILITY,
the sustainability aspects for the use and manufacture of port- AND SELECTION, p. 3
land cement. Cement storage, delivery, sampling, and testing of 3.1—Portland and blended hydraulic cements, p. 3
hydraulic cements for conformance to specifications are addressed. 3.2—Special-purpose, p. 4
Users will learn to recognize when a readily available, general- 3.3—Research and development, p. 5
purpose cement will perform satisfactorily or when conditions
3.4—Rational approach to selection, p. 5
require selection of a cement that meets additional requirements.
Keywords: admixture; blended cement; calcium-aluminate cement; cement CHAPTER 4—CEMENT CHEMISTRY, p. 8
storage; cement types; chemical analysis; hydraulic cement; pozzolan; 4.1—Portland cement, p. 8
physical properties; portland cement; slag cement; supplemental cementi- 4.2—Blended hydraulic, p. 11
tious materials; sustainability. 4.3—Shrinkage-compensating expansive, p. 11
4.4—Calcium-aluminate, p. 11
1
2 GUIDE TO THE SELECTION AND USE OF HYDRAULIC CEMENTS (ACI 225R-16)
Officials [AASHTO], and Canadian Standards Association Table 3.1a—Characteristics of portland cements*
[CSA]). For information on other hydraulic cement standards, Optional
the user is directed to local specifications and building codes. Type* Description characteristics†
I General use 1, 4
CHAPTER 2—NOTATION AND DEFINITIONS
General use; moderate
II 1, 4
sulfate resistance
2.1—Notation
General use; moderate
Cement phases referred to throughout this guide follow II (MH)
heat of hydration
1, 4
the cement chemists’ notations as follows:
III High-early-strength 1, 2, 3
A = Al2O3
C = CaO IV Low heat of hydration 4
C = CO2 V High sulfate resistance 4, 5
F = Fe2O3 *
For cements specified in ASTM C150/C150M.
H = H2O †
Optional characteristics:
M = MgO 1. Air entraining (A)
S = SiO2 2. Moderate sulfate resistance: C3A maximum, 8 percent
tricalcium silicate: 3CaO·SiO2 = C3S 4. Low alkali: maximum of 0.60 percent alkalies, expressed as Na2O equivalent
5. Alternative limit of sulfate resistance is based on expansion tests of mortar bars
dicalcium silicate: 2CaO·SiO2 = C2S
tricalcium aluminate: 3CaO·Al2O3 = C3A
for Canada, in CSA-A3001. Blended cements are also speci-
tetracalcium aluminoferrite: 4CaO·Al2O3·Fe2O3 = C4AF
fied under the AASHTO M 240 requirements. For more on
Tricalcium silicate, Ca3SiO5, in conventional notation
hydraulic cement specifications and selection, refer to 3.4.
becomes 3CaO·SiO2 in oxide notation, or C3S in cement
Portland cements are manufactured by a process that
chemists’ notation. Simple oxides, such as CaO or SiO2, are
begins by combining a source of lime such as limestone,
often written in full.
a source of silica and alumina such as clay, and a source
of iron oxide such as iron ore. The properly proportioned
2.2—Definitions
mixture of the raw materials is finely ground and then heated
ACI provides a comprehensive list of definitions through
to approximately 2700°F (1480°C) for the reactions that
an online resource, “ACI Concrete Terminology,” https://
form cement phases to take place. The product of a cement
www.concrete.org/store/productdetail.aspx?ItemID=CT16.
kiln is portland cement clinker. After cooling, the clinker is
Equivalent alkali in hydraulic cement is the total of
ground with calcium sulfate (gypsum); processing additions;
sodium and potassium oxides as calculated from the chem-
and, in many cases, limestone to form a portland cement.
ical analysis, and using the formula: Na2Oeq = % Na2O +
Processing additions are organic or inorganic materials used
0.658%K2O (ASTM C219).
in the manufacture of cements that are added at the finish
mill. Their use is governed by ASTM C465. Processing addi-
CHAPTER 3—CEMENT TYPES, AVAILABILITY,
tion rates for portland cements are specified in ASTM C150/
AND SELECTION
C150M. The specific gravity of portland cement will vary
Selection of cement is an important consideration when
slightly depending on the amounts of limestone, gypsum,
proportioning mixtures for specific project requirements
and inorganic processing addition added to the clinker (for
and intended use. It is important that the specification for
further reference on inorganic process addition refer to
hydraulic cements be appropriate for the project and the
Taylor [2008]). Most of these additions are less dense than
hydraulic cements available in the area. Factors such as
clinker and tend to reduce the specific gravity of the port-
exposure conditions and desired properties can often require
land cement. When proportioning concrete mixtures, unless
specific cement types based on the chemistry or physical
an actual measurement of the specific gravity of the cement
properties. Specific cements may be available that are
has been made, 3.15 has been used for portland cements
designed for applications where performance requirements
(Kosmatka and Wilson 2011). As the amount of processing
cannot be achieved with ordinary portland cement.
additions increase, the specific gravity value has been found
to decrease.
3.1—Portland and blended hydraulic cements
Blended hydraulic cements are usually made by inter-
A majority of the cement used for concrete construction
grinding portland cement clinker with calcium sulfate
in the United States is either portland cement, manufactured
(gypsum); processing additions; and a quantity of a suitable
to meet the requirements of ASTM C150/C150M, blended
material such as slag cement, fly ash, limestone, silica fume,
hydraulic cement manufactured to meet the requirements
or raw or calcined natural pozzolans. They may also be made
of ASTM C595/C595M, or performance-based hydraulic
by blending the finely ground ingredients, or by a combina-
cement manufactured to meet the requirements of ASTM
tion of blending and intergrinding. The specific gravity of
C1157/C1157M. Tables 3.1a and 3.1b include basic charac-
a blended cement will vary with the type and amount of
teristics of these cements as listed in ASTM. Other portland
material(s) that is interground or interblended.
cement specifications can be found in AASHTO M 85 or,
American Concrete Institute – Copyrighted © Material – www.concrete.org
4 GUIDE TO THE SELECTION AND USE OF HYDRAULIC CEMENTS (ACI 225R-16)
cements specified in API 10A can also meet ASTM speci- fine sands, underground strength, or water control in finely
fications; for example, Class G well cements meeting API fractured rock formations is needed.
10A often meet the requirements of ASTM C150/C150M, 3.2.11 Photocatalytic cements—These contain photo-
Type II or V. For very-high-temperature wells, less--reactive catalysts, often as engineered nanoparticles, which in the
cements are sometimes used, such as mixtures of dicalcium presence of water, oxygen, and ultraviolet light, and visible
silicate and finely ground silica. light, produce strong oxidizing agents. The net effect of the
3.2.7 Calcium-aluminate cements—Calcium-aluminate surface-initiated reactions can impart new functionality to
cements (Appendix A) are intended primarily for refractory cement-based materials, including self-cleaning, biocidal,
applications and are designated as being of low, intermediate, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, and smog-abatement func-
or high purity. The purity level of the calcium-aluminate tionality (Giannantonio et al. 2009; Husken et al. 2009;
cement is based on iron content in the low-purity cement Bowering et al. 2006; Kawakami et al. 2007; Diamanti et
and free alumina content in the high-purity cement. Low- al. 2008).
purity calcium aluminate cements are also used for concretes
that are to be exposed to mild acids and certain industrial 3.3—Research and development
wastes. Other possible applications are self-leveling floors, Given the broad use of cement worldwide and the ever-
and patching and repair when very high early strengths are increasing demands for enhancements in properties and
needed. performance, research and development has produced
3.2.8 Plastic cements—Plastic cements (ASTM C1328/ continued innovations in cements. For example, over the
C1328M) are formulated for use in mortars for stucco. They past decade, many innovations increasing the sustainability
are portland cements modified by small amounts of additives of cement have been introduced (Chapter 10). Another key
that cause the mortars made from them to have flow proper- area of innovation is the exploration of the potential for nano-
ties that aid stucco applications. technology to improve cement and concrete performance.
3.2.9 Waterproof cements—These are portland cements Some research has explored the incorporation of nano-
interground with stearic acid or other water repellents with sized materials (Sobolev et al. 2012). These nanoparticles
the objective of imparting water repellency to concrete including, for example, nanotubes, can graft molecules onto
containing them. cement particles or cement phases to promote specific inter-
3.2.10 Ultrafine cements—These are of fine particle size facial interactions and provide surface functionality. These
with a 50 percent by mass distribution of the particles having composites can have a range of novel properties, such as low
a mean diameter of less than 0.0002 in. (5 μm) and are electrical resistivity, self-sensing capabilities, self-cleaning,
usually composed of blends of portland and slag cements. self-healing, high ductility, and self-control of cracks.
These small-sized particle systems are required in geotech-
nical applications and repairing relatively large cracks and 3.4—Rational approach to selection
other concrete applications where permeation grouting of The goal of the specifier is to provide specifications that
ensure that proper amounts and types of cement are used