Difference between concrete and cement

Cement is not stronger than concrete. On its own, in fact, cement is prone to breaking. When combined with aggregate materials and water and allowed to harden, however, cement—now concrete—is extraordinarily strong.

Cement – which is the “glue” that binds concrete together – is a fine powder made up of crushed minerals such as limestone and clay that function as a binder. Cement can be made from a variety of materials, but it can‘t be used on its own.

When you pour a mixture to make a new sidewalk or driveway for your house, are you using cement or concrete? Although the terms cement and concrete often are used interchangeably, they’re not the same thing. Concrete actually includes cement and other things, like aggregates and paste.

Best Cement for Concrete

The cement types that are good for construction are Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC). OPC has 3 types: 33 Grade for non-RCC, 43 Grade for plastering, and 53 Grade for fast-paced projects.

Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general use around the world as a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar, stucco, and non-specialty grout.

For large scale projects like buildings, concrete should last up to 100 years if it’s properly cared for. Concrete projects that experience more wear-and-tear like sidewalks and driveways have an expected lifespan of about half that—50 years.

When first made and used in the early 19th century in England, it was termed portland cement because its hydration product resembled a building stone from the Isle of Portland off the British coast. The first patent for portland cement was obtained in 1824 by Joseph Aspdin, an English mason.

The invention of portland cement usually is attributed to Joseph Aspdin of Leeds, Yorkshire, England, who in 1824 took out a patent for a material that was produced from a synthetic mixture of limestone and clay.

In 1824 Joseph Aspdin invented Portland cement by burning finely ground chalk and clay until the carbon dioxide was removed. Aspdin named the cement after the high-quality building stones quarried in Portland, England. In the 19th Century concrete was used mainly for industrial buildings.

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.

Pozzolans reduce bleeding because of fineness; reduce the maximum rise in temperature when used in large amounts (more than 15% by mass of cementitious material) because of the slower rate of chemical reactions; which reduce the rise in temperature.

Uses of Portland Pozzolana Cement

Used in hydraulic structures, marine structures, construction near the sea shore, dam construction etc. Used in pre-stressed and post-tensioned concrete members. Used in masonry mortars and plastering. As it gives better surface finish, it is used in decorative and art structures.

Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)

It can be confidently employed in construction of hydraulic structures, marine works, mass concreting such as dams, dykes, retaining walls foundations and sewage pipes. It is also suitable for use in common applications such as masonry mortars and plastering.

Both OPC and PPC cements are good for construction of concrete slab. OPC is the most commonly used cement in industrial and large construction, PPC is most commonly used for small residential constructions. PPC is used where possibilities of sulphate attack is higher as it has good sulphate resistance compared to OPC.

Initial Strength: 53 Grade cement is used for fast paced construction were initial strength is to be achieved quickly. 53 Grade cement has fast setting compared to 43–grade cement. 53 Grade attains 27 Mpa in 7 days compared to 23 Mpa by 43–grade cement.