Cement is the base of any construction. As you build your home only once, choosing an appropriate cement becomes essential. Cement is the main ingredient for mortar, plaster, and concrete. There are different grades of cement available for different types of work. The grade of the cement affects the durability, strength, and finish of your building. That is why you need to find the right grade of cement for your project.
The grade of cement is determined by its strength and composition. Each cement grade has its special properties, strength, and functionality. Using the right grade of cement ensures that your walls, foundation, and structure remain strong for years.
This comprehensive guide helps you understand the different grades of cement used in construction. You can also check GharPedia for easy tips on choosing the right cement for your home.
What Is A Grade Of Cement?
The grade of cement is the compressive strength of a cement after curing it for 28 days. It is measured in MegaPascals (MPa). Different grades of cement are used for different purposes.
Primarily, there are three grades of cement: 33-grade, 43-grade, and 53-grade cement, based on their compressive strength. Select the suitable cement grade from Gharpedia and let your home live longer for years. As the grade of the cement increases, the load-bearing capacity of the cement also increases. Portland Pozzolana Cement and Portland Slag Cement are other specialized grades of cement.
Understanding The Different Grades Of Cement
- OPC 33-Grade Cement:
OPC 33-grade or Ordinary Portland Cement with 33-grade is used for plastering and casual masonry works where high-strength is not necessary. It gives excellent working capacity and can be used for laying tiles and blocks. It can also be used in interior and exterior wall plastering, floorings, and ceilings due to its easy handling and greater workability. However, it is not suitable for RCC constructions due to its lower compressive strength.
- OPC 43-Grade Cement:
It has a better resistance to cracking and thus provides a smoother finish to the surface. The finer grains of cement help it work better and make it easy to apply. This can be used in residential buildings, bridges, precast concrete structures, concrete sleepers, etc. It provides greater strength to buildings. This is an excellent grade of cement that can be used in various projects.
- OPC 53-Grade Cement:
This is an excellent grade of cement that is used for slab construction. As it sets quickly, it can be used in projects where quick removal of the framework is needed. This grade of cement isused in heavy construction works like bridges, industrial buildings, high-rise structures, and foundations. Due to its high efficiency and strength, it can be used in RCC runways and roadways. Due to its water-retaining property, it can be used in reservoirs or dams. It sets very quickly and may not be suitable for certain projects.
- Portland Pozzolana Cement Grade Cement:
This is a combination of basic OPC and pozzolanic materials, including fly ash and calcined clay. It provides strength and durability to the structures and has non-corrosive properties. It gives better finishing and minimizes leaks and cracks in the building. It is used in RCC, precast concrete, and marine architecture. It is ideal for foundations, walls, sewers, dams, retaining walls, etc. It makes the building durable.
- Portland Slag Cement Grade Cement:
It can be prepared by mixing an OPC clinker with the granulated slag of the blast furnace. It is used in large-scale concrete works including roads and bridges, narrow towers and pavements, and marine projects. It is also helpful in earthquake-resistant buildings due to its low-heat and fracture-reducing properties.
- Super Grade Cement:
This has greater compressive strength, which is more than 60 MPa. It is used in the cementing of oil wells. It is used in specialized buildings like nuclear power plants, high-rise buildings, and mega dams where high strength is required.
Conclusion
As you build your home only once, it is necessary to choose the right grade of cement. Selecting the right grade of cement for your project guarantees that your building can resist external conditions and gets enough support and strength.
Select the right grade of cement from Gharpedia and ensure the longevity of your home.
