Ordinary Portland Cement


Ordinary Portland Cement

 

OPC being the most popular product under the Falcon Brand is used in all types of general construction. It is manufactured from Portland Cement Clinker and Gypsum and conforms to the following standards,

 

·        Pakistan Standard (PS-232-20089 (R))

·        British Standard (BS-12-1996) / EN 197-1 (2000), Class 42.5N

·        American Standard Testing Method (ASTM-C-150 Type-I)

 

Features & Benefits:

 

OPC is used in general and major construction projects as well as in manufacture of concrete products. It can be used in concretes, mortars and grouts, where chemical attack is not a predictable risk.

 

Admixtures:

 

OPC is compatible with super-plasticizers accelerators and retarders etc. these admixtures should be added as per the recommendations of manufacturers.

 

Strength development:

 

The strength development of OPC is primarily dependent on the water/cement ratio of the mix design for concrete.

 

Effect of excess water:

 

Compressive strength of concrete reduces with increased water addition. Excess water addition has detrimental effect not only on the compressive strength of concrete but also on the other concrete properties as well. Compressive strength also effected when quality of sand , crush & water may be compromise / depends  on quality of sand/crush/water.It increases permeability of concrete and make it more susceptible to carbonation, sulfate and chloride ingress. It is recommended to use only the minimum quantity of water which can give a manageable workability and slump.

 

Curing:

 

Good curing significantly improves the compressive strength of concrete and minimizes  the shrinkage cracks. Curing also improves quality of concrete surface, it reduces permeability thereby reducing the carbonation rate of concrete.