Slide 3: The density of cement is defined as the mass of a unit volume of the solids.

The density of cement is fairly constant and not dependent on the size of the ground particles, but varies with the proportions of lime and clay, with the degree of burning, and with the amount of exposure to air that the cement has undergone. A newly ground cement of good quality should have a density of around 3000 Kg/m3. It is generally a sign of deterioration of the cement from over long keeping, or of under burning of the clinker. Deterioration in density increases with age. Slide 4: Aims and objective:

Slide 6: Conclusion from results: Results 2 and 3 are different from the first one because: I. May be the amount of time spent in swirling the bottle was less. Consequently air present in the cement was not completely removed. Or may be some cement particles had been accumulated around the neck of the bottle preventing the cement to be in the kerosene, thus air present in it is not removed.

II.

Slide 7: Initial set: Occurs when the paste begins to stiffen considerably. Final set: Occurs when the cement has hardened to the point at which it can sustain some load.

Slide 8: Aims and Objective: it is important to know the initial setting time, because of loss of useful properties of cement if the cement mortar or concrete is placed in moulds after this time. The importance of final setting time lies in the fact that the moulds can be removed after this time. Also knowing the initial setting time is important in estimating free time for transporting, placing, compaction and shaping of cement paste.

Conditions affecting setting time: the factors influencing the setting properties of cement are its composition, the percentage of retardant, degree of calcinations, fineness of grinding, aeration subsequent to grinding clinker, percentage of water used to make cement paste, the temperature of the mixing water, cement and the atmosphere where the cement paste is placed, and the amount of manipulation the paste receives. In general, cement stored in warm rooms will be quick setting than those stored in cold places.

Slide 10: Conclusion from results:

Slide 11: Soundness refers to the ability of the cement paste to retain its volume after setting, and is related to the presence of excessive amounts of free lime or magnesia in the cement or supplementary cementitious material. Slide 12:

Aims and Objective: it is a very important test to assure the quality of cement since an unsound cement produces cracks, distortion and disintegration, ultimately leading to failure. Conditions affecting soundness: the main cause for unsoundness in Portland cement is the hydration of the uncombined lime encased within the cement particles. Exposed, finely ground, free lime in small percentages, hydrates before the cement sets and produces no injurious effects. The uncombined lime in cement is a result of either under burning the clinker or of excess lime in the raw materials. Freshly ground cement is often unsound due to the presence of uncombined lime. Cement is thus allowed to aerate for 2 to 3 weeks to overcome unsoundness. Fine grinding of raw material and clinker help to produce a sound cement. By grinding fine the raw materials, it is possible to produce a homogenous mixture before burning where the lime is uniformly distributed. The coarse grains of cement may imprison minute particles of uncombined lime which do not hydrate. These lime particles on hydration produce disintegration.

Slide 14: Conclusion from results:

Slide 15: Consistency: This is a test to estimate the quantity of mixing water to form a paste of normal consistency defined as that percentage of water requirement of the cement paste, the viscosity of which will be such that the Vicats plunger penetrates up to a point 5 to 7 mm from the bottom of the Vicats mould.

Slide 16: Aims and Objective: The water requirement for various tests of cement depends upon the normal consistency of the cement, which itself depends upon the compound composition and fineness of the cement. It is also important to know the water requirement of cement as a normal consistent paste is required for the testing of setting time of cement.

Slide 19: Conclusion from results:

Slide 20: Final conclusion (from all tests): With only these tests we cannot comment on the quality of the cement. There are more tests (such as strength, heat of hydration, and some chemical tests) which need to be performed so as to assure that the quality of cement used is suitable for construction work.