Difference Between OPC and PPC Cement | How to Make the Right Choice - HOMESLIBRO

Cement is such a very important and essential component when building a house. It is a bonding material that plays an important role in the manufacture of concrete and mortar. There are different types of cement available in the market,

1. Ordinary Portland cement

2. Portland Pozzolana cement

3. Rapid hardening cement

4. Low heat cement

5. White cement

6. Blast furnace slag cement

7. Sulphate resisting cement etc.

Each type of cement has its special and unique properties as well as the advantages associated with it. Therefore, it is important to select the specific cement according to the nature of the construction, the surrounding exposure, the method of placing the concrete, etc.

In this article, we are talking about OPC Vs PPC because both are the most used cement in the construction industry. Today, PPC is used as an alternative to OPC. So the most confusing thing is how to make the right decision. It is not necessary to take the course blind. Know its properties, recommended uses, profitability, etc. This will give you a better idea of what cement to use and where.

GENERAL

OPC

(Ordinary Portland Cement)

1. It is the most widely used cement in the world mainly because it is available in abundance and the associated cost is comparatively low.

2. OPC cement is produced simply by crushing limestone and secondary materials into a powder.

3. However, today's manufacturers don't even make OPCs. They have opted for PPC cement as an alternative.

PPC

(Pozzolanic Portland Cement)

1. Portland pozzolana cement (PPC) is a variation of OPC that includes a mixture of a pozzolanic material known to increase the strength of concrete and reduce the amount of OPC used.

2. Nowadays, it is used as a replacement for OPC because it is known to meet the criteria of green building and therefore contributes to sustainable development.

If you need to its manufacturing process, raw materials used and bull**** please read this s***

ALSO READ: DETAILED MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF CEMENT

ADVANTAGES OF OPC CEMENT

· OPC is best suited for use in general concrete construction when there is no exposure to sulfates in the soil or groundwater.

· Ordinary Portland cement is easier to handle than the PPC because the PPC is better than the OPC.

· The Curing time of OPC is shorter than that of PPC. Therefore, the cost of curing is reduced, so the cost of healing is recommended where restricted.

· The main material for the production of many types of special types of cement such as OPC is,

(A) Rapid hardening Portland cement

(B) Low heat Portland cement

(D) Portland Pozzolana cement etc.

DISADVANTAGES OF OPC CEMENT

· The main disadvantage of OPC is that it emits high levels of CO2. This is harmful to the environment.

· Ordinary Portland cement cannot be applied to mass concrete compared to PPC, which causes compression cracks in the structure.

· High quality such as grade 53 is not recommended for plastering because it is known to create shrinkage cracks due to its high strength and high heat of hydration.

· Its resistance to aggressive chemicals, alkalis, sulfates, and chlorides is less than that of the PPC; So it can be said that OPC is less durable than PPC.

· It produces less cohesive concrete compared to the PPC; So the concrete pump will be a little harder, otherwise, compounds will have to be used to increase its efficiency.

· OPC is more expensive than PPC.

ADVANTAGES OF PPC CEMENT

1. Portland Pozzolana Cement is a green material, so it is environmentally friendly and can help achieve a green rating.

2. PPC is the best choice for mass concrete as hydration is low. It is good and very suitable for plaster and masonry work.

3. It has good fineness; It therefore has better synchronization with the aggregates and forms a denser concrete matrix. Therefore, it has low penetration, resulting in high durability and stability.

4. PPC improves the performance of the concrete so that it can be easily pumped as a result.

5. It gives good surface finish.

6. It provides resistance to the attack of various chemicals, alkalis, sulfates, chlorides etc.

7. It is less expensive compared to OPC because expensive cement clinkers are replaced by cheaper posolana materials.

8. 1 bag gives more motor than BBC (50 kg) OBC bag because the pozzolanic material is soft and it has low density.

DISADVANTAGES OF PPC CEMENT

1. It’s hard to handle because the PPC is high fineness.

2. Its initial strength is lower than that of OPC. So obstacles cannot be removed initially.

3. The curing time of PPC is slightly longer compared to OPC.

USES AND APPLICATIONS

OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement)

1. OPC is highly recommended where construction requires the fastest pace of construction.

2. Ordinary Portland cement can be used in all common concrete construction that is not exposed to sulphates in port soil or groundwater, and where it is desired to remove formwork quickly.

PPC (Pozzolanic Portland Cement)

It can be used in all types of construction Example:

1. RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) is involved in residential and commercial works.

2. Plaster and masonry, high strength where is not so important.

3. In mass concrete work, eg. Dams, large foundation.

4. Marine works

5. Road, track, bridge and flyover. etc

6. Commercial and industrial premises.

7. Recommended for all structural non-concrete such as wall mortar

8. Adding different mixes to the concrete mix will help achieve a quicker texture. Higher setting time can be controlled by using the proper mixer.

CURING TIME

OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement)

The minimum curing time of OPC is 7 days and when exposed to hot and dry weather conditions the minimum curing period should not be less than 10 days As per ‘IS 456: 2000’ (Plain and Reinforced Concrete – Code of Practice),.

PPC (Pozzolanic Portland Cement)

minimum curing period of any blended cement (like PPC) is at least 10 days and when exposed to hot and dry weather condition the minimum curing period shall not be less than 14 days. As per ‘IS 456: 2000’ (Plain and Reinforced Concrete – Code of Practice),

Q/A 272: OPC VS PPC SETTING TIME

TYPES/GRADES

OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement)

Different grades of OPC cement available in India:

01. OPC 33 Quality

02. OPC 43 quality

03. OPC 53 grade

Keep in mind that the final strength depends on the design of the concrete mix, not just the strength of the cement.

PPC (Pozzolanic Portland Cement)

The specific type of cement available in OPC is not available in these types.

It is classified into different types depending on the type of pozzolanic material used; Different posolanic materials used:

01. To fly to the ashes

02. Calcine clay

03. Rice husk ash

04. Volcanic Tuff and Pumicites

05. Clay & Shale

Fly ash is a commonly used posolanic material.

STRENGTH

OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement)

The initial strength of ordinary cement is higher than that of PPC, but the final strength is the same.

PPC (Pozzolanic Portland Cement)

The initial strength of Portland posolana cement is lower than that of OPC, but the final strength is the same.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement)

OPC has a major adverse effect because it releases large amounts of CO2 during its manufacturing process.

PPC (Pozzolanic Portland Cement)

Portland Pozolana Cement is environmentally friendly because it uses by-products such as ash flying from a thermal power plant. Where there is a problem with the removal of by-products such as fly ash, this cement makes better use of fly ash. It emits less CO2 compared to OPC.

COST

OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement)

The price of ordinary Portland cement per bag is higher than the OPC.

PPC (Pozzolanic Portland Cement)

The price of Portland Pozzolana cement is slightly lower than the OPC bag.

Final words

Both OPC and PPC are commonly used in construction cement and both have their pros and cons. Nowadays PPC is used as an alternative to ordinary Portland cement.

Because the PPC contains pozzolanic material, it can help improve the strength of concrete and meet green building standards.

Now that you understand the difference between these two cements, I hope you can make the right choice between OPC and PPC after reading this article.

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