Title:
Back to the Future
Author(s):
Pierre-Claude Aïtcin and Sidney Mindess
Publication:
Concrete International
Volume:
37
Issue:
5
Appears on pages(s):
37-40
Keywords:
clinker, superplasticizer, rheology, durability
DOI:
Date:
5/1/2015
Abstract:
For many years, the North American cement industry was well served by the so-called Type I/II cements. This type of cement had C3A contents below 6.5%. While concrete produced with this cement did not exhibit high early strength, it did exhibit good durability. The cement industry is now producing clinkers with higher C3A contents, and these clinkers are also being ground finer to provide high early strength. These changes make it much more difficult to control the rheology of low water-cement ratio mixtures produced with modern admixtures. The authors recommend that the industry produces an alternative cement with a C3A content of about 6% and a coarser grind than currently available.