Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)

Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)

Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is the most common cement used in general concrete construction when there is no exposure to sulphates in the soil or groundwater.

What is OPC? 

Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is the most common cement used in general concrete construction when there is no exposure to sulphates in the soil or groundwater.

In OPC category, some grades of cement available in market.

Manufacture

The raw materials required for the manufacture of OPC are calcareous material such as limestone or chalk and argilaceous materials such as shale or clay. A mixture of these materials is burnt at a high temperature of approximately 1400 0C in a rotary kiln to form clinker. The clinker is then cooled and grounded with a requisite amount of gypsum into fine powder known as Portland cement.

OPC is a gray colored powder. It is capable of bonding mineral fragments into a compact whole when mixed with water. This hydration process results in a progressive stiffening, hardening and strength development.

 Compatibility 

OPC manufactured is compatible with admixtures meeting for normal dosages and conditions. It can be blended for use with other Portland cement.