What is Portland Pozzolanic Cement?

Portland Pozzolana cement is manufactured by synthesising Ordinary Portland cement with
a mixture of pozzolanic materials in uniform proportions. It is also known as PPC cement in
short. 

In this blog, we’re going to discuss the applications, properties, and characteristics of PPC in
detail.

Pozzolana or Pozzolanic material

Pozzolana is a type of volcanic powder that is found near Mount Vesuvius in Italy. Pozzolanic
material can also be processed artificially, with silica and alumina as the constituent particles.

Naturally, this material does not contain any cement related properties. But when mixed with
water, lime and calcium hydroxide, it reacts to form a compound that is cementitious.

Artificial Pozzolana 

Contains silica fume, rice husk, blast furnace slag, fly ash.

Natural Pozzolana 

Contains diatomaceous earth, pumice, burnt clay. 

How does the manufacturing of PPC take place?

• The raw materials used here differ from the raw materials used in cement manufacturing
• process. Limestone (CaCo2) and Clay (SiO2, AI2, O3, Fe2O3) are the primary materials use
• d in PPC manufacturing. After then, rocky constituents are crushed by the crushers into fine
• particles.

• The crushed particles are then fed to the ball mills in uniform proportions as per the requirement.
• Proper grinding and mixing are done by the ball mills, after which the mixture is sent to silos for
• storage.

• The mixture then goes through the process of Calcination i.e. heating in high temperature in the
• presence of O2. It's a pre-heating stage where conversion of limestone (CaCo2) to Calcium
• Oxide CaO takes place at a temperature of about 800-1000 degree Celcius. 

• The pre-heated mixture is then passed through the kiln, where it is heated at a temperature of
• about 1450 degree Celcius. As a result, a substance called clinker is produced. It is then cooled
• down by a rotary cooler. 

• Finally, the clinker is mixed with gypsum and Pozzolanic material, and PPC cement is obtained.
• 
  

Uses of PPC cement

• It is used in precast concrete sewage pipes. PPC cement is ideal for structures near water bodies
• like dams, hydraulic structures because of its ability to resist sulphate attacks. 

• Used in mortars and plastering for residential interiors as well as for decorative purposes. It can
• quickly fill-up the gaps or cracks that occur due to high tension and temperature change. PPC
• cement maintains the durability and strength of the overall structure.

• One of the reason why PPC cement is used in residential structures is that it can withstand
• harsh environmental conditions.

• It is environment-friendly too, as it reduces the amount of Carbon Monoxide emissions from
• concrete.

Drawbacks of PPC cement

• PPC cement is a very fine material by nature, which makes its handling quite difficult. During
• transportation, the original quantity may decrease by the time it reaches the construction site,
• due to spillage.
• The setting time is much more than that of Ordinary Portland cement.

• The alkalinity in structures made from PPC cement loses alkalinity with time, due to which the
• corrosion withstanding ability of steel reinforcement reduces too.

Different raw materials used in cement industry will produce different types of construction materials
based on the processing method. Such a material is PPC cement, that is widely used because
of its strength maintaining and moisture withstanding capabilities.

The cement industries are bringing up new technologies and methods which can provide maximum
output while being economical and eco-friendly. CMA (Cement Manufacturing Association) is an
umbrella organisation under which the Indian Cement Industry giants discuss sustainability issues,
innovations and breakthroughs of the industry.

You too can visit the official website to know more: https://www.cmaindia.org/