Which cement is best OPC cement or PPC in building construction? Difference between OPC and PPC ?

The cement is the basic consistent in concrete making process. Concrete is the mixture of cement, sand, coarse aggregates with suitable amount of water and admixture if any required. Basically it plays important role in strength of concrete.  The bonding action between the materials is made in concrete by using fine material. Basically for most of the building projects OPC and PPC cement type are preferred now a days due to their many advantages over other type of cement materials. OPC standards for Ordinary Portland cement and PPC stands for Portland pozzoolana cement.

Ordinary Portland cement (OPC)

OPC standards for ordinary Portland cement. For the OPC  there are three types of grades available in the markets which are related to the 33 grade, 43 grade and 53 grade . The grade of the concrete is determined based on the compressive strength of cement which is expressed in MPa. For the 33 grade sample the compressive strength of concrete is obtained at 28 days curing is 33MPa. In the same process for the 43 grade cement the compressive strength of concrete is obtained at 28 days curing is 43MPa and for the 53 grade sample the compressive strength of concrete is obtained at 28 days curing is 53MPa.

The major advantage of OPC is to increase the workability and strength of concrete. The OPC sample content is generally used to build the structural compounds like Beams, columns.

The below figure shows the OPC 53 grade sample used in building construction.

Portland pozzoolana cement (PPC)

PPC stands for portland pozzoolana cement.  This type is consisting of pozzolana particles like fly ash and volcanic ash in the percentage of 15% to 30%.  The PPC  is available in specific grades and this type of sample used for plastering works, brick masonry works and water proofing work in buildings. Portland pozzoolana cement (PPC) has lower workability and lower strength values when we compared to OPC sample. The PPC cement is provides better chemical resistance to the chemicals.

The below figure shows the PPC  sample used in building construction.

Constituents of OPC sample

The OPC cement consisting of composition of calcium oxide, silica, aluminum oxide, ferrous oxide, magnesium oxide components the below table shows the different percentages of constituents in OPC.

S. No	Compound	Percentage
1	Calcium oxide	60% to 65%
2	Silica	20% to25%
3	Aluminum oxide	4% to 8%
4	Ferrous oxide	2% to 4%
5	Magnesium oxide	1% to 3%

Total five components are required for making Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) which is the mixture of 60% to 65% of calcium oxide, 20% to 25% of silica content, 4% to 8% aluminum oxide, 2% to 4% of ferrous oxide content and 1% to 3% of magnesium oxide content which are used during the burning and fusion process.

 Constituents of PPC sample

The PPC sample is also consisting of compounds like calcium oxide, silica, aluminum oxide, ferrous oxide, magnesium oxide components but the percentage of content is different. The below figure shows the chemical composition of PPC type.

S. No	Compound	Percentage
1	Calcium oxide	41% to 43%
2	Silica	28% to32%
3	Aluminum oxide	7% to 10%
4	Ferrous oxide	4.9%to 6%
5	Magnesium oxide	1% to 2%

For PPC also it contain Total five components are required for making Portland pozzoolana cement (PPC) which is the mixture of 41% to 43% of calcium oxide, 28% to 32% of silica content, 7% to 10% aluminum oxide, 4.9% to 6% of ferrous oxide content and 1% to 2% of magnesium oxide content which are used during the burning and fusion process.

Difference between PPC and OPC

The below table shows the complete difference between the OPC and PPC cement used in building construction.

OPC	PPC
OPC  stands for ordinary Portland cement	PPC stands for portland pozzoolana cement
This is available in 33, 43 and 53 grades	This is available in specific grades only
It is good workable sample	It is also good workable sample
Strength is high when we compared with PPC	Strength is low when we compared with OPC
Less in chemical resistance for the building structures	High in chemical resistance for the building structures
The OPC type is most economical when we compared with PPC	The PPC is less economical and more environmentally friendly than OPC sample
The OPC type is generally used in the major structural compounds constructions generally beams, column, slabs and foundation etc.	The PPC sample is generally used for plastering works, brick masonry works and water proofing work in buildings etc.

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Conclusions which is cement and difference between OPC and PPC

Well now the above explained concepts are related to what is cement and basic concepts of OPC type and PPC sample and difference between the OPC  and PPC sample used in building construction. OPC stands for ordinary Portland cement and PPC stands for portland pozzoolana cement.  This is available in 33, 43 and 53 grades and PPC is available in specific grades only. The OPC sample is generally used in the major structural compounds constructions generally beams, column, slabs and foundation etc and The PPC type is generally used for plastering works, brick masonry works and water proofing work in buildings etc.

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