White Cement Concrete

Mary Gillette

30 March 2004

Questions one might ask:

What makes white cement white? Where is white cement being produced and how is it being used? Does it perform differently from gray Portland cement?

Questions one might ask:

How does this cement choice affect mix design, aggregate choice, and admixture usage? How is construction influenced? Are there different mechanical properties with white cement concrete?

What makes white cement white?

Coloring Oxides make normal Portland cement gray or slightly brown White cement has raw materials that reduce these
Table 1. Coloring Oxides Compound Fe2O3 Mn2O3 Cr2O3 MgO Recommended limit < 0.4 % < 0.02% < 0.01 % < 3% Color influence on clinker gray grayish-violet, reddish-violet greenish greenish-brown

What makes white cement white?

Such raw materials could be white chalk or limestone and china clay (kaolinite).
Remove fine particles, because they contain more coloring oxides

Manufacturing process also controlled so that coloring oxides dont enter clinker
Grinding media, mill lining materials, fuels used in burning

What makes white cement white?

Regulations specifically for whiteness do not exist in USA. They do follow same regulations as normal Portland cement, ASTM C150 White Portland cements are made in Types I, II, III, and V, where I and III are most common

What makes white cement white?

The resulting white cement has the following chemical composition:
Table YYY: Cement compositions Composition Percent by weight, for various cements Gray (type I) C 3S C 2S C 3A C4AF 45 55 20 30 8 12 6 10 White (textbook) 59.4 23.5 12.9 0.6 Aalborg White (types I, II, III, V) 62 25 4 1 Middle East White 48.5 30.5 13.4 0.8

How white is white enough?

Whiteness is measured by comparing reflectance with a reference standard.
Table 2. Whiteness Levels Whiteness Less than 80 % 80 84% 84 88% More than 88% Classification Not white enough Ordinary commercial grades World market quality Obtained only with special raw materials

Where is white P.C. produced?

White Portland cement is produced all around the world:
North America Europe Middle East

Aalborg White (Denmark) is the largest world-wide producer

1.5 million metric tons / year

How is it being used?

Its still a novelty or luxury product
Can make any shape Imitates more expensive, flawed stone

How is it being used?

Can be practical, too
Draws attention, which is good for safety reasons Reflects area lighting which can save on energy costs over time

Does it perform differently?

Mostly, the mechanical properties are assumed to be the same for white and gray Portland cement. However, there are differences in strength gain

Does it perform differently?

Figure 1: Strength gain of white and gray cement concretes

Does it perform differently?

Reasons for this:
High C3A and C3S More silicates more C-S-H, less CH Ground finer

This isnt a significant difference in strength, though

How does it affect mix design?

The mix design:
Is richer in cement
This makes it appear whiter

Has more fine sand

Finer looks lighter

May have a higher water cement ratio

Higher w/c looks lighter

Has very careful aggregate choice

Sands act like pigments Chosen for color and possible staining of paste

How does it affect mix design?

Admixtures Usage
Use ones as close to white as possible. For very white concrete, use:
Silica fume Metakaolin Slag

Superplasticizers more effective

More even adsorption of superplasticizer because less C3A + C4AF. This makes cement more fluid at same dosage

How is construction influenced?

VIGILANCE, constant vigilance with uniformity Use clean, non-staining equipment Keep batches uniform Different w/c will show!

How is construction influenced?

Set time is usually faster: 129 or 100 min versus 166 min Use formwork that doesnt stain and that doesnt leak No untreated wood avoid ones with coloring oxides Use experienced finishers Avoid metal trowels and over-trowelling

Case Study: Jubilee Cathedral

Near Rome in Tor Tre Triste Many cathedrals nearby for comparisonthis one is very different! It upholds the citys rich architectural tradition(but) was always intended to be a work of contemporary architecture, meaningful for our time and one that is marked with openness. Transparency and light cascade down from the skylit roof, literally invading the interior of the churchPeople in the atrium are enveloped with mystical light. -- Richard Meier, architect

Case Study: Jubilee Cathedral

Concrete was precast, post-tensioned by Italcementi Gruppo Designed for aesthetic durability in what they call Bianco TX Millenium
Added titanium dioxide that oxidizes the organic and inorganic air pollutants in the presence of air and light

References
[1] James A. Farny. White Cement Concrete, EB217. Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Illinois, U.S.A, 2001. [2] Enterprise Solutions Group website, http://www.esg-inc.com/cu-5.htm Access on 18 March 2004. [3] D. Kupper and K.-H. Wiemer. Modern technology of white cement manufacture, ZKG International, No. 10 (1986) p 531 541, translated to English for issue No 12 (1986) p 355 360. [4] D. Kupper and W. Schmid-Miel. Process engineering and raw material factors affecting the lightness and hue of white clinker and cement, ZKG International, No. 12 (1987) p 589 597, translated to English for issue No 2 (1988) p 30 32. [5] G. C. Bye. Portland cement: Composition, production and properties. Thomas Telford Publishing, London, 1999, p 5, 164-165. [6] Decorative Concrete: Mixing and Handling White Cement Concrete, Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Illinois. Accessed via internet (www.portcement.org) on 17 March 2004, 9:30pm. [7] Annual Book of ASTM Standards, vol 04.02. ASTM, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, p150 153. [8] White Concrete Technology a world of possibilities. Aalborg White product information (downloaded from www.aalborgwhite.com on 16 March 2004, 8:48pm). [9] S. Chandra and J. Bjornstrom. Influence of cement and superplasticizers type and dosage on the fluidity of cement mortarsPart I, Cement and Concrete Research 32 (2002) p1605 1611. available online at www.sciencedirect.com. [10] Bilal S. Hamad. Investigations of Chemical and Physical Properties of White Cement Concrete, Advanced Cement Based Materials, issue 2 (1995) p 161 167. available online at www.sciencedirect.com. [11] ArchNewsNow, photos by Andrea Jemolo. Iconic Arcs: Jubilee Church by Richard Meier & Partners. Access via internet (http://www.archnewsnow.com/features/Feature123.htm) on 6 March 2004. [12] Italcementi Press Releases, dated 24 October 2003. accessed via the internet (http://www.italcementigroup.com/newsite/Chiesa_2000.htm) on 6 March 2004.