33GradeOPC

This cement is used for general civil construction work under normal environmental conditions. The compressive strength of cement
after 28 days test as per BIS specification is 33 MPa. Due to low compressive strength, this cement is normally not used where high
grade of concrete viz, M-20 and above is required. The availability of higher grades of OPC in the market impacts the usage of 33
grade OPC as these days 43 grade OPC is normally used for general construction work. This grade of cement is more useful for
mass concreting and plain cement concreting and can also be used for plastering and single storied individual houses.

OPC 33 is rarely used nowadays by the construction industry, as higher strength cements have
become increasingly popular. Even though OPC 33 is suitable for general uses such as paving,
mass concreting and plain cement concreting, it has mostly been replaced by OPC 43 in all
such applications and finds itself more or less phased out.

43GradeOPC
The 43 grade OPC is the most popular general-purpose cement in the country today. The production of 43 grade OPC is nearly 50%
of the total production of cement in the country.
43 Grade OPC can be used for the following applications:
+ General
+ RCC
+ Precast
+ Asbestos

Civil
works(preferably
items
products

Engineering
where

grade

such

of

as
such

construction
concrete
blocks,

as

is
tiles,

sheets

work.
up

to

M-30).

pipes
and

etc.
pipes.

+ Non-structural works such as plastering, flooring etc.

OPC 43 cement shall conform to IS:8112-1989 and the designed strength of 28 days shall be
minimum 43 MPa or 430 kg/sqcm. Even though 43 Grade cements' early strength is less as
compared to that of 53 Grade, with time it will attain the same ultimate strength as that of 53
Grade cement.
In the case of 43 Grade cement, the initial setting of cement is slower as compared to 53 Grade
cement. In other words, the hydration process and consequently, the release of heat is
moderate and therefore, occurrence of micro cracking is much less and can be easily controlled
by proper curing of the concrete / masonry work.
Unless a project requires very high strength cement, the use of 43 Grade OPC is generally
recommended in general civil construction work such as residential, commercial and industrial
structures. It is used in RCC works, preferably where the grade of concrete is up to M-30. It is
also extensively used in the manufacture of pre-cast items such as blocks, pipes, tiles etc., and
also in asbestos products such as sheets and pipes. Since OPC 33 has mostly been phased out
in the country, OPC 43 is nowadays largely used in plastering, flooring and other non structural
applications where OPC 33 was earlier being used

53GradeOPC
53 Grade OPC is a higher strength cement to meet the needs of the consumer for higher strength concrete. As per BIS
requirements the minimum 28 days compressive strength of 53 Grade OPC should not be less than 53 MPa. For certain specialized
works, such as pre-stressed concrete and certain items of precast concrete requiring consistently high strength concrete, 53 grade
OPC is found very useful. 53 grades OPC produce higher-grade concrete at very economical cement content. In concrete mix
design, for concrete M-20 and above grades a saving of 8 to 10 % of cement may be achieved with the use of 53 grade OPC.
53 Grade OPC can be used for the following applications.
+ RCC

works(Preferably

+ Precast

concrete

where

items

such

grade

of

concrete

is

as

paving

blocks,

tiles

+ Pre-stressed

concrete

M-25
building

and

above)

blocks

etc.

components

+ Runways, concrete Roads, Bridges et

This grade was introduced in the country by BIS in the year 1987 and commercial production
started from 1991. Advent of this grade in the country owes it to the improved technology
adopted by modern cement plants. OPC 53 Grade cement is required to conform to BIS
specification IS:12269-1987 with a designed strength for 28 days being a minimum of 53 MPa
or 530 kg/sqcm. 53 Grade OPC provides high strength and durability to structures because of
its optimum particle size distribution and superior crystallized structure. Being a high strength
cement, it provides numerous advantages wherever concrete for special high strength
application is required, such as in the construction of skyscrapers, bridges, flyovers, chimneys,
runways, concrete roads and other heavy load bearing structures. Not only is this grade of
cement stronger than other grades / types, it is also more durable. Further, by substituting lower
grade cement with OPC 53, overall savings can be obtained through reduced quantity of
cement that would be required to be used. A savings of 8-10% can be achieved with the use of
53 Grade OPC in place of any other grade

Grasim Answers

1. What is grade?
Grade is the 28 days strength when tested as per Indian Standards under standard conditions. If it is 33-grade
cement then it has strength equivalent to 33 MPa (330 kg/cm2). Similarly 43 & 53 grades can be defined.
2. Know more about Ordinary Portland Cement
Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is classified into 3 grades, viz. 33, 43 & 53 grades
Composition:
1.

OPC is produced by inter-grinding clinker with gypsum (approx. 3 to 4%)

2.

BIS permits addition of only upto 1% additive in OPC

Highlights:
1.

OPC is the basic binding material. It forms the base for production of PPC, PSC, etc

2.

Production of OPC in India is approximately 56% of the total production of cement

3.

33 grade is virtually phased out and has been replaced by 43/53 grades

4.

Trend is to use higher grades of OPC. However, 53 grade has reached to 55% of total OPC production in
India

5.

Share of 53 grade is continuously increasing and 43 grade is decreasing

Details on different grades of Cement

SL.No

Grade of Cement

33 Grade Ordinary Portland

Cement(IS: 269 -1989)

43 Grade Ordinary Portland

Cement (IS: 8112 - 1989)

53 Grade Ordinary Portland

CementIS: 12269 - 1987

Details

1.

The compressive strength after 28 days is 33 N/mm2

2.

Used for general construction works in normal

environmental conditions.

3.

Cannot be used where higher grade of concrete above

M-20 is required.

4.

The use of this cement has progressively decreased

and virtually phased out.

1.

Most widely used cement for general construction

work.

2.

Minimum 28 days Compressive Strength -43 N/mm2.

3.

Used for construction of residential, commercial and

industrial buildings, roads, bridges, flyovers, irrigation
projects and other general civil construction works.

4.

Suitable for all types of applications - RCC, Plastering,

Masonry5. Rajashree is the premium OPC 43 brand in
the market giving strength of around 65 MPa at 28
days.

1.

Introduced in 1991 by Grasim - Birla Super.

2.

Minimum 28 days Compressive strength - 53 N/mm2

3.

Gives 10-15% saving in cement consumption & 5-8%

saving in steel consumption provided higher grades of
concrete say M30 and above are used.

4.

Useful for high rise buildings bridges, flyovers,

chimneys and pre-stressed structures where high
grade concrete is required.

5.

Gives better durability characteristics to concrete -high

grade concrete can be made with lower water cement
ratio

4. What is 53-S cement?

Indian Railways was earlier using special grade cement complying to its specification no. IRS T-40 for
manufacturing concrete sleepers. There was an amendment (no. 6) to IS 12269, IRS T-40 cement and then this
was brought under the ambit of BIS. It is now designated as 53-S Ordinary Portland Cement and conforms to 53S (IRS T-40) (IS: 12269-1987).
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Difference between OPC and PPC cement

Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)
The Portland Pozzolana Cement is a kind of Blended Cement which is produced by
either intergrinding of OPC clinker along with gypsum and pozzolanic materials in
certain proportions or grinding the OPC clinker, gypsum and Pozzolanic materials
separately and thoroughly blending them in certain proportions.
Pozzolana is a natural or artificial material containing silica in a reactive form. It may
be further discussed as siliceous or siliceous and aluminous material which in itself
possesses little, or no cementitious properties but will in finely divided form and in
the presence of moisture, chemically react with calcium hydroxide at ordinary
temperature to form compounds possessing cementitious properties. It is essential that
pozzolana be in a finely divided state as it is only then that silica can combine with
calcium hydroxide (liberated by the hydrating Portland Cement) in the presence of
water to form stable calcium silicates which have cementitious properties. The
pozzolanic materials commonly used are:
Volcanic ash
Calcined clay
Fly ash

lica fumes
OPC is environment friendly as well as economical
Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC-53, OPC-43, OPC-33)
OPC-43 GRADE
The 43 grade OPC is the most popular general-purpose cement in the country today.
The production of 43 grade OPC is nearly 50% of the total production of cement in
the country.
The 43 grade OPC can be used for following applications:
General Civil Engineering construction work
RCC works(preferably where grade of concrete is up to M-30)
Pre-cast items such as blocks, tiles, pipes etc
Asbestos products such as sheets and pipes
Non-structural works such as plastering, flooring etc.
The compressive strength of cement when tested as per IS code shall be minimum 43
MPa. The physical and chemical properties of this cement are given in the table:
Physical Characteristics of 43 Grade OPC (BIS Requirement)
Is Code Finene SS (sq.m/k g Min) Soundness by Setting Time Compressive Strength
Lechatlier (mm)max Auto clave Max (%) Initial (mts) min Final (mts) Max 1 day Min
Mpa 3 day Min Mpa 7 day Min Mpa 28 day Min Mpa
(IS 8112- 1989) 225 10 0.8 30 600 Not specified 23 33 43
Chemical Characteristics of 43 Grade OPC (BIS Requirement)
Is Code Lime Saturation Factor Alumina Ration Min Insoluble MgO (%) Sulphuric
Anhydride Loss ignition (%) Max
(IS 8112 - 1989) 0.66 Min 1.02 Max 0.66 3 6 2.5% Max when C3A is 5 or less. 3%
Max when C3A is greater than 5 5