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PS:612-1989

PAKISTAN STANDARD

SPECIFICATION FOR
SULPHATE RESISTING PORTLAND CEMENT
(Type A, Type B)

(ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

PAKISTAN STANDARDS AND QUALITY CONTROL AUTHORITY
Standards Development Centre,
39 – Garden Road, Saddar,
Karachi-74400.
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PS: 612-1989

PAKISTAN STANDARD SPECIFICATION

FOR
SULPHATE RESISTING PORTLAND CEMENT

0. FOREWORD

0.1 This Pakistan Standard has been revised by the authority of the general council of
Pakistan Standards Institution after a draft prepared by the Sectional Committee for
Cement and Lime (BDC-5) had been approved and endorsed by the Building
Materials Divisional Council on 1989 in order to bring it into line with present
practice followed in' the production and testing of cement.

0.2 There is at present no reliable direct test for sulphate resistance other than prolonged
storage of concrete or mortar specimens in sulphate solutions and this type of test is
not suitable as the basis for a standard. However, experimental work and practical
experience have shown that a considerable degree of sulphate resistance is conferred
on Portland Cement if the tricalcium aluminate content is limited to a maximum of
3.5% by mass of the cement. In all other respects, apart from small differences in
compressive strength and fineness, sulphate. resisting portland cement is an ordinary
portland cement,

0.3 In preparing this standard the views and suggestions of all the interests have been
taken into full consideration in addition to the British Standards Specification
BS-4027:1980 and PS: 232/1983 (R) which is acknowledged with thanks.

0.4 Detailed test methods of testing and method of sampling are described in .the
Pakistan Standards Specifications PS: 232/1983(R} in the form of appendices and
this standard gives only the specification requirements with cross references to the
appropriate appendices of PS:232/1983(R). It should be noted in particular that
various details of the concrete cube strength test have been made more stringent in
order to produce more consistent results.

0.5 Specified minima for compressive strength are given at ages of 3 days and 7 days.
28 days strength requirement has been made optional. It may be provided in the test
certificates on demand by the purchaser.

0.6 Information on the standard consistence of cement paste given in Clause-7 of the
PS: 612/1967 has now been incorporated into the clause on setting time.

0.7 In addition to the information provided in Clause-9, users can consult the cement
manufacturer on an informal basis about the provision of information additional to
that referred to in the standard. For example, when required, this cement can be
produced with a low alkali content (not exceeding the maximum value of 0.6%
equivalent Na2O accepted in other countries) for use in concrete made with
aggregates suspected of reacting with the alkali contained in the cement in the
presence of moisture.
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0.8 Pakistan Standards are subject to revision from time to time and any suggestion
received in this regard will be placed before the Sectional Committee.

1. SC0PE

This Pakistan Standard, specified requirements for the composition, the manufacture,
the chemical and physical properties, certification by the manufacturer, independent
testing and marking of sulphate resisting portland cement.

2. COMPOSITION AND MANUFACTURE

2.1 The Cement shall be obtained by pulverizing clinker, consisting mostly of calcium
silicates obtained by heating to partial fusion a predetermined and homogeneous
mixture of materials containing principally lime (CaO) and silica (SiO2) with a
smaller proportion of alumina (A12O3) and iron oxide (Fe2O3). The amount of
tricalcium aluminate shall be limited so that its content in the cement will not exceed
the amount stated in Clause-5.2.

2.2 The Cement shall contain no additives except water or gypsum or an-hydride, or other
derivatives of calcium sulphate, or any combination of test substances. The amounts
of addition shall be such that the limits shown for sulphuric anhydrite and loss on
ignition are not exceeded.

2.3 Metallic iron from the grinding process shall not be regarded as an addition.

3. TESTS

3.1 The Sample or samples shall be taken as described in Clause-11, shall be tested in the
manner specified for:

a) fineness (Clause-4);
b) chemical composition (Clause-5);
c) compressive strength (Clause-6);
d) setting time (Clause-7);
e) soundness (Clause-8).

4. FINENESS

4.1 The Cement when tested for fineness by the method described in Appendix-A of
PS: 232/1983(R), shall have a specific surface of not less than 250 m2/kg (2500
sqcm/g) .
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5. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

5.1 Lime saturation factor (LSF)

The lime saturation factor shall be not grater than 1.02 and not less than 0.66 when
calculated by the formula:

LSF = (CaO) - 0.7 (SO3)

2.8 (SiO2 1.2(Al2O3) + 0.65 (Fe2O3)

Where each symbol in parentheses refers to the percentage: (by mass of total cement)
of the oxide, as determined by the methods described in Appendix-B/1 for SiO2,
Appendix-B/2 for CaO, Appendix-B/3 for Al2O3, Appendix-B/4 for Fe2O3 and
Appendix-B/5 for SO3 of Pakistan Standard PS: 232/1983(R) excluding any
contained in the insoluble residue referred to in Clause-5.3 of this standard.

5.2 Tricalcium aluminate

The tricalcium aluminate (C3A) content shall not exceed 3.5% when calculated by the
formula;

C3A = 2.65 (A12O3 ) - 1.69 (Fe2O3 ) %

where the symbols in parentheses have the same meaning as in Clause-5.1 above and:
C = CaO
A = A12O3

5.3 Insoluble residue

The mass of insoluble residue, as determined by the method described in Appendix-C

of PS: 232/1983(R), shall not exceed 2.0%.

5.4 Magnesia

The mass of magnesia, as determined by the method described-in Appendix-D of

PS: 232/1983(R), shall not exceed 4.0%.

5.5 Sulphuric anhydride

The mass of total sulphur, expressed as SO3 and determined by the method described
in Appendix-E of PS: 232/1983(R) shall not exceed 2.5%.

5.6 Loss on ignition

The loss on ignition, as determined by the method described in Appendix-F of

PS: 232/1983(R), shall not exceed 3.0% for cement in temperate climates or 4.0% for
cement in tropical climates.
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6. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

6.1 General

There will be two types of sulphate resisting cement i.e. type-A "Sulphate resisting
portland cements" and type-B "High-strength sulphate resisting cement" compressive
strength value; for concrete cube and mortar cube tests are marked in table-1 and
table-2. The cement shall be tested for compressive strength by one of the methods
specified in Clause-6.2 and 6.3 as agreed between the vender and purchaser at the
time of placing the order. In the event of a dispute a retest shall be carried out in the
presence of representative of the two parties concerned.

6.2 Method-1, Concrete cube test

The average compressive strength of three concrete cubes, prepared, stored and tested
as described in Appendix-G of PS: 232/1983(R) are marked in table-1 for both types
of cement.

6.3 Method-2, Mortar cube test

The average compressive strength of three mortar cubes, prepared, stored and tested
as described in Appendix-H of PS:232/1983(R) are marked table-2.

TABLE-1: CONCRETE CUBES (COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH IN N/MM2)

Sulphate resisting High strength
Portland cement sulphate resisting
Curing period portland cements
type-A
type-B

3 days (72 ± 1 h) 8.5 10

7 days (168 ± 2 h) 14 17

28 days (Optional) 19 27

TABLE-2: MORTAR CUBES (COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH IN N/MM2)

Sulphate resisting High strength
Portland cement sulphate resisting
Curing period portland cements
type-A
type-B

3 days (72 ± 1 h) 15.0 20.0

7 days (168 ± 2 h) 23.5 29.5

28 days (Optional test) 34.0 39.0

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7. SETTING TIME

7.1 The Setting times of cement paste of standard consistence as determined by the
method described in Appendix-I and Appendix-J of PS:232/1983(R) shall be:

initial setting time: not less than 45 minutes;

final setting time; not more than 10 hrs.

8. SOUNDNESS

8.1 The Cement shall not have an expansion of more than 10 mm when tested for
soundness by the method described in Appendix-K of PS:232/1983(R).

8.2 If the cement fails to comply with this requirement, a further test shall be made by the
same method on another portion of the same sample after it has been aerated by being
spread out to a depth of 70mm to 80mm at a relative humidity of 50% to 80% for a
total period of 7 days. The expansion of this aerated sub sample shall not exceed
5 mm.

9. MANUFACTURERS’S CERTIFICATE:

9.1 The manufacturer shall be satisfied that the cement at the time of its delivery
complies with the requirements of this Pakistan Standard and, if requested, he shall
forward a certificate to this effect to the purchaser or his representative. The
certificate shall include the results of tests on samples of cement relating to the
material delivered. The following test information shall be provided:

fineness, compressive strength at 3 days and 28 days, initial and final setting times,
and soundness.

9.2 If requested, the compressive strength at 7 days shall be made available,

10. INDEPENDENT TESTS

10.1 If the purchaser or his representative requires independent tests, they shall be carried
out in accordance with this Pakistan Standard on the written instructions of the
purchaser or his representative.

11. SAMPLING

11.1 If a sample is required for independent test, it shall be taken, at the option of the
purchaser or his representative, before delivery or within one week, after delivery of
the cement, by the method described in Appendix-L. The tests shall be commenced
within 4 weeks of delivery. If the vendor so desires, he or his representative shall be
present at the sampling.

12. FACILITIES FOR SAMPLING AND IDENTIFYING

12.1 When a sample of cement for testing is to be taken on the premises of the vendor, he
shall afford every facility and provide all labour and materials for taking and packing
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the sample and, as far as possible, for subsequently identifying the cement sampled.

Note.— It is recognized that there may sometimes be difficulty in complying with the
requirement for identification since it may not be possible to identify a
particular consignment of cement after it has been placed with other cement
in a silo on the user's site.

13. COMPLIANCE

13.1 Any consignment, or part of a consignment, which, when sampled in accordance with
Clause-11 fails to comply with any one or more of the requirements of this standard,
shall be deemed not to comply with this Pakistan Standard.

14. CEMENT IN TROPICAL CLIMATES

14.1 The temperature specifically mentioned at Clause-3 of Appendix-I of PS:232/1983(R)

are applicable to temperate climates. Cement intended for use in tropical climates
may be tested at temperatures exceeding 21°C*. When so tested, cement complying
with the requirements herein specified for temperate climates shall be deemed to
comply with this Pakistan Standard.

15. M A R K1 N G

15.1 Sulphate resisting portland cement manufactured in compliance with this Pakistan
Standard shall be marked in relation to the product (e.g. on the bag, the
manufacturer’s certificate, the delivery note or the invoice, etc.) with the following
particulars:

*When cement is tested at temperatures above 21°C the-strength and setting time
requirements may be altered by agreement between the purchaser and the vendor. It
should be noted that on increase in the testing temperature increases the early
compressive strength and reduces the setting time.

(a) the name, trade mark or other means of identification of the vendor;

(b) the name of the material, i.e. sulphate resisting portland cement type-A and type—B;

(c) the number and year of this Pakistan Standard, i.e. PS:612;

(d) PSI Certification Mark.