How to check quality of my cement?
Cement is a basic ingredient to your construction project and thus it becomes imperative that it is of the specified quality. While there are many physical & chemical tests that determine the quality of cement; not many can be performed at your site, especially if you are a Home Owner constructing your home.
Here are a few quick tests you do:
1. Manufacturing/Expiry Date: Cement has an expiry date of 3 months from date of manufacturing & starts loosing strength with time. NEVER buy cement which has crossed 3 months from the date of manufacturing. Such cement is usually available at a much cheaper rate in the market.
Please check the manufacturing time stamp mentioned on the sides of your cement bags. The nomenclature is as follows:
Please note that the Week number is from the start of the year. So W22 denotes 22nd Week from the the start of the year.
2. Lumping: Moisture & Cement dry powder don't go well together. Usually, cement dealers & traders in India do not have proper warehouses and the cement is kept in a tin shed or a small shop. During rains & monsoons, due to higher moisture content, lump formation would start in the cement. This can be easily identified by tapping on the cement bags. If you find lumps & granules, we would not recommend the use of this particular bag.
3. Colour examination: Quality cement possesses a uniform grey colour with a faint greenish tint. This colour is an indicator of the burning process and composition. Dark greenish shades could suggest an excessive amount of lime or clay, affecting the cement's performance and setting characteristics. A consistent, light grey hue is generally an indication of well-processed and high-quality cement.
4. Cement float test: Take a handful of cement and gently release it into a bucket of water. Good-quality cement will initially float on the water's surface before eventually sinking. Impure or low-quality cement, on the other hand, will rapidly sink due to the presence of heavy impurities. This test assesses the density and impurity level of the cement.
These quick tests, while rudimentary, still give a significant assurance to the quality of the cement.