concretebasics.org: your guide to cement & concrete

Types of Cement

Rapid Hardening Cement

Rapid hardening, high-early strength, hydraulic cement is used in construction applications, such as fast-track paving, where fast strength development is needed (design or load carrying strength in about four hours).

FAQ

Are Rapid Hardening Cements same as Quick setting cements?

These cements are ground finer (thereby exposing greater surface area for action of water) and have higher proportion of C₃S (for faster hydration). These cements often use calcium sulfoaluminate to obtain early strength.

These cements develop the strength corresponding to 7 days strength of ordinary OPC in just 3 days.

These cements should not be used in mass concrete works as they release much greater heat of hydration.

These cements are used for road repair works, in cold weather concreting, pre-fabricated concrete construction & in situations where early removal of formwork is required.