PHILIPPINES: Blended cement next generation building material, says CEMAP

Local cement producers are promoting the use of blended cement as an attractive option for basic construction material to strengthen or enhance most major infrastructure projects in the country.

The move is also seen as an answer to the strong consumption of cement in the past two years especially last year, 2010 which posted the highest annual cement consumption for the country. This is the first time that the previous highest annual demand recorded in 1997 has been exceeded.

Ernesto M. Ordoñez, president of the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CEMAP), said that blended cement is appropriate for many applications in the country’s burgeoning construction industry.

Noel de la Cruz, a recognized authority on cement testing and the Cement Testing Center’s Executive Director, strongly recommends blended cement for many of the Philippines’ various construction activities. While Portland cement is used due to its high early strength and is appropriate for other applications, blended cement is utilized because of its durability, performance in severe ambiance, sustainable construction (CO2 emissions) and economics.

Noel de la Cruz said blended cement is a mixture of Portland cement clinker, gypsum and pozzolan while Portland cement is made up of clinker and gypsum only. With less clinker (less limestone or CACO3) used in the production of blended cement, there is less CO2 emissions, reducing negative impact to the environment. The exigence of more eco-friendly approach by the manufacturing sector in its operations is a pressing reality. The cement industry responds to this exigency through the production of blended cement.

Blended cement, therefore increases the available capacity of producing more cement of cement firms because it uses less clinker. Blended cement is usually more efficient economically because it permits the industry to maximize other available cementitious materials different than clinker. The capability of the cement industry is better enhanced to better serve the infrastructure and housing program of the government.

Contrary to the belief of many, cement with less clinker is not inferior. The standards set by government for blended cement in combination with the rigorous testing methods observed by the CeMAP members ensures that the quality of blended cement will be more than sufficient for its many applications.

De la Cruz said blended cement has better workability and it increases the ultimate strength of concrete. He pointed out that finely ground pozzolan in blended cement contains silica that reacts with the lime in cement forming cementitious materials that fill in the air voids in the concrete making the concrete denser and more durable.

“Blended cement can prevent the penetration of chemicals that may weaken concrete, cause the corrosion of steel as well as other structures,” de la Cruz pointed out.