Rapid Hardening Portland Cement (RHPC) is a type of cement that is used for special purposes when a faster rate of early high strength is required. RHPC has a higher rate of strength development than the Normal Portland Cement (NPC).
The Rapid Hardening Portland Cement's better strength performance is achieved by increasing the refinement of the product. This is the reason that its use is increasing in India.
Rapid Hardening Portland Cement is manufactured by fusing together limestone (which has been finely grounded) and shale, at extremely high temperatures to produce cement clinker. To this cement clinker, gypsum is added in small quantities and then finely grounded to produce Rapid Hardening Portland Cement. It is usually manufactured using the dry process technology.
Rapid Hardening Portland Cement is used in concrete masonry manufacture, repair work which is urgent, concreting in cold weather, and in pre-cast production of concrete. Rapid Hardening Portland Cement has proved to be a boon in the places where quick repairs are required such as airfield and highway pavements, marine structures, and bridge decks.
The Rapid Hardening Portland Cement should be stored in a dry place, or else its quality deteriorates due to premature carbonation and hydration. As the Indian cement industry produces Rapid Hardening Portland Cement in large quantities, it is able to meet the domestic demand and also export to other countries. The cement industry in India exports cement mainly to the West Asian countries.
The raw materials required for the manufacture of Rapid Hardening Portland Cement are:
- Limestone
- Shale
- Gypsum
- Coke
The major companies producing Rapid Hardening Portland Cement in India are:
- ACC
- Gujarat Ambuja
- J K Cement
- Grasim Industries
- Indian Cement Ltd.
