The usage of ultra-fine cement as an admixture to increase the compressive strength of Portland cement mortars

The High-Strength Cement (HSC) technology is based on modification of Normal Use Portland Cement (NUPC) by complex admixtures, optimization of mixture design and grinding process. The present work shows the results of preparing and using Ultra-Fine Cement (UFC) as a binder material addition with no extra admixtures of different chemical composition to increase the compressive strength of mortars. The aim of this work is to demonstrate how a NUPC can be converted into a sort of HSC; it was observed that the 70–60 wt%NUPC + 30–40 wt%UFC blend satisfies the goal of increasing mortar’s compressive strength.

► UFC used as a substitution of the binder material leads to optimize the cement PSD.
► The largest compressive strength was shown by the mixture of 30 wt%UFC and 70 wt%CPC30R.
► The material becomes more brittle when UFC amount increases and W/C ratio is reduced.
► Only a 30–40 wt% of UFC is required to improve mechanical properties.
► The use of costly additions may be disregarded, getting as a result a less expensive product.