Effect of soaps on the properties of portland cement

Abstract

Calcium and sodium stearate soap additions in the ordinary portland cement have been studied by mixing 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 per cent respectively by weight of cement. Cement and sand mortar in the ratio of 1:3 with different percentages of additives were tested for workability and water retention properties. It was observed that calciumsoap was more effective in increasing the workability and sodium soap in water retention property. Setting time on the neat cement with additives indicated that both the soaps acted as accelerator and both the initial and as well as the final setting time were reduced in each case. The tensile strength of cement was not affected much in the case of calcium soap addition while a little lowering in strength was observed in the case of sodium soap. © 1979 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.