Several types of Portland cement having different characteristics are
distinguished. The most important variables are the rare of hardening,
the rate and total extent of heat evolution during hydration, and the
resistance of hardened cement to chemical attack by sulphate and,chlo
ride solutions. The aim of the present work was to prepare three types
of Portland cement, namely types I, II and IV, in the laboratory from
locally available raw materials, and to study their hydration kinetic
s, development of compressive strength as well as the aggressive attac
k of 4 wt. % MgCl2 solution on hardened pastes of the three Portland c
ements and of sulphate resisting cement pastes. The results show that
the kinetics of hydration and the susceptibility to corrosion by chlor
ides increase with increasing LSF of the cement.