Study of Different Composition of Gypsum as Retarder in Ordinary Portland Cement

Mortar is another construction medium made of cement, which is mixed with sands and water, and lime is applied to increase the product's longevity. The gypsum renders workability to make mortar or concrete by keeping the cement in plastic state at early age of hydration. The gypsum is called the retarding agent of cement because the gypsum which is mainly used for regulating the setting time of cement. To get the optimal setting time for optimum compressive strength, gypsum in the cement needs to be control. Cement setting time when it hydrates and renders cement paste when combined with water. The objective of this research is to analyze the effect of different amount in Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). Vicat apparatus was used to analyze the initial setting time of cement paste. Gypsum and clinker were used in production of mortar with the size 50 mm x 50 mm x 50 mm. This research deals with observation of the cement setting time to point out some differences that would effect to strength of mortar. The results reveal that control gypsum with 4% of gypsum has the highest strength as compared to 0% of gypsum and 8% of gypsum. The setting time of cement paste are discussed with respect to their influence on the strength of mortar.