Email Address is required Invalid Email Address
In today’s market, it is imperative to be knowledgeable and have an edge over the competition. ACI members have it…they are engaged, informed, and stay up to date by taking advantage of benefits that ACI membership provides them.
Read more about membership
Learn More
Become an ACI Member
Founded in 1904 and headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA, the American Concrete Institute is a leading authority and resource worldwide for the development, dissemination, and adoption of its consensus-based standards, technical resources, educational programs, and proven expertise for individuals and organizations involved in concrete design, construction, and materials, who share a commitment to pursuing the best use of concrete.
Staff Directory
ACI World Headquarters 38800 Country Club Dr. Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3439 USA Phone: 1.248.848.3800 Fax: 1.248.848.3701
ACI Middle East Regional Office Second Floor, Office #207 The Offices 2 Building, One Central Dubai World Trade Center Complex Dubai, UAE Phone: +971.4.516.3208 & 3209
ACI Resource Center Southern California Midwest Mid Atlantic
Feedback via Email Phone: 1.248.848.3800
ACI Global Home Middle East Region Portal Western Europe Region Portal
Home > Tools > Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are blended cements and do they have standard specifications? A. Blended cements are defined by ACI CT-23 as a hydraulic cement consisting of portland cement uniformly mixed with slag cement or pozzolan, or both. These materials are combined to improve the performance of the cement in terms of durability, sustainability, and specific properties such as sulfate resistance. ASTM C595 provides prescriptive-based specifications for specific blended cements that consist of portland-cement clinker ground or blended with suitable proportions of limestone, granulated blast-furnace slag or natural or artificial pozzolans. These include portland-limestone cement (Type IL), portland blast-furnace slag cement (Type IS), portland pozzolan cement (Type IP), and ternary blended cement. ASTM also provides a performance-based specification with no prescriptive requirements (ASTM C1157). References: SP-1(02); ACI 225R-23; ACI PRC-232.1-12; ACI PRC-233-17 ; CT-23;E3-13; ASTM C595; ASTM C1157 Topics in Concrete: Cementitious Material in Concrete; Materials in Concrete; Pozzolan
Q. What are blended cements and do they have standard specifications?
A. Blended cements are defined by ACI CT-23 as a hydraulic cement consisting of portland cement uniformly mixed with slag cement or pozzolan, or both. These materials are combined to improve the performance of the cement in terms of durability, sustainability, and specific properties such as sulfate resistance. ASTM C595 provides prescriptive-based specifications for specific blended cements that consist of portland-cement clinker ground or blended with suitable proportions of limestone, granulated blast-furnace slag or natural or artificial pozzolans. These include portland-limestone cement (Type IL), portland blast-furnace slag cement (Type IS), portland pozzolan cement (Type IP), and ternary blended cement. ASTM also provides a performance-based specification with no prescriptive requirements (ASTM C1157).
References: SP-1(02); ACI 225R-23; ACI PRC-232.1-12; ACI PRC-233-17 ; CT-23;E3-13; ASTM C595; ASTM C1157
Topics in Concrete: Cementitious Material in Concrete; Materials in Concrete; Pozzolan
Search other resources on the ACI website for answers to technical questions