The effect of sugar cane juice on setting times of various types of cement produced in Nigeria

Abstract

The objective of this research is to investigate the influence of Sugar Cane Juice (SCJ) on the setting times of various cement pastes. Sugar Cane Juice is incorporated with four different types of cement brands commonly found in Nigeria. The test results revealed that under normal curing conditions (Temperature=22⁰C) and Relative Humidity = 60%), the efficiency of SCJ in retarding all four types of cement setting increases with increasing SCJ content. For three out of the four brands of cement, the initial setting times remained constant between 0 and 5%., After 5% SCJ content, the initial setting time increased as the SCJ content was increased. For the EAGLE cement brand, the initial setting and final setting times, remained constant between 0 and 3% SCJ content. The final setting times for the UNICEM, IBETO and EAGLE cement remained constant at between 0 and 5% SCJ content. Thereafter, the final setting time increased as the SCJ content increased. The final setting time for the DANGOTE cement experienced an increase immediately after the 0% SCJ content.

Keywords: sugar cane juice, setting time, cement paste