OPC 53 or OPC 43- What is the right choice for you?

Every cement supplier in India classifies their product as per the Bureau of Indian Standards, which in turn derives its values from the British Code. Ordinary portland cement or OPC is graded as per strength. The grade in OPC 53 and OPC 43 indicates the compression strength (in MPa). The cement supplier, when quoting a grade indicates the compressive strength achieved by a cube cast after 28 days (equivalent to a month). OPC 53 achieves 53 MPa while OPC 43 achieves 43 MPa respectively.

Ordinary Portland Cement Grade 43

By far the most popular, 50% of the general-purpose cement supply in India is OPC 43. It can be used in almost all concrete cases like slip-form constructions, masonry work, pre-cast concrete, and manufacturing cement-based products like pipes, blocks, tiles, etc. It is rapidly replacing OPC 33 in areas of plastering, flooring, and other non-structural applications.

The initial setting time is higher when it comes to OPC 43, and there is a lesser release of heat as compared to faster drying cement. This lowers the risk of micro-cracking and the curing process is thus easier. Cement suppliers recommend 43 Grade OPC in most civil construction work like residential, commercial, and industrial settings. With time, OPC 43 also reaches the same strength as 53 grade cement.

Ordinary Portland Cement Grade 53

With the development in technology and modern manufacturing plants, cement suppliers in India started producing 53 grade cement in the early 1990s. This mixture attains higher early strength, achieving nearly complete load-bearing capacity within 28 days. It is highly advantageous for high-strength applications like flyovers, bridges, skyscrapers, runways, and other heavy-load-bearing structures.

Not only limited to the cement supplier, the success of using 53 grade OPC also lies with the construction supervisors. From mixing in correct quantities to curing the concrete properly and managing higher heat of hydration issues, the process requires both quality control and good supervision. These micro-fissures may not even be visible on the surface but can ruin structural integrity from the inside.

Applications

The primary difference is in setting times, and hence a cement supplier will suggest the same based on the nature of the project. Grade 53 OPC cement is primarily used in pre-stressed and RCC applications, and Grade 43 OPC cement is used where initial setting time is not a priority. The setting times are vastly different, with Grade 53 OPC achieving almost complete structural integrity within 28 days.

Prices

43 grade cement is generally 2–3% cheaper when compared to 53 grade cement. Having said that, the correct utilization of 53 grade cement by an experienced construction crew can save up to 10% through the reduced quantity of cement required.

Brands

As a centralized digital platform, OfBusiness offers numerous cement suppliers based on your site’s location and requirements. The cement supplier list at your disposal includes Birla Cement, Ambuja Cement, ACC, Shree Cement, JK Lakshmi Cement, etc. We provide the best prices possible with little to no hassle involved and deliver right to your site.