A portland cement ground finer and usually richer in tricalcium silicate, so it hydrates faster than Type I/II. A Type III mix often reaches in 3 days the strength a standard mix needs 7 days to reach. Precast plants, winter pours, fast-track pavement patches and jobs that must strip forms or stress tendons early rely on it, at the price of more heat and a shorter working time.
Order the column mix with Type III cement and hot water, we need to strip those forms tomorrow morning.
On a summer pour Type III can kick before the finishers are ready, so it is a winter and precast tool more than a general fix.
Also heard as
- high-early cement
- HE cement
- high-early
Related terms
Type I/II cement
The everyday portland cement, certified to meet both general-purpose Type I and moderate sulfate-resistant Type II limits.
Accelerator
An admixture that speeds up setting and early strength gain, mostly used in cold weather.
Cold weather concreting
Placing and protecting concrete when air temperatures are at or expected to drop below 40 F.
Maturity method
Estimating in-place concrete strength from its temperature history, recorded by sensors cast into the pour.