# Portland Cement Fineness

Fineness, or particle size of portland cement affects hydration rate and thus the rate of strength gain.

- Canonical URL: https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/testing/cement-tests/portland-cement-fineness/
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Review: reviewed by licensed professional engineers on the previous Pavement Interactive site, where reviewers were not recorded by name
- Standards: AASHTO T 128, AASHTO T 153, AASHTO T 192, AASHTO T 98, ASTM C115, ASTM C184, ASTM C204, ASTM C430

Fineness, or particle size of portland cement affects [hydration rate](https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/materials/portland-cement/introduction/) and thus the rate of strength gain. The smaller the particle size, the greater the surface area-to-volume ratio, and thus, the more area available for water-cement interaction per unit volume. The effects of greater fineness on strength are generally seen during the first seven days (PCA, 1988[^1]).

## Standard Test Methods

- AASHTO T 98 and ASTM C 115: Fineness of Portland Cement by the Turbidimeter.
- AASHTO T 128 and ASTM C 184: Fineness of [Hydraulic Cement](https://pavementinteractive.org/glossary/hydraulic-cement/) by the 150-mm (No. 100) and 75-mm (No. 200) Sieves
- AASHTO T 153 and ASTM C 204: Fineness of Hydraulic Cement by Air [Permeability](https://pavementinteractive.org/glossary/permeability/) Apparatus
- AASHTO T 192 and ASTM C 430: Fineness of Hydraulic Cement by the 45-mm (No. 325) Sieve

## Sources

[^1]: PCA (1988). Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures. 13th edition. Portland Cement Association. Skokie, IL.