In the context of cement blends, which statement is true about the relationship between cement type and SCM in blended cement?

• A. Blended cement consists of Type II or Type V cement with SCM
• B. Blended cement must be Type I cement
• C. Blended cement excludes SCM
• D. Blended cement uses only Type II cement

Answer: (A)

Blended cement combines a Portland cement base with supplementary cementitious materials to tailor performance. In practice, the cement portion is typically Type II or Type V, and SCMs such as fly ash, slag, or silica fume are added to create the blended product. This pairing allows improved durability, reduced heat of hydration, and better sulfate resistance, depending on the needs of the mix. It’s not required to use Type I, and SCMs are a defining part of blended cement, so using only Type II or excluding SCMs would not describe the typical blended cement practice.