Comparison 43 grade ordinary Portland cement vs 53 grade ordinary Portland cement
IS Designation
43 grade ordinary Portland cement

This type of cement should confirm according to IS:8112-1989

53 grade ordinary Portland cement

This type of cement should confirm according to IS:12269-1987

Uses
43 grade ordinary Portland cement

43 grade cement is used in general Civil Engineering construction work i.e. brick masonry, plastering, pointing, flooring and in RCC Work etc.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

53 grade ordinary Portland cement

53 grades of cement are used where high early strength in 1 to 28 days range is required. These days ‘Structural Engineers’ propose these cements mainly for RCC works, where a member takes high tensile stress.

Design Strength
43 grade ordinary Portland cement

Design Strength for 28 days= 430 kg/ sq cm

53 grade ordinary Portland cement

Design Strength for 28 days= 530 kg/ sq cm

Strength with time
43 grade ordinary Portland cement

43 grade cement early strength is less but with time it will attain same strength as 53 grades.

53 grade ordinary Portland cement

53 grade cement attain early strength. Does not increase much after 28 days.

Initial setting of mix or hydration process.
43 grade ordinary Portland cement

In 43 grade cement the initial setting of cement is slow than 53 grade cement. In other words, the hydration process is not so fast i.e. release of heat is less as in case of 53 grade and micro cracking is less which is control by proper curing of concrete.

53 grade ordinary Portland cement

In addition, due to faster hydration process, the concrete releases heat of hydration at much faster rate initially and release of heat is the highest in case of 53 grades. The heat of hydration being higher, the chances of micro-cracking of concrete is much greater. Thus during initial setting period of concrete, the higher heat of hydration can lead to the damage of micro-cracking within the concrete which may not be visible at surface. 
 
This cracking is different from shrinkage or cracks which occur due to faster dryness of concrete in windy conditions. The situation can be worse when we tend to increase the quantity of the cement in concrete with a belief that such increments are better for both strength and durability of concrete. 
 
Thus it is very essential to be very careful in advance that higher grade cement specially GRADE 53 SHOULD be used only where such use is warranted for making the concrete of higher strength and also where good quality assurance measures are in place by which proper precautions are taken to relieve the higher heat of hydration through chilling of aggregates or by proper curing of concrete 

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