Correct Answer - Option 4 : Increases the rate of strength development and leads to higher shrinkage
Explanation:
Fineness increases the rate of development of strength and hence shrinkage also.
(i) Fineness of cement is a property of cement that indicates particle size of cement and specific surface area and indirectly effect heat of hydration. The fineness of cement affects hydration rate hence the rate of strength gain.
(ii) 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.
(iii) Therefore, finer cement reacts faster with water and the rate of development of strength and corresponding heat of hydration is high. Hence with an increase in fineness of cement, rate of hydration increases but the total amount of heat generation will remain the same.