The use of cellulose, instead of asbestos, in the fibre cement composites manufacture, using the Hatschek process, reduces cement retention and makes necessary to use a flocculant which is crucial for the plant productivity. The use of different types and doses of polyacrylamides (PAM) as well as the addition process, have been studied to obtain an in-depth knowledge of floc properties. A real-time methodology has been used to study size, shape, strength and reversibility of formed floes, based on a focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) system. The results have been corroborated by particle vision and measurement (PVM) analysis. This paper shows that anionic PAM (A-PAM) are the most suitable to induce cement flocculation and to obtain optimal properties of the formed floes. This is because the flocculation process is enhanced by the interaction of the Ca2+ ions, produced by the cement hydration, with the carboxylic groups of the polymer chains. Cations not only increase the stiffness of the chains, improving floc strength, they also enhance the importance of the patching aggregation mechanism when the initial bridges are broken. Higher molecular weight polymers improve initial aggregation but the effect of anionic charge is more important for a stable flocculation with time under variable shear conditions. Results show that the optimal dosage is between 100 and 200 ppm. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.