Cement

A FUNDAMENTAL MATERIAL IN CONSTRUCTION

Cement is a powder and mineral substance that acts as an adhesive and sticks the particles of aggregates (such as sand and gravel) together.Therefore, cement is considered one of the most important materials in the construction industry and has many diverse applications.

HOW CEMENT WORKS

  • Mixing with water: To create a smooth paste called cement slurry, dry cement is mixed with water.
  • Hydration: Hydration happens when water interacts with cement compounds in a chemical reaction.
  • Formation of hydration products: Hydration products consist of crystalline structures formed when cement particles react with water molecules.
  • Tightening and hardening: A network that hardens over time is formed by the intertwining of hydration products.The aggregate particles are bonded together by this network, which makes concrete stronger and more resistant.

TYPES OF CEMENT

Portland cement: The most common type of cement is Portland cement, which is produced in various types such as type 1, type 2, and type 5, and has a variety of uses.

Lime cement: Lime cement is not commonly used today because of its low resistance to water.

Pozzolanic cement: A mixture of Portland cement and pozzolanic materials (like fly ash) is used to produce this type of cement, it is used in concrete structures that are exposed to sulfates due to its high resistance to sulfates.

Quick setting cement: Constructions that require high speed can use quick setting cement due to its fast setting (hardening) properties.

TYPES OF CEMENT

Retardant cement: For constructions that require more time for molding and placement of concrete, retardant cement is used due to its retarding property (slow hardening).

White cement: The use of white cement on buildings’ facades is attributed to its white color, which is produced from raw materials with high purity.

Colored cement: The production of colored cement involves adding different pigments to white cement and is utilized in colored facades of buildings.

APPLICATIONS OF CEMENT

Construction of concrete: The most important application of cement is the construction of various types of concrete, which are used in various constructions such as sidewalks, roads, bridges, buildings and hydraulic structures.

Mortar making: The creation of mortar involves mixing cement, sand, and water, which is employed in masonry and bricklaying.

Staining and repair: A mixture of cement, sand, and water is utilized to stain and repair concrete surfaces that have been damaged.

Other applications: Prefabricated concrete parts, cement blocks, mosaics, and other building materials are produced using cement.