Cement: Its Many Uses And Types
Milton Felton
Cement is a substance that makes many of the modern structures
we see today possible. While many people tend to think that
there is only type of cement, there are in fact a few different
types of cement in use today.
The most common type is known as Portland cement. Portland
cement is commonly used for producing concrete. Concrete itself
is simply a mixture gravel, sand, cement and water. The cement
is what makes it possible for concrete to be shaped and
hardened. Cement is a binder that activates when combined with
water and binds other materials together. Portland cement is a
hydraulic cement meaning that is fast setting and is formulated
to expand slightly. Portland cement contains very basic
materials. Limestone, chalk and certain clay materials are
heated to over 2600 degrees Fahrenheit. This causes a partial
fusion and causes the formation of clinker.
Clinker is then combined with gypsum to produce Portland
cement. Mixing water with the cement will then start chemical
process that will begin to harden the mixture. Portland cement
is fast setting and usually it sets in a few hours. Once
hardened, the cement will need to cure for a period of time.
During the time the cement mixture hardens and strengthens.
Soon it can become the load bearing part of a large structure.
Cement also makes it possible to make fixtures for home and
gardens using concrete. Because it sets relatively quickly,
cement structures can take on just about any shape as long as
you can build a frame for it. Something as simple as a garden
water feature can become an elaborate piece of art with the
right planning. Many people are being turned onto using
concrete as the material for their kitchen and bathroom
countertops.
Care should be taken to allow plenty of time for the piece to
cure, a structure may look and feel hard but in order to
produce a premium surface the maximum amount of time must be
allowed. Doing this will ensure the strength and durability of
the materials.
About The Author: Milton Felton writes for
http://www.cementvault.com , a
website packed with information
on Cement Benches and Rubber Cement
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