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Cement

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10 views

Cement

Uploaded by

oceanknowledge0
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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A cement is a binder, a chemical substance used for construction that sets, hardens, and adheres to

other materials to bind them together. Cement is seldom used on its own, but rather to bind sand and
gravel (aggregate) together. Cement mixed with fine aggregate produces mortar for masonry, or with
sand and gravel, produces concrete. Concrete is the most widely used material in existence and is
behind only water as the planet's most-consumed resource.[2]

Cements used in construction are usually inorganic, often lime- or calcium silicate-based, and are either
hydraulic or less commonly non-hydraulic, depending on the ability of the cement to set in the presence
of water (see hydraulic and non-hydraulic lime plaster).

Hydraulic cements (e.g., Portland cement) set and become adhesive through a chemical reaction
between the dry ingredients and water. The chemical reaction results in mineral hydrates that are not
very water-soluble. This allows setting in wet conditions or under water and further protects the
hardened material from chemical attack. The chemical process for hydraulic cement was found by
ancient Romans who used volcanic ash (pozzolana) with added lime (calcium oxide).

Non-hydraulic cement (less common) does not set in wet conditions or under water. Rather, it sets as it
dries and reacts with carbon dioxide in the air. It is resistant to attack by chemicals after setting.

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