Portland cement is an astringent substance widely used in various areas of construction. It has similar characteristics to conventional cement, but it differs in physical and chemical properties. Externally it looks like a powder of a gray-green color, but in a frozen state it resembles a stone. Also there is Portland cement of other colors, which is due to the use of special dyes. When adding water to the powder and after drying it takes a stone-like state.
Contents of
- What is Portland Cement?
- Application
- Composition and production
- Types and brands of Portland cement
- Portland cement specifications
- Properties
- Advantages and disadvantages
What is portland cement?
Building cement is a substance where the main constituents are calcium aluminates and silicates. All knitting substances( cements) come in several groups:
- based on Portland cement clinker;
- based on alumina clinker.
Portland cement refers to the first group. This is the most important substance of building cements. The basis of the material is calcium silicate, which is also referred to as portland. The name of the material comes from the island of Portland, in whose territory a gray stone is mined.
Application of
Portland cement application is quite wide. The building material is used for manufacturing and manufacturing:
- concrete, reinforced concrete;
- of strong plaster solutions;
- floor screed;
- clutches;
- various reinforced concrete structures.
Composition and production of
Portland cement composition is limestone, gypsum and clinker clay of special processing. Correction additives determine the technical characteristics and use options, giving the material specific properties:
- a certain density;
- pour point;
- resistance to unfavorable, technogenic factors.
Manufacture is based on a calcium silicate base. To adjust the setting apply gypsum. Production is carried out by burning a certain mixture with a predominance of calcium.
Types and brands of portland cement
The following portland cement grades are used in construction: M300, M400, M500, M550 and M600.The choice of building material should be carried out depending on the required properties.
Usage options are determined by possible additives. There are several types of portland cement:
- road;
- is hydrophobic;
- is sulfate-resistant;
- plasticized and others.
An important characteristic of the material is the fineness of the grind, which determines the strength and speed of solidification.
When mixing powder with water, an elastic mass is obtained, which after a certain time freezes, forming a strong and hard stone-like material.
Portland cement specifications
Portland cement specifications M500 grade D0:
Portland cement specifications grade M400 D0:
Properties
The main properties of Portland cement are:
- durability;
- strength;
- frost resistance;
- waterproof.
The substance is capable of withstanding a rather high load. This indicator is determined by the brand of the material.
Advantages and disadvantages of
The main advantage of Portland cement is water resistance, strength, resistance to low temperatures. High-quality material has no sedimentary deformation and does not form small cracks. The shortcomings include minor volumetric deformations when solidifying a low-quality product, which should be taken into account when working, also providing shrinkage seams.
The cost of production depends on the manufacturer, brand and volume. The choice should be made taking into account the planned use of the substance. More information you can find out by reading the photos and videos on the site, as well as reading reviews.
