Whether you are at home or at any establishment, if you take a quick look around you, you will see that most of the materials were made of cement. Often, people use “cement” and “concrete” interchangeably. Although the two terms are related, the two are actually different. What exactly is cement and what are its uses? Read to learn more.
What is cement?
Cement is a material used to bond different materials to produce a solid finished product to be used in construction. Cement starts as fine powder, usually gray in color. When mixed with water and other materials, it solidifies into concrete or mortar. While cement is just an ingredient, concrete is a finished product made of cement and other materials.
How is cement made?
You may know cement as fine and powdery, but before it becomes powder used in creating concrete, cement goes through a production process.
The first step involves harvesting different raw materials through digging, dredging, and quarrying. Different raw materials can be obtained through these different ways of harvesting. The raw materials obtained through digging are clay and marl. Through dredging the ocean floor, shells can be obtained. Meanwhile, rocks are obtained through quarrying.
These raw materials are then transported to a plant where they are ground and crushed until they are small enough for another round of crushing. Then, the mineral contents of these raw materials are analyzed. They should be of proper proportion before they are blended to produce the right type of cement. Once blended, they go through another round of crushing, but this time through fine grinding.
After fine grinding, the materials are burned in a large kiln for hours until they become clinkers or stone-like materials. These clinkers are about the size of marbles. They are then stored inside a cooler until they are ready for the finish grinding.
Finish grinding is further divided into two parts—primary and secondary. In primary grinding, the clinkers are grounded until they are fine as sand. In secondary grinding, they are grounded even more to make them have a texture similar to that of flour. They are then packed and shipped to stores and construction sites.
What are the types of cement and their application?
Cement comes in different types, and each has particular uses, be it in residential or commercial construction. Here are some of the most common types of cement and their applications.
Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)
Also known as Type 1 cement, OPC is one of the most widely used types of cement. This type is available worldwide and is used to produce concrete, mortar, and plaster for the construction of buildings, masonry, and wall finish. Type 1 has available blended variants such as Types 1P, P, IS, IL, and IT.
Portland Pozzolan Cement (PPC)
PPC has an excellent surface finish, so it is used in decorative structures. It is also often used in the construction of bridges, piers, dams, and sewage work.
Rapid Hardening Cement
This is a type of cement that can be used for rapid construction. Because it hardens fast and is highly durable, it is used in pavement construction.
Low Heat Cement
This cement has low hydration heat, so it is used in the construction of gravity dams, wind turbine plinths, and other massive concrete constructions.
Sulfates Resisting Cement
As the name implies, this cement resists sulfates, so it is recommended if construction will be in contact with soil or groundwater with more than 0.2% or 0.3% g/l sulfate salts. This type is also best for concrete surfaces that are exposed to wetting and drying alternately, like buildings near shorelines or bridge piers.
Blast Furnace Cement
This type of cement is also used in constructing concrete that will be subjected to sulfate exposure because it has high resistance to sulfate, just like Sulfates Resisting Cement. It is ideal for seawater construction.
Quick-Setting Cement
This cement has a setting time as quick as 5 minutes to 30 minutes. When concrete constructions require quick setting, like structures underwater or done during cold, rainy days, this cement is recommended.
High Alumina Cement
Alumina is an oxide ceramic material known for its high thermal conductivity and resistance to chemicals at elevated temperatures. If a concrete structure will be exposed to high temperatures, like foundries and workshops, high alumina cement is recommended.
White Cement
This cement is low in iron oxide and manganese oxide, giving it its white color. It is just like Ordinary Portland Cement, but its color makes it ideal for decorative construction.
What’s a reputable cement manufacturer in the Philippines?
If you’re looking for a trusted cement company in the Philippines, then look no further than Union Cement. Its management team is composed of some of the most experienced professionals in the cement industry. Their knowledge of the market, technology, and trends in the cement business are unparalleled. These competencies allow Union Cement to produce top-notch cement products for residential and industrial construction needs.
Union Ultra Strength 50 is an Ordinary Portland Cement with high workability, early compressive strength, and consistency that exceed both Philippine and international standards. For reliable Type 1 cement in the Philippines, we have Union Super Strength 40 is Portland Type 1 Cement with blended mineral additives that can achieve a compressive strength of up to 40 Mpa after 28 days. It is designed for higher levels of workability and improved yield. If you need Pozzolan cement in the Philippines, we also have one for you. Union Extra Strength ES is our high-strength Portland Pozzolana Cement suited for various concrete applications.
Cement comes in several types, each with specific unique features that make them best for certain types of applications. So, make sure that you use the right ones for your construction project. For reliable Portland cement, Pozzolan cement, or other ready mix cement products, choose Union Cement. Contact us by calling (02) 8870 0100 or 0917 189 9791, or visit our Contact Us page to send us a message.
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