Cement is used worldwide to construct various engineering structures. It is used as a concrete binder for making roads, schools, dams, hospitals, and ports. Below is a list of industrial uses of cement.
To Construct Hydrographic and Frost-Resistant Structures
Most hydrographic structures are made of concrete with cement as the binding material. According to research, the number of metric tons of cement produced in 2018 in the US was 88.5 million. The structures that come into contact with water must be watertight and moisture resistant. Most contractors prefer expanding cement, quick-setting cement, and hydrophobic cement when building water-retaining structures. When there is minimal time for making underwater structures, the quick setting cement is ideal. Hydrophobic cement is used to build structures in snowy regions as it is more resistant to frost.
Preparing Cement Mortar
Cement mortar is a paste prepared by adding a given quantity of water to a sand and cement mixture. Sand is considered an adulterant, whereas cement is denoted as the matrix. Cement has excellent binding properties and has water-resisting and high-strength properties. It often establishes a strong bond between stones and bricks in masonry. Plastering is achieved by cement mortar to ensure the structure has a smooth finish. Cement molds are made using cement mortar and come in different shapes, and are used to seal stonework, brickwork, or cracked joints. The sand-to-cement mix ratio is usually based on the importance of the construction work.
Manufacturing Precast Members
Most precast member industrial supplies use cement as the binding material. Cement concrete pipes may be used under culverts and drains. Cement concrete bricks are famous due to the ease of construction, size of the block, and strength. Cement concrete rings are used to construct septic tanks and water tanks. Other things such as lamp posts are also manufactured using cement.
To Build Heat and Chemical-Proof Structures
In order to prevent fire accidents and withstand high temperatures, industrial supplies must be constructed using fire-resistant materials such as cement. High alumina cement is considered ideal when making concrete for those structures subjected to high temperatures. Different chemicals in chemical industries may cause structural damage if inadequate resistance exists. Acid-resistant cement is suitable in this case, whereas sulfate-resistant cement is crucial for constructing under marine or sewage-carrying structures.
For Aesthetic Structures
Cement is available in several colors nowadays. The coloring is added during industrial supplies manufacturing, but the coloring agent should not exceed 10%. Some coloring agents include cobalt, which gives the cement a blue color, and iron oxide, which provides a brown or red color. A structure with colored cement is aesthetically beautiful and requires minimal painting. Colored types of cement are ideal for stair treads, floor finishing, external wall surfaces, and window sill slabs.
Cement is considered a cost-effective building material with minimal need for repairs. When combined with concrete, it becomes more robust and can be used in the listed industrial applications. Talk to us for more information about various commercial uses of cement.