Hydraulic and Portland Cements

Hydraulic cements and portland cements are hydraulic concrete, mortar, and cements based on a portland cement (calcium silicate) binder. Hydraulic and portland cement products are frequently used to plug water leaks in concrete or masonry structures, such as dams and culverts, water tanks, cisterns, swimming pools, mines, sewer and water pipes, and any underground structures such as electric vaults or sewer access tunnels.

Hydraulic cements and portland cement products include mixtures that harden with the addition of water. Hydraulic cement is a combination of limestone, clay, and portland cement, which is the main component in concrete. Since concrete is an important component of every large construction project, the mixture of hydraulic and portland cement products is an extremely precise and carefully controlled process. To make portland cement, dry materials are crushed to a specific size and proportioned to make a specific chemical mixture. The materials are blended using either a dry or wet process, producing a dry fine gray powder which is then used to make other blended hydraulic cements. The manufacturing process is strictly enforced by a set of standards published by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). ASTM C-150 is a specification that illustrates the chemical and physical requirements for producing the eight different types of portland cement. ASTM C1157 is another manufacturing specification that includes the production of general hydraulic cement. The Portland Cement Association (PCA) is an industry organization that provides information on manufacturing practices, companies, and federal guidelines that pertain to the production and use of portland cement.

Hydraulic cements and portland cement products include many different types of cements. White portland cement is identical to portland cement chemically and physically, other than its color. White portland cement is used for specific architectural applications that call for white concrete or colored mortars. Expansive cements are hydraulic and portland cement products that are designed to expand slightly during the hardening period. Expansive cements are used to compensate for shrinkage that occurs in certain concrete structures, such as in bridge decks.

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