Special cement – types of special cement

Although it’s one of the most common building materials used worldwide, not all concrete is made equally. Cement is one important element that has a big impact on its characteristics. While regular Portland cement is widely used, a variety of specialty cements are available to fulfill particular requirements in the building industry. These particular cements have special qualities that make them perfect for certain tasks, conditions, and applications.

Sulfate-resisting cement, for example, can offer increased durability in regions subjected to severe weather patterns because it can withstand the harmful effects of sulfates in soil and water. In other situations, rapid-hardening cement—which enables structures to achieve high strength in a short amount of time—might be advantageous for projects that must be completed quickly. Concrete structures will perform better and last longer thanks to the specific requirements that each type of special cement has been designed to meet.

High-alumina cement is another intriguing variety; it has a remarkable resistance to high temperatures. Because of this, it is ideal for use in refractory applications, like kilns and furnaces. White cement is also highly valued for its aesthetic attributes, providing a bright and smooth finish that is perfect for architectural and decorative uses.

Choosing the appropriate material for any construction project can be facilitated by having an understanding of the various types of special cement. Builders and engineers can make sure that their structures not only meet technical requirements but also stand the test of time by selecting the right cement. This article will examine the different kinds of special cements, their distinct qualities, and the particular uses for which they work best.

Special types of cement

Aluminous, expanding, shrinkage-free, stressing, slag-alkaline, acid-resistant, sulfate-resistant, and white cement are examples of special types of cement. Every kind of specialty cement has a specific use. Let’s take a closer look at the characteristics and uses of each kind of special cement.

Aluminous cement

Distinguished by an especially high setting and rate of strength gain. This kind of cement-based concrete sets for 30 minutes after mixing and for 12 hours. After mixing, the grade strength is attained after 72 hours.

Aluminous cement is the collective term for special cement varieties classified as GOST 969-91, with varying compressive strengths of 400, 500, and 600 kgf / cm2. Simultaneously, this kind of binder’s unique qualities—rapid strength gain and resistance to high ambient temperatures—determine its range of applications.

Aluminous cement is specifically used to prepare concrete solutions for the following applications: rapid hole sealing in ship hulls, building structures operating in sulfate environments, high-speed construction, structural restoration, tank construction, production of refractory concrete resistant to 1700 degrees Celsius, and other similar work.

A 50 kg bag of aluminous binder typically costs between 1980 and 2500 rubles.

Expanding cement

As the name implies, expanding cement has the unique ability to neither shrink nor lose volume within 72 hours of mixing, unlike its counterparts in general construction. Instead, it increases in volume linearly within 0.2-2.5% of the original volume.

The properties of expanding cement include quick setting and quick strength gain. Thirty minutes after mixing, setting starts. Four hours after mixing, setting is over. After 72 hours, the compressive strength can reach 200 kgf/cm2, and after 7 days, it can reach 300 kgf/cm2.

The ability of the solution based on this kind of binder to increase volume accounts for the scope of application, which includes sealing holes and seams, installing anchor bolts and studs, cabling entries, sealing concrete structure joints, sealing concrete pipeline joints of sewer collectors, and other related tasks.

Vital component! Increased environmental conditions should be used for the setting and hardening of the cement-based solution in order to achieve the maximum expansion effect. A 50 kg bag of expanding binder typically costs between 1400 and 2000 rubles.

Shrinkage-free cement

Characterized by lack of shrinkage, quick attainment of grade strength, and instant setting. Generally speaking, the material sets within the first minute of mixing and takes no longer than five to six minutes to complete. At least 72 hours after mixing, the grade strength of the concrete mortar on shrinkage-free cement is reached. In this instance, the structure maintains its tightness even under water pressure of up to 7 kgf/cm2.

Application scope includes mixing concrete and mortar, caulking joints, pouring beneath machinery and foundation bolts, and building waterproofing shells for subterranean buildings.p. Vital! It cannot be used to build structures that are exported in inadequately humid conditions or that are operated in environments with temperatures above 80 degrees Celsius.

On the Russian market for building supplies, a 25 kg bag of shrinkage-free cement typically costs between 1166 and 1790 rubles. Simultaneously, premium non-shrinkage cement special fast-hardening plasticized macflow is available for purchase for 78.95–89.25 rubles per kilogram. A reputable producer of premium goods, MACFLOW® is also known for making cement that does not shrink.

Slag-alkaline cement

For military purposes, roads, highways, and large concrete structures are built using a cement composition based on this kind of binder, which increases resistance to damaging elements like wind, chemically active substances, and exposure to water and low temperatures.

Compared to regular cement, this kind of binder has a fundamentally different composition. Slag-alkaline cement is made up of silicate salts or caustic alkali, or non-silicate salts of weak acids (potash, soda), and finely dispersed powder, which is a byproduct of grinding metallurgical waste.

Among the benefits are: low hydration temperature, which prevents cracking; high strength between 1090 and 1420 kgf/cm2; heat resistance up to 1400 °C; frost resistance up to F1000; and low cost because production waste is used. The selling price of this kind of cement is not well-documented.

Acid-resistant cement

This kind of structural material is produced by grinding sodium fluorosilicate and purified quartz sand separately or in combination. You use liquid glass as a mortar mixer. After mixing, the mortar starts to solidify no sooner than thirty minutes and no later than six hours.

Principal characteristics of the concrete are its resistance to all types of acids, with the exception of orthophosphoric and hydrofluoric acid, and its strength, which ranges from 200 to 600 kgf/cm2. Low resistance to water, steam, and alkalis is one of the main drawbacks. Acid-resistant concrete undergoes an irreversible chemical transformation into an amorphous mass when it comes into contact with water, steam, and alkalis.

The scope includes building tanks to store chemically active products as well as coating and cladding equipment used by chemical industry businesses. One kilogram of the product costs, on average, between 250 and 470 rubles.

Sulfate-resistant Portland cement

This particular variety of Portland cement cement is designed for general construction purposes and has a higher resistance to things like groundwater, soil deformation, sea tides, aggressive substances, variations in water levels in tanks and reservoirs, winter heaving of the soil, and other atmospheric factors. When clinker is ground, a precisely regulated quantity of tricalcium silicate and aluminate is added to Portland cement to give it unique properties.

Application areas primarily include the building and maintenance of hydraulic structures as well as the operation of basements and foundations under circumstances where soil importance is heightened.

Principal characteristics include low heat production, quick setting and strength gain, higher density, and strong resistance to sulfate corrosion and other negative elements. Sulfate-resistant cement is available for purchase in fifty-kilogram bags for 325–440 rubles.

White cement

The snow-white color of concrete structures and products made with this type of binder is one of its unique characteristics. Manufacturers of colored paver slabs, developers of upscale buildings and structures, and artisans who craft ornamental architectural details and sculpture compositions all make extensive use of this property.

The unique clinker composition and specialized technology are responsible for the cement’s "snow-whiteness." This kind of cement is made from low-iron clinker, to which gypsum, limestone, and special salts are added. The quick cooling of the burned clinker in an oxygen-free atmosphere produces high strength cement.

The primary technical attributes include a compressive strength of 400–500 kgf/cm2, a 45-minute setting time, a 24-hour brand strength gain period, and resistance to damaging atmospheric factors and cracking. In the Russian market, a 50 kg bag of white cement typically costs between 850 and 950 rubles.

Conclusion

Because of cement’s unique qualities, production costs are high, which raises retail prices. Therefore, using a special binder for general construction work is not economically feasible. Slag-alkaline cement is an exception, having been developed and manufactured initially as a less expensive substitute for Portland cement used in general construction.

In engineering and construction projects where ordinary cements might not be sufficient, special cements are indispensable. Certain needs, like high strength, fast setting, or resistance to adverse environmental conditions, are catered for in the design of these cements. Builders can guarantee the long-term viability, security, and effectiveness of their projects by selecting the appropriate kind of special cement.

Some special cement varieties stand out from the others due to their special qualities. For example, in regions where there is a high sulfate content in the soil or water, sulfate-resistant cement is crucial for preventing damage and extending the life of structures. For projects requiring quick turnaround times, like emergency construction and road repairs, rapid hardening cement is invaluable because it allows for quick progress without sacrificing strength.

Because of its resistance to high temperatures, high-alumina cement is ideal for use in refractory applications and other hot and humid environments. Similarly, large concrete structures can benefit from the use of expansive cement to counteract shrinkage, which will ensure stability and integrity over time. These specialty cements provide customized answers to intricate construction requirements by addressing particular issues that ordinary cements cannot.

Making educated decisions is made possible for engineers and builders by having a thorough understanding of the wide variety of special cements and their uses. This information guarantees that the appropriate materials are used under the appropriate circumstances, resulting in structures that are safer, more durable, and long-lasting. The creation and use of special cements will probably grow as materials science and technology develop, providing the building sector with even more specialized solutions.

Special cements provide specific properties that regular cement cannot, making them indispensable for a variety of unusual construction needs. These cements come in different varieties, such as sulfate-resistant cement for durability in abrasive environments, white cement for aesthetic finishes, and high-alumina cement for quick setting and strength. Every variety of specialty cement is engineered to tackle specific obstacles, guaranteeing that constructions can tolerate harsh circumstances, satisfy aesthetic preferences, or solidify quickly in situations where time is of the essence. Builders can select the best material for their unique projects with greater performance and longer-lasting results by being aware of the various types of special cement.

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