Even those people who are not particularly versed in the construction industry, probably know that it is impossible to create a modern building without the use of cement. Specialists in this field can tell more - about its types and brands having quite different qualitative characteristics and cost, unusual shades of this material, for example, white cement, are of particular interest.
He found his application in the manufacture of high-quality artificial stone. The material is an indispensable basis for the creation of concrete, both colored and white, high-quality dry adhesive mixtures. Decorative stucco parts are made from it to decorate rooms, stairs, borders, columns.
In addition to its original color, white cement is a substance that has good weather resistance, frost resistance, does not respond to sulfates, and has a high degree of strength. Of the main disadvantages inherent in it, it should be noted a low hardening rate, lower corrosion resistance than gray cement, and increased shrinkage rates.
Manufacturing process
The quality and decorative properties of this building material are to a large extent determined by the special technologies of its manufacture. Limestone and kaolin, which have a minimum capacity of manganese and iron oxide, which give a gray color to ordinary cement, can serve as raw materials in this production. To prevent possible pollution, clinker firing is carried out in oil-fired furnaces; using gravel instead of ordinary metal balls helps to eliminate clinker contamination during grinding. As you can see, white cement, the price of which is slightly higher than its gray "counterparts", has a more complex and expensive manufacturing technology.
Application area
White cement is used as the basis for the manufacture of white concrete and non-ferrous, moreover, to achieve the highest quality non-ferrous material, co-grinding of clinker with
coloring pigment is used even at the stage of cement production.
High aesthetic characteristics of the material make it possible not to subject the surfaces made from it to finish processing, but if desired, they can be given roughness or mirror smoothness. Terrazzo material, interesting in appearance, surprisingly similar to natural stone, is obtained by adding marble chips to concrete. Brick walls look original , when laying, they used a solution of white color or having an unusual beautiful shade.
Of high importance is the high reflectivity of surfaces made of white cement. Builders are willing to use this property of the material in the construction of tunnels and roads in order to improve traffic safety at night.
Since white cement is a somewhat unusual material, before buying it, you should take care of the cleanliness and absence of rust on the machines and tools that will come into contact with it during operation. The water that will be used to prepare the solution must also be clean. Steel bars must be pre-coated with a layer of gray concrete before doing work.
For those who are going to use white cement, it can be clarified that it is produced under two brands: M500 and M400, its grade is determined by the degree of whiteness of the material (it happens in 3 grades). They produce white cement in Russia, Turkey, and superwhite material of the highest quality is supplied by Denmark.