Cement - An inevitable part of the construction industry

Cement is a vital component in the construction field and is quite an important inclusion in the construction process. The advent of cement as a material in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector drastically transformed building construction and its methodology, impacting the lifespan of the structure. The binding material, invented by Joseph Aspdin, had a great impact on the construction sector. Mr. Aspdin managed to bring the binding material onto the market commercially later in the mid-19th century. His son, Mr. William, went on to develop Portland cement, which in no time became immensely popular among the professionals of the AEC industry due to its versatility and benefits.

Cement is basically a binding agent which is used extensively in the preparation of concrete. The reason behind the immense popularity of cement is that it adheres to all the raw materials while the formation of concrete takes place. Cement is composed of elements including lime, silica, alumina, magnesia, iron oxide, calcium sulphate, sulphate trioxide, and alkaline. Lime and silica are the major elements in cement, which make up 90 per cent. The remaining 10 to 20% of the cement's composition is made up of the other elements.

Uses of cement

Cement is extensively used for various purposes in architecture, engineering, and construction. Let us explore different uses of cement as a construction material.

• For the preparation of mortar (cement, sand and water) for masonry uses.
• For the preparation of concrete (cement, sand, aggregates, water, and admixtures) for building concrete elements such as slabs, piers, columns, beams, etc.
• Cement-based grouts are used for filling up the gaps (grouting) between two consecutive tiles.
• Various types of cement can be used for the construction of structures in different conditions, such as the construction of dams, factories, residential and commercial apartments, swimming pools, etc.
• Decorative elements constructed using cement are also in style and are used to enhance the aesthetics of the building's entrances and interiors.
• Cement is also used to craft DIY furniture items for houses and offices, which in-turn enhances the interior aesthetics of the space.

Different types of cement that are used in construction

There are quite a few types of cement used in construction. Each type of cement has its own unique properties and is used for specialised tasks. Let us explore them.

• Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) - OPC is the world's most popular and widely used cement. It is widely used for all types of commonly carried out construction.
• Pozollana Portland Cement (PPC) - PPC is a strength-imparting cement. It is therefore taken into consideration when structures with high strength are required.
• Rapid Hardening Cement - It is mostly used in such conditions where quick setting of the concrete is required. For example, construction in a water-logged area.
• Sulphate Resisting Cement - This is a special type of cement which resists the sulphate attack on concrete. It is used where the structures are exposed to alternate and frequent wetting-drying, such as bridge piers.
• High-Alumina Cement - The property of resistance to high temperatures makes it one of its kinds. High-alumina cement is extensively used to construct structures such as workshops, refractories, and foundaries, which are highly exposed to heat.

Some Interesting Facts About Cement

• Cement can account for up to 16% of a construction project's total material cost.
• For a 1000 square foot house, approximately 400 cement bags (50 kg each) are utilized. However, the consumption of cement depends upon the purpose of usage and the ration of cement in the concrete.
• Cement is the second most used material in the world. Water surpasses cement in terms of global consumption and tops the list.
• Every year, over 4 billion tonnes of cement is consumed globally for construction, engineering, and architectural activities.
• India ranks 2nd in consumption of cement, with a total of 339 million tonnes every year. The total value of cement consumed by India every year sums up to USD 16.5 billion.
• The Taj Mahal is considered one of the most iconic structures globally and is also one of the seven wonders of the world. Surprisingly, the architectural marvel was constructed without the use of cement. Strange but true.
• In India, the first concrete-built road was constructed in 1914, in Chennai.
• The first ever cement plant in India was setup in the year 1914, in Porbandar, Gujarat, by Indian Cement Company Ltd. with a production capacity of 1000 tonnes per year.