Cemento

Cemento is a hydraulic binding material used to bind mineral aggregates into concrete and other construction products. It is produced by grinding clinker, typically with a small amount of gypsum, into a fine powder. When mixed with water, cemento forms a paste that undergoes hydration and hardens, binding the surrounding particles to form a solid mass.

The most common form is Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), which mainly consists of calcium silicates and small amounts of calcium aluminate and sulfate compounds. There are also blended cements that incorporate supplementary cementitious materials such as fly ash, slag, or natural pozzolans to improve performance and reduce the clinker content.

Production begins with the extraction and preparation of raw materials, usually limestone and clay or shale. These materials are ground and carefully blended, then fed into a kiln where they are calcined at high temperatures to form clinker. The clinker is cooled and ground with gypsum to regulate setting time, producing the final cemento.

Historically, modern cemento developed in the 19th century, with Joseph Aspdin patenting Portland cement in 1824, named for its likeness to Portland stone. Before that, hydraulic binders based on lime were used since ancient times. Cemento has enabled large-scale construction by enabling strong, durable concrete and mortars.

Properties and uses: cemento is a hydraulic binder that gains strength through hydration, enabling structural elements such as foundations, walls, slabs, and precast components. Its performance depends on mix design, aggregate quality, curing conditions, and the presence of admixtures.

Environmental considerations include significant CO2 emissions from clinker production and energy use. Efforts to mitigate impact focus on alternative cements, clinker reduction, use of industrial byproducts, and carbon capture technologies.