cementering

Cementering is the act or process of binding materials with cement or cementitious substances to form a cohesive, hardened composite. It relies on cement hydration or chemical bonding to transfer stresses and seal voids between components.

In construction and masonry, cementing describes the use of cementitious mortars and grouts to bond bricks, stones, concrete blocks, or tiles, as well as to coat and protect surfaces. The choice of cement, aggregate, and additives determines workability, strength, and durability.

In dentistry, cementing refers to attaching crowns, inlays, onlays, veneers, and other restorations to tooth structure using dental cements. Common luting agents include zinc phosphate, polycarboxylate, glass-ionomer, and resin-based cements. The procedure typically involves cleaning the tooth, preparing the restoration, applying cement, seating the prosthesis, and removing excess cement.

In geology and sedimentary geology, cementation is a diagenetic process in which minerals precipitate from pore fluids to bind sediment grains, forming cemented rocks such as sandstone or carbonates. Calcite, silica, and iron oxide are common cementing minerals. Cementation is influenced by burial depth, pore water chemistry, temperature, and fluid flow.

In the oil and gas industry, well cementing places a cement slurry between the casing and surrounding formation to isolate zones and provide hydrostatic control. The operation is staged (surface, intermediate, and tail cementing) and requires quality control, testing, and proper cement slurries and placement.

Related terms include cementation in metallurgy, where materials are bound or layers formed by diffusion or deposition of another metal, but this is distinct from the cementing described above.