Basics of Concrete
Beyond The Basics
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Basics of Concrete - Cement
 Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general usage. It is a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar and plaster. English engineer Joseph Aspdin patented Portland cement in 1824, and it was named after the limestone cliffs on the Isle of Portland in England because its color is similar to the stone quarried there. It consists of a mixture of oxides of calcium, silicon, and aluminum. Portland Cement and similar materials are made by heating limestone (a source of calcium) with clay, and grinding this product (called clinker) with a source of sulfate (most commonly gypsum). When mixed with water, the resulting powder will become a hydrated solid over time.
High temperature applications, such as masonry ovens and the like, generally require the use of refractory cement. Concretes based on Portland cement can be damaged or destroyed by elevated temperatures, but refractory concretes are better able to withstand such conditions.
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