Cemtec Systems: Concrete 101...Concrete Repair, Concrete Resurfacing, Decorative Concrete

PORTLAND CEMENT SIMPLIFIED

Portland cement is manufactured by grinding, then blending various ingredients (limestone, iron ore, clay, etc.) together, heating them in a kiln at 2500 to 3000 degrees Fahrenheit and chemically changing them into a clinker. This cement clinker is then blended with gypsum and ground into portland cement.
Portland cements are hydraulic cements that chemically react with water. This reaction is called hydration. The basic concept is that when water is blended with Portland cement it forms a paste that is used as an adhesive to bind various sized aggregates together to produce mortars and concrete.
The hydration begins as soon as water is introduced. Each cement particle begins to form crystals that gradually spread out to connect with crystals from other particles and they adhere to adjacent sands and aggregates. This growth gradually stiffens and eventually it becomes rock hard.
Proper amounts of water must be present, when the internal relative humidity of concrete drops below 80 percent virtually all hydration stops.
The products of hydration, however, do do not form a solid mass. Rather, their physical appearance is more like steel wool with a lot of empty space between the crystals.

Enter here for actual microscopic enlargement of crystals

POLYMERS

Polymers (epoxy, acrylic, etc..) are used as adhesives, usually the polymer is the only adhesive that is "cementing" fillers together or sticking to various surfaces. These Polymers provide a chemical adhesion verses the mechanical adhesion of cement crystals.

COMBINING CEMENTS AND POLYMERS

Polymers retain moisture and when they are present in cement mixtures, they will hold enough moisture to allow hydration to occur, especially at the bond line. This allows our resurfacing and overlayment cements to be applied in thin layers without any special curing practices.
The combination, of the chemical adhesion of the polymer and the crystallization of the cement particles mechanically bonding to porous surfaces, is why polymer modified products are used to resurface and decorate concrete successfully today.

Cemtec
Phone: (952) 890-9314 .. Fax: (952) 890-9378 .. E-Mail info@cemtecsystems.com


	PORTLAND CEMENT SIMPLIFIED Portland cement is manufactured by grinding, then blending various ingredients (limestone, iron ore, clay, etc.) together, heating them in a kiln at 2500 to 3000 degrees Fahrenheit and chemically changing them into a clinker. This cement clinker is then blended with gypsum and ground into portland cement. Portland cements are hydraulic cements that chemically react with water. This reaction is called hydration. The basic concept is that when water is blended with Portland cement it forms a paste that is used as an adhesive to bind various sized aggregates together to produce mortars and concrete. The hydration begins as soon as water is introduced. Each cement particle begins to form crystals that gradually spread out to connect with crystals from other particles and they adhere to adjacent sands and aggregates. This growth gradually stiffens and eventually it becomes rock hard. Proper amounts of water must be present, when the internal relative humidity of concrete drops below 80 percent virtually all hydration stops. The products of hydration, however, do do not form a solid mass. Rather, their physical appearance is more like steel wool with a lot of empty space between the crystals. Enter here for actual microscopic enlargement of crystals POLYMERS Polymers (epoxy, acrylic, etc..) are used as adhesives, usually the polymer is the only adhesive that is "cementing" fillers together or sticking to various surfaces. These Polymers provide a chemical adhesion verses the mechanical adhesion of cement crystals. COMBINING CEMENTS AND POLYMERS Polymers retain moisture and when they are present in cement mixtures, they will hold enough moisture to allow hydration to occur, especially at the bond line. This allows our resurfacing and overlayment cements to be applied in thin layers without any special curing practices. The combination, of the chemical adhesion of the polymer and the crystallization of the cement particles mechanically bonding to porous surfaces, is why polymer modified products are used to resurface and decorate concrete successfully today.


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