Hydraulic and Portland cement products have a calcium silicate binder. They are used to plug leaks in concrete or masonry structures such as dams, culverts, water tanks, cisterns, swimming pools, mines, and sewer and water pipes. Hydraulic and Portland cement products are also used with underground structures such as electric vaults and sewer access tunnels. They are also used to build and repair underground structures such as electric vaults or sewer access tunnels. Some grades of hydraulic and Portland cement include aggregates and chemical additives to improve strength, entrain air, reduce heat generation and cracking, or improve corrosion resistance to sulphates and other chemicals. 

Types of Hydraulic and Portland Cement

Hydraulic and Portland cement products differ in terms of product type and setting or curing technology. Choices for product type include:

• grouts, caulks, and fillers
• coatings and thinset
• concrete with coarse aggregates
• cement-based liners and lining systems
• mortars
• stock products available in particulate form

Choices for setting or curing technology include:

• hydraulic, air, chemical, and heat setting
• hot melt systems
• two-component or multi-component systems

Portland cement is a hydraulically-setting material that uses the hydration reaction of a salt to form a bond. Air setting or film drying materials harden through evaporation. Chemically-setting cements rely upon a chemical reaction process. Heat setting or thermoset products use elevated temperatures and/or pressures.  

Specifications

Processing specifications for hydraulic and Portland cement include set or cure time, set or cure temperature (with thermosetting systems), and maximum percentage of linear shrinkage. Thermal and mechanical specifications include maximum use temperature, flexural strength, and crushing strength. Flexural strength, or cross-break strength, is the maximum flexural stress that hydraulic and Portland cement can withstand before failure or fracture occurs. Compressive strength, or crushing strength, is the greatest compressive load per unit cross-section that products can withstand before mechanical failure or breakage occurs.

Materials

Hydraulic and Portland cement products differ in terms of bonds, applications, and features. In addition to polymer-modified cement, hydraulic and Portland cement products may use acrylate, epoxy, polyurethane, vinyl ester, or polyester bonds.

Applications

Applications include glass and ceramics manufacturing, chemical and material processing, foundry work and metal processing, building and construction, wall and flooring, and structural components.

Features

In terms of features, some hydraulic and Portland cement is castable, fiber-reinforced, or suitable for use with gunning, ramming, or patching techniques. Waterproof and underwater-setting hydraulic and Portland cement is also available. 

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