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Course: CIV1102
Lecturer: Maxwell Jackson
USI: 1048926
Student: Priyanka Outar
Topic: The manufacturing of Portland cement
Aim: To investigate how Portland cement is manufactured
What is Portland cement
Grey in color, Portland cement is generally made up of lime stone and clay or shale. Invented
by joseph aspdin, England, 1824, its first production from the extraction of limestone from
the isle of Portland. When mixed with water, elements such as calcium silicates react
chemically to the water, combined by hydration and decomposes in hydrolysis, developing
the hardening strength.
Portland cement is the most widely used and versatile cement, primarily used in the
construction industry. It is a hydraulic cement that sets and hardens under water, making it
safe for use in all structures in contact with water. The chemistry and microstructure of
hydrated cement paste, used as a binder in concrete and masonary construction, are also
discussed. The ancestry of Portland cement can be traced back to Greek and Roman times,
but 1824 is considered the origin of modern Portland cements. Joseph Aspdin used the name
"Portland" in a patent to emphasize the similarity of concrete made with his cement to
Portland limestone, a popular building material at the time. The Portland cement industry
flourished in the UK and Europe by the 1860s, but the first patent in the US was taken out in
1870 by David Saylor. Today, about 90 million tons are produced annually in the US.

How does Portland cement influence Guyanese economy

In 2016, Guyana commemorated 100 years of bauxite mining, aiming to determine its
economic pillar for the next century. This policy brief addresses this theme within the
National Mineral Sector Policy Framework. Guyana, once a top producer of bauxite, has
faced challenges since nationalization in the 1970s. The industry's production and market
share have declined, and its flagship product, refractory-grade bauxite, faces competition
from substitutes and improved technology. Since 1999, exports have averaged US$91
million, and the industry's contribution to GDP has decreased from 13.9% between 1971 and
1980 to 1.5%.

How is Portland cement produced

Portland cement is a widely used material made from limestone and clay, with lime and silica
as the main constituents. It is produced at high temperatures to form hydraulic calcium
silicates. Other materials like calcareous or argillaceous materials may also be used. The
manufacturing process involves quarrying, crushing, proportioning, burning, and grinding.
Modern plants use dry grinding and proportioning, primarily due to energy efficiency.
The wet process of cement production requires significant energy and long kilns with high
heat losses. The dry process, which uses more efficient heat exchangers like suspension
preheaters, reduces heat losses and increases throughputs. Dry-process rotary kilns are shorter
and more efficient, resulting in lower heat losses and higher throughputs. Precalcination of
hot feed in a flash furnace can also save energy. As raw materials are calcined, chemical
combination occurs in hotter zones of the rotary kiln, forming intermediate compounds and
forming a quarternary liquid phase.
Bibliograpgy

“encyclopedia of materials: Science and technology” by K.H Jurgen Bushchow, 2001

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2023, August 1). portland cement. Encyclopedia

Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/technology/portland-cement

“best practices in cement and concrete use” TLC Guyana:

https://www.tclguyanainc.com/best-practices-in-cement-and-concrete-use/