Today, white cement is often used in construction work, which has excellent aesthetic properties and excellent technical characteristics. The white color of the material allows it to be used to create various architectural forms, including sculptures.

Peculiarities

White cement is a material that is in demand due to its light shade, which is obtained through the use of a special production technology and the components used. It is made on the basis of low-iron clinker, and also contains mineral additives, gypsum, limestone, chloric salts, thanks to which the material acquires such an attractive color. Moreover, the content of manganese and chromium is practically zero.

All components are fired, followed by rapid cooling. This process guarantees the strength and reliability of the white cement.

This material is characterized by functionality, since it can be used not only in construction, but also used as one of the components of dry mixes for finishing works, as well as for creating self-leveling floors.

The technology for the production of white cement is carried out in special mills, crushers, which crush clinker and other raw materials (porcelain, basalt, flint slabs). The fineness of grinding of white cement is higher than that of the gray analogue, because it is 4,500 cm² / g, while for gray cement this figure is 3,500 cm² / g. The firing of the material is carried out through the use of gaseous, liquid or other fuels that are not characterized by ash or soot emissions.

After firing, the cement is cooled in an acid-free environment, with a sharp change in temperature regimes from + 1200 ° C to + 200 ° C. Cooling can be done with water, then the firing temperature reaches + 1500 ° C, and water - + 500 ° C. To dry wet clinker, a drying drum is used, which has a temperature of + 300 ° C.

So, there are two main methods of making white cement:

• Dry... This method is quite common, since many large companies prefer it due to the low moisture content of the raw materials. Grinding, mixing and drying of all components is carried out in special shaft furnaces. The clinker can be fired at a temperature of + 800 ° C.
• Wet... The hard components are grinded in a special mill, and the soft ones are placed in a chatter box, using water. After grinding, the sludge is dried and amenable to further crushing, as in the dry method.

Today in the construction market, the most popular are two modifications of white cement - M400 and M500 when tested in accordance with GOST 310.1-76 and 310.4. -81.

Since this material is characterized by the fineness of grinding, mesh No. 008 is used for sieving it, while no more than 12% of the raw material is deposited in the sediment.

White cement has the following advantages:

• Strength, reliability and fast hardening. After 16 hours, the solution hardens by more than 50%. This ability saves money.
• The material is protected from destruction under the influence of chemical solutions and moisture due to its dispersion.
• Environmental friendliness is achieved through the use of natural mineralogical components.
• The stability and strength of finished structures is due to the resistance to the formation of chips and cracks. This feature significantly reduces the cost of restoration or repair work.

• Attractive appearance.
• Color stability as the cement does not fade when exposed to sunlight.
• The versatility of the material lies in the ability to combine with various decorative materials for decoration.
• Functionality - white cement is used as a decorative and building material, it is part of putty, grout, colored concrete and various dry adhesive mixtures, and is also widely used in the creation of bricks and floor slabs.

If we talk about the disadvantages of white cement, then it is worth noting its high cost compared to the gray analogue. Some users do not perceive white cement as it should be, but call it something between clay and cement. Some buyers point out that many white cementitious compounds contain a large amount of additives that do not match the composition on the package.

Today, white cement is used in almost all areas of construction work. In some cases, you can't do without it at all. It is great for building facades, because it gives them not only reliability and durability, but also expressiveness, attractiveness and beauty.

Due to its excellent technical characteristics, this material does not change its original color. It can be safely used not only for external work, but also for internal use. He is not afraid of the effects of weather.

Views

Today, manufacturers offer several varieties of white cement in order to meet the needs in various fields and to achieve the assigned tasks as quickly and conveniently as possible.

Depending on the strength of the composition, the following grades of white cement are distinguished:

• M400- is characterized by high frost resistance, low sulfate resistance. Shrinkage deformation and hardening rate are average.
• M500- attracts attention with good frost and weather resistance, medium sulfate resistance. The shrinkage deformation is low and the hardening rate is medium.
• M600- has high frost resistance, quickly hardens, practically does not shrink, and is also characterized by low sulfate resistance.

There are three types of white cement depending on the reflectance, such as:

• the first grade is the highest, since its reflectance is 80%;
• second grade - 75%;
• third grade - 68%.

Each manufacturer indicates on the packaging the degree of whiteness and the grade of cement. These indicators are the main ones when choosing a suitable option for the implementation of the goals. They have an impact on the cost of products, as well as the appearance of products, in the manufacture of which white cement is used. On sale is the "Super white" cement of Turkish production, which has a reflection coefficient of about 90% and the M600 marking. The average cost of one bag is from 700 to 800 rubles.

If we compare white cement with a gray analogue, then it is worth noting that the maximum grade of the second is M500. The decorative variety of snow-white material is marked M700. It is manufactured according to the latest innovative developments, its technical characteristics are in accordance with European building standards.

It should be noted that due to the fine grinding, this material is characterized by increased shrinkage.

Often, marble is used to create a durable, reliable and beautiful floor. Marble-mosaic options are in great demand, for the manufacture of which marble and cement are used. Decorativeness attracts the attention of many buyers, since manufacturers use not only white cement, but also colored (red, green, yellow, beige, light blue and others).

Manufacturers

On the construction market, you can find white cement from various manufacturers - Iranian, Egyptian, Danish and, of course, Turkish. The cheapest product is from Iran, but cheap does not mean high quality. It is worth getting acquainted in more detail with well-known manufacturers who are famous in many countries of the world.

Aalborg white

The Danish cement plant Aalborg White has earned its popularity thanks to the use of clean raw materials and advanced production technologies. The brand's products can be found in 80 countries around the world, because it attracts attention with its excellent whiteness and increased durability. Today, the company's factories are located in Malaysia, China, Denmark and Egypt. But apart from the advantages, the products have one significant drawback - the high cost.

Aalborg White M700 white cement has the following technical characteristics:

• the degree of whiteness is 85-90%;
• belongs to the first grade;
• sold in 25 kg paper bags;
• the price for one bag is 300 rubles;
• the setting of the solution begins after 85 minutes, and ends after 2 hours;
• strength 36–44 MPa is achieved on the second day, and 68–78 MPa - on day 28;
• expansion - up to 2 mm.

Cimsa

This company is a very famous manufacturer of building materials not only in Turkey but also in other countries. In addition to decorative white cement, she produces decorative plasters, various putties and groutings.

White cement from Cimsa is ideal for creating arches, fountains, columns, balusters, statues. This material does not require painting in the future, since it is protected from fading and is not afraid of various weather phenomena.

Turkey is the birthplace of white cement, and the company's products fully confirm this through the creation of a durable and sought-after product. High quality at an affordable price is the main advantage of Cimsa products.

Cimsa M600 white cement has the following technical characteristics:

• the degree of whiteness is from 92 to 97%;
• compressive strength after 3 days - 37.0 MPa, after 7 days - 49.1 MPa and after 28 days - 60.7 MPa;
• shrinkage is only 0.01%;
• the beginning of setting occurs after 100 minutes, and the end - 130 minutes;
• the density is 3060 kg / m³.

Adana

Another popular Turkish manufacturer is Adana. It ranks second in the market after Cimsa and is a renowned exporter of construction products, including white cement.

Despite the fact that almost all types of cement are produced using the same technology, they are still different and differ not only in their original composition, but also in their qualities. Some of them quickly seize, others, on the contrary, retain their plasticity for a long time, while others generally expand and force reinforced concrete structures to strain. What about white cement? What can he do? With this and with many other questions we have to figure it out in this article. Together with the site, we will get acquainted with its characteristics, scope, features of working with it and many other things related to the use of white cement in construction.

White decorative cement photo

White cement: why is it white

In terms of its physical characteristics and production technology, white cement practically does not differ from its gray Portland counterpart, but still it has several key differences. One of them lies precisely in the color, which is achieved through the use of a certain group of natural materials as raw materials. This is still the same clinker, only the iron content in it is minimal. In addition, this cement contains such whitening additives as diatomite and gypsum.

It is thanks to its white color that this one can be used not only for the manufacture of concrete structures and the construction of block buildings, but also in many other branches of construction. For example, on its basis, the bulk of the tile is created. In principle, it is worth talking about its field of application in a little more detail, but first we will deal with the characteristics of white cement.

Composition of white cement photo

Characteristics and features of white cement

In most cases, all the characteristics of white cement are much higher and better than those of standard gray cement. It is a high-quality building material that is distinguished by the following points.

And the last most important point for a modern person is the decorative qualities of the material. White cement can be dyed in almost any color by means of pigments. In contrast, gray cement and mortars made on its basis cannot be stained in this way. What does it do? Nothing less, but the ability to manufacture on the basis of white cement is different. So we got to the area of ​​application of this material, which we will talk about in more detail.

Application of white cement: scope of use

The field of application of white cement is quite extensive and, as mentioned above, it is not limited to the preparation of ordinary concrete or masonry plaster. Here are just a small part of the sphere of human activity where this building material is intensively used.

And this is just a small part of where white cement can be applied. Among other things, many varieties of cement-containing adhesives for stone and tiles are made on its basis. By and large, if its cost does not seem prohibitive to you, it can also be used for standard work - laying bricks, making. It has very high characteristics, so that both the masonry and the screed will turn out to be very strong and durable.

White cement: types of material

White cement can be classified in two ways. First of all, these are standard cement grades - M300, M400, M500 and M600. Everything here is exactly the same as with ordinary gray cement. In addition, depending on the whiteness of the material, it is also divided into grades.

• 1st grade - the whiteness of this cement is more than 80%;
• 2nd grade - whiteness within 75-80%;
• 3rd grade - whiteness up to 75%.

In addition, many serious cement manufacturers and just large companies produce premium white cement, the whiteness of which can exceed 90%. By and large, this is the entire classification of the material - in principle, this is quite enough for most construction needs.

White cement photo

Decorative white cement: nuances when working with it

The white color of cement and some of its characteristics determine some of the features of working with it. First of all, this is the preparation of mortars and concretes - crushed stone and ordinary sand are not used here. Usually it is replaced with marble chips and sand with a low iron content, without silt and clay admixtures - this is the only way to create a solution or concrete of white (like cement) color. In addition, the amount of water added to the solution is no less diligently controlled - as a rule, this is 40-50% of the total mass of the dry mixture. The water must be clean and free of impurities that can affect the color of the concrete or mortar.

And that is not all. In addition to the correct preparation of mixtures, in the process of working with white cement, you should also pay attention to the following points.

1. All tools and fixtures of the type, and others, used for working with white cement, must be perfectly clean, without the slightest traces of corrosion. All this dirt can leave unsightly spots on the surface of the frozen solution or even change its color.
2. If we talk about the manufacture of reinforced concrete structures, then it is very important to immerse the reinforcement to a depth of at least 30 mm so that moisture does not penetrate to it. Otherwise, it will begin to rust and stains of corrosion will appear on the surface of the concrete. If there are metals in direct contact with concrete, they must be carefully protected against corrosion.

White cement is much more expensive than its ordinary gray analogue, and in order not to spoil it, you need to work with it carefully. In principle, its too high cost is more than compensated for by its decorative qualities and increased characteristics.

And in conclusion of the topic about white cement, I will say a few words about the manufacturers and the choice of this material. Today it is produced by a lot of different companies, and the quality of the products of some of them leaves much to be desired. You understand that paying a lot of money for it, I want to count on a high level of quality that Turkish companies do not provide - Turkish white cement is not distinguished by high quality, whiteness and characteristics. We can say that he is very close to the standard gray cement. If you are going to buy products of this type, then it is better to opt for Eurocement - there is an optimal combination of price and quality.

The name "white cement" speaks for itself - this type of binder is characterized by a high degree of whiteness and purity of components, because of its excellent decorative properties it is recommended to use it for finishing work. This building material is considered to be a relatively new product and so far it is presented on the market mainly by foreign manufacturers. Manufacturing technology and raw materials differ from traditional ones, which has a positive effect on the hardening time and such performance characteristics as: strength, frost and weather resistance, crack resistance.

The use of cement in construction speeds up the work and allows you to create unique decorative elements and structures. At the same time, this is a rather expensive type of binder with its mixing characteristics, violation of the recommended proportions, improperly selected tools or unwanted impurities lead to stains on the surface or deterioration of the color quality. On the other hand, if the basic nuances are observed, an amazing effect is obtained and the price of the goods is fully justified.

What is White Cement?

Its color and quality structure are achieved through a combination of the use of special raw materials and innovative crimping and grinding technologies. The base is low-iron clinker made of kaolin clays, gypsum, chalk (limestone), chloric salts are used as additives. All substances included in the composition contain a minimum amount of iron oxides or pigment inclusions. After calcining up to 1200–1400 ° C, the clinker is subjected to a sharp cooling, such hardening contributes to an increase in the strength and frost resistance of the future cement.

An important nuance: the furnaces use ecological heating methods; during combustion, soot or ash is not released (or carefully captured). Grinding is carried out in mills equipped with basalt, silicon or porcelain slabs, thus, the purity of the material is maintained at all stages of production. In general, 3 grades of white cement are produced: with a reflection coefficient of up to 80–85% for the highest, 75 and 68 - for the second and third, respectively. To achieve a special whiteness, the clinker can be subjected to additional treatment (with water, placed in an oxygen-free environment), after which it enhances its color. The result is ultra-white grades with up to 90% reflectivity. The latter variety looks spectacular in the sun, but due to its high cost it is difficult to buy (it is practically absent in construction markets).

Description of characteristics and properties

The main operational parameters of cement include:

• whiteness degree - 68–85%;
• insoluble sediment - no more than 0.12%;
• reaching 65% hardness after 15 hours;
• compressive strength: after 3 days - 38 MPa, after 28 days - 59;
• frost resistance - from 100 cycles.

As a consequence, this variety is prized for the following benefits:

1. High weather resistance.

2. Environmental friendliness, only natural ingredients are used for manufacturing.

3. Sulfate resistance due to the purity of the composition (up to 5% alkalis).

4. Accelerated hardening times (the material finally freezes on day 28, like any type of cement, but you can start processing it already on day 2).

5. High dispersion and water resistance.

6. Crack resistance and minimal chipping.

7. Multifunctionality: application for indoor and outdoor work, both as the main building material and as an additional component.

8. Uniformity: thanks to the fine grinding, the products made of this cement look like they have been sanded.

9. Aesthetics and combination with any design ideas, the possibility of improvisation.

The main differences from gray cement

If we compare the characteristics of white and traditional brands, then the advantages of using the first variety are more obvious. In particular:

The maximum possible strength grade of gray cement is M500, while the decorative grade is 700. The latter is due to the use of innovative technologies for calcining and grinding and the evaluation of the composition parameters in accordance with European building codes. It is important to take into account that the material has an increased shrinkage in comparison with traditional Portland cement (due to fine grinding). At the same time, the minimum cost of the M500 brand with a whiteness degree of 70% or more is 450 rubles per 50 kg bag.

Scope of application

In industry, this material serves as the basis for the manufacture of high quality grouting and adhesive mixtures. Due to its good reflective properties and weather resistance, it is used when marking road and airfield tracks. For private purposes, it is recommended to buy cement with a high degree of whiteness for:

1. Facade cladding. In this case, the finish retains its properties for a long time, does not fade under the sun and is not afraid of external atmospheric influences.

2. Self-production of mixtures for grouting, plastering, self-leveling floors based on white and colored cement.

3. Creation of decorative elements: steps, borders, landscape and sculptural compositions, individual fragments and small architectural forms. The composition is excellent for the manufacture of high-strength paving slabs.

The main nuances of work

This material requires certain mixing conditions, it changes its properties in contact with grease, construction dust or rust. Therefore, absolutely clean tools and containers are used to prepare the solution, all working surfaces are degreased and cleaned, metal elements are treated with anti-corrosion compounds and covered with a thin layer of concrete. The latter is an important nuance; without this stage, rust clearly appears through the concrete after a certain period of time. In all other respects, this variety is in no way inferior to the usual gray binder, the solution is easy to prepare yourself.

White cement concrete differs from the usual one in the absence of coarse-grained crushed stone and, accordingly, in large shrinkage. As a filler, it is necessary to use white fine-grained components (0-2 mm), most often it is pure river sand. According to reviews: standard proportions of 1: 3 are suitable for preparing a solution.

The exception is colored additives like marble chips, which are introduced with the aim of achieving a certain decorative effect. To dilute the components, you will need the purest water with a neutral PH; it cannot be taken from open external sources. It is important to maintain a liquid to dry binder ratio of 1: 0.4 or 1: 0.45.

Additional features

In private construction, in order to save money, you can prepare white cement with your own hands. For this, lead whitewash and mastic are mixed, in a ratio of 1: 6, all ingredients must be ground to a powdery state and diluted with melted white wax. The self-obtained composition is most often used for decorative grouting. However, due to the considerable laboriousness of the process, this method is not considered convenient, customer reviews testify in favor of the white type of cement as a basis for mixing decorative concrete.

To create a colored cement mortar at home, coloring components and pure white sand are added to the original composition. The maximum permissible ratio of mineral pigments to the dry mixture is 1:20, it is also important not to violate the proportions of the fine-grained filler.

Excess sand will drown out the color and reduce plasticity, and exceeding 5% of the dye can lead to loss of strength and deterioration of other characteristics. It is recommended to dilute the color solution after thoroughly mixing the dry components, gradually adding clean water.

Price

Even those people who are not particularly versed in the construction industry probably know that it is impossible to create a modern structure without the use of cement. Experts in this field can tell more - about its types and brands, which have quite different quality characteristics and cost, unusual shades of this material, for example, white cement, are of particular interest.

It found its application in the manufacture of high quality artificial stone. The material is an irreplaceable basis for creating concrete, both colored and white, high-quality dry adhesive mixtures. Decorative molded parts for decorating premises, stairs, borders, columns are made from it.

In addition to its original color, white cement is a substance that has good weather resistance, frost resistance, does not react to the effects of sulfates, and has a high degree of strength. Of the main disadvantages inherent in it, it should be noted a low hardening rate, lower corrosion resistance than gray cement, and increased shrinkage rates.

Manufacturing process

The quality and decorative properties of this building material are largely determined by the special technologies of its manufacture. Limestone and kaolin, which have a minimum capacity of manganese and iron oxide, which give a gray color to ordinary cement, can serve as raw materials in such production. To prevent possible contamination, clinker is fired in furnaces operating on oil products; the use of gravel instead of ordinary metal balls helps to eliminate clinker contamination during grinding. As you can see, white cement, the price of which is slightly higher than that of its gray "counterparts", has a more complex and expensive manufacturing technology.

Application area

White cement is used as a basis for the production of white concrete and colored concrete, and in order to achieve the highest quality colored material, joint grinding of clinker is used at the stage of cement production.

The high aesthetic characteristics of the material make it possible not to subject the surfaces made of it to finishing, but if desired, they can be roughened or mirror-smooth. An interesting in appearance terrazzo material, surprisingly similar to natural stone, is obtained by adding marble chips to concrete. They look original when laying them using a white solution or having an unusual beautiful shade.

The high reflectivity of surfaces made of white cement is essential. This property of the material is readily used by builders in the construction of tunnels and roads in order to increase traffic safety at night.

Since white cement is a somewhat unusual material, before buying it, you should take care of the cleanliness and absence of rust on the machines and tools that will come into contact with it during work. The water that will be used to prepare the solution must also be clean. Steel reinforcement should be pre-coated with a layer of gray concrete prior to work.

For those who are going to use white cement, you can clarify that it is produced under two brands: M500 and M400, the degree of whiteness of the material is determined by its grade (there are 3 grades). White cement is produced in Russia, Turkey, super-white material of the highest quality is supplied by Denmark.

Among the huge variety of materials that exist in the modern construction market, cement rightfully takes a leading position. Due to its practicality, versatility and attractive cost, it is widely used in various fields of production.

The basis for the manufacture of cements are mineral lime and clay rocks, supplemented with a complex of mineral additives. However, materials produced in different regions may vary significantly. The reason for this is the different composition of the rocks, which act as raw materials for their manufacture.

White as snow, hard as stone

One of these varieties, which has specific differences from materials of a similar type, is white cement - a powdery binder of a very light, almost white hue. The material acquires such color and individual characteristics due to the use of special types of raw materials and special technology, which gives it not only an unusual color, but also increased strength.

As a raw material for the production of this composition, a low-iron clinker with a minimum content of chromium and manganese is used, enriched with various types of additives, including limestone, gypsum and chloric salts, which have a direct effect on its color.

A distinctive feature of white cements is the high fineness of their grinding, characterized by a solid residue on the sieve of 0.08 in 7.8 - 10.8%, with a specific surface of 360-400 m2 / kg. If we compare the size of its fractions with Portland cements of a standard gray shade, we can see that the fineness of grinding of white cement is about 4500 cm2 / g, while for gray cements this figure is 3500 cm2 / g.

In addition to a higher quality structure, the material also has a high solidification rate, which is 60 to 170 minutes at the initial stage and from 165 to 255 minutes at the end of the process. It is marked in accordance with the strength indicators, M400 and M500 indices.

The specificity and special production technology makes white cement a rather rare material, which is produced by a limited number of companies from around the world. The most famous manufacturers of white cement mixtures are Egyptian, Turkish and Danish companies that produce the highest quality products.

This is how the packaging of finished white cement looks like

The distinctive characteristics of Egyptian cements are a pleasant light color and excellent initial strength as defined by the M600 grade. In addition, it has improved wear resistance and a high average brightness of about 87%.

In the construction markets of our country, you can also find high quality white cement from Danish manufacturers. Distinctive features of white cement Aalborg White can be called high early and standard strength, with periods of 2 and 28 days, respectively.

Pure limestone and fine-grained sand are used as the basis for its production. It has a pronounced uniform white color, practically does not contain alkaline compounds, has a high sulfate resistance and a high content of chromates, the amount of which is about 2 mg / kg.

Turkish white cement has been in constant demand over the last few years. Turkish white cement is a fast-setting material with a high strength threshold. Corresponds to the Russian brand M600, which confirms the compressive strength indicator. The high quality of the product is evidenced by its light reflectance index, ranging from 86 to 90.13%.

What does white cement look like when working with it:

Features of the production of white cement

As one of the most sought-after and commonly used building materials, cement, including white, is produced in several ways.

These include:

1. wet;
2. semi-dry;
3. combined;
4. dry manufacturing methods.

The manufacturing process begins with the extraction of raw materials, which are crushed and turned into a mixture with fractions of the same size and shape. Then the resulting composition is sent to special kilns for firing, after which various additional components are added to it. The result of this treatment is the appearance of a fine powder, characterized by a pleasant structure, balanced composition and light shade.

To achieve maximum whiteness, cement can undergo additional treatment by exposure to water or an oxygen-free environment, as a result of which an increased formation of C6AF2 and Fe2O3 compounds occurs, and the starting material acquires a more pronounced white color.

However, despite a huge number of advantages, such as practicality, a long period of operation, an attractive appearance and convenience in working with the material, deserving solid "fives" on a five-point scale, it has a significant drawback - high cost. For this reason, many are thinking about how to make white cement with their own hands.

There are many recipes for the preparation of cement compositions, differing in the complexity and quality of the final product.

Here is one of them:

1. Take 6 portions of mastic, 1 portion of lead white. The components are ground to a powdery state, after which melted white wax is gradually added to the mixture.
2. This mixture has a high adhesion capacity and can be used as a base for masonry of varying complexity.

Areas of use

The main area of ​​application of the material is the manufacture of plaster mixes for the production of facing work. At the same time, Danish white cement is often mixed with various colored pigments, which give it a certain color. In addition, it is used in the manufacture of products of varying complexity, for example, paving slabs, balconies, ornaments, sculptures, cornices, etc.

Due to its visual appeal and excellent strength characteristics, white cement is widely used in various sectors of the construction industry, including:

• in the creation of mixtures and compositions of various shades;
• in the manufacture of elements of landscape gardening and architectural design;
• production of products with high ergonomic qualities and attractive appearance, such as flowerpots, stairs, balusters and railings, fences of various types, etc.

Using white cement at home, you need to know how to dilute it and carefully observe the technology for preparing the solution, taking as a basis the information available on the product packaging. It is diluted in a similar way to the analogue of the traditional gray color: 3 parts of sand and 1 part of cement are taken, thoroughly mixed and filled with water.

Some Uses for White Cement

White cement steps White cement in the landscape White cement balusters

Pros and cons, consumer reviews

Among the main advantages of white cements, it is worth noting:

1. good workability, ductility and excellent strength properties;
2. the possibility of using as the main material serving for the finishing of surfaces of various types;
3. high aesthetic characteristics and ergonomics. In this case, using a standard scale of five points to assess the material, you can assign this cement a well-deserved "five".
4. high resistance to any external influences, etc.

On the basis of a white cement composition, you can prepare compositions of any shades yourself.

The main disadvantage of white cement is its high cost. In addition, some consumers are quite critical of him, claiming that this material cannot be called cement in the literal sense of the word, since it is a cross between cement and clay. Some of them also noted the presence of a large amount of additives in white cement compositions and the discrepancy between the declared brands and the contents of the packages.

Colored decorative cements: characteristics, composition, features

In addition to gray and white cements, modern industry produces compositions of various colors, containing a minimum amount of ferrous and other pigmenting components.

Colored decorative cement is obtained by simultaneous grinding of white Portland cement clinker, as well as gypsum and light-alkali-resistant colored pigments, supplemented with special additives.

In the factory, decorative compositions based on Portland cement of white, green, yellow and black shades of various intensities are produced. To give the material other color options, special coloring pigments are used that can be used at home.

Various colors of decorative cements

"Subtleties" of manufacturing

Decorative cements get their color in the process of grinding white clinker, when dyes are added to the starting material, ground to the appropriate state. The mummy makes it red, it turns brown thanks to umber, ocher paints it yellow, chromium oxide green, soot gives it a black tint, and ultramarine gives it blue.

If necessary, colored cement can be made with your own hands.

To do this, you must observe the following rules:

• the maximum concentration of the coloring matter in the total mass of the mixture should not exceed 5%;
• do not overdo it with the amount of sand that drowns out the color and reduces the plasticity of the composition;
• mix the components very carefully.

Application and cost

The main field of application of colored cements is the creation of various architectural forms, where they are used in the form of mortars, concrete compositions and whitewashing. In addition, they are used for cladding panels and blocks and are part of cement paints.

As for the cost of this material, it is an order of magnitude higher than the analogue of the traditional gray shade. you can buy colored cement at any hardware store. The average price of packing material of the M500 brand is about 410 - 490 rubles.

The use of colored cements for decorative finishing of buildings:

Advantages and disadvantages of colored cement

The main advantage of the material is its high ergonomic characteristics and external attractiveness, thanks to which it is used in the design and decoration of interior and exterior parts of buildings. At the same time, when using colored cements, not only the surface of finished products is painted, but also the entire mass of concrete, due to which a more pronounced aesthetic effect is achieved.

However, it also has some disadvantages. One of them: increased shrinkage through the use of coloring pigments. In addition, when using poor quality dyes, a salt precipitate may appear on the surface of concrete, impairing the appearance of the finished products. In general, this material is of high quality and wide range of applications.