 |
| Cement History |
400 A.C. |
Romans used a volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius called pozzolana as natural cement. Vitruvius points out that for the manufacture of mortar, 2 parts of pozzolana and one part of lime, animal fat, milk and blood are required.
There are still ruins of structures built with this Roman cement. Formula got lost after this date and in the year of 1756; Smeaton improves it in the construction of a lighthouse. |
500 - 1200 |
Mortar quality drops. Mortar with coarse sand and lime, mixed with wooden carbon, soil, plaster or brickbat are used. |
1300 |
Quality of cement improves, reintroducing the burning lime technique and the addition of pozzolana. |
1756 |
A British engineer, John Smeaton discovers again Roman cement. Making use of this discovery, he rebuilt the Eddystone Lighthouse, in Cornwall, Wales United Kingdom in 1759. It stood for 126 years. |
1756 - 1830 |
Other experiments were carried out by L. J. Vicat and Vessage in France and Joseph Parker and James Frost in England.
Before Portland cement was discovered, large quantities of natural cement were used. It was produced by burning a naturally occurring mixture of lime and clay, whose properties varied widely because of its natural origin. |
1779 |
Bry Higgins takes out a patent on hydraulic cement called stucco, used for exterior finishes. |
1796 |
James Parker takes out a patent on hydraulic cement produced by the calcination of impure lime modules containing clay. It is called Parker Cement or Roman Cement. |
1812 |
Louis Vicat from France manufactures an artificial lime, calcinating synthetic mixtures of clay and lime. |
1818 |
Maurice St Leger takes out a patent on hydraulic cement. |
1822 |
James Frost from England produces an artificial lime called British Cement. |
1824 |
Joseph Aspdin, a mason takes out a patent on the cement’s formula by burning fine chalk powder with clay, into a clinker until the carbon dioxide was released. The product was called Portland cement because its color resembled the stone of Portland. |
Transcription of the patent took out by Aspdin.
.:: Click here ::. |
1828 |
The first engineering work with Portland cement takes place in the Thames River Tunnel in London, United Kingdom. The roof of the tunnel was collapsed and tons of Aspdin’s cement were poured into the river, sealing the fracture and allowing water extraction. |
1836 |
In Germany, the first systematic test of tension and compression is performed. |
1840 |
 |
Joseph Aspdin’s son founds with other partners the firm “Robins, Maude and Aspdin” in Northfleet Creek, Kent, United Kingdom. At present, it is possible to visit the world’s oldest cement furnace, opened to visitors by its current proprietors: Blue Circule Industries, PLC. |
|
1845 |
Isaac Johnson reaches highly enough temperatures to clinkerize raw materials. |
1847 |
Isaac Johnson discovers the need to burn up the materials, reaching their fusion point. |
1848 |
Cement was the focal point of public attention when a rivalry between Aspdin and the firm J.D. White founded by J. Bazley in 1834 arouse. Constant deficiencies of Roman Cement allow Portland’s cement to show its goodness. Cement gets its greater expansion not only in England but also in Belgium and Germany, thanks to J.D. White and Sons firm. |
1849 |
The first chemical analysis of Portland cement, made by Pettenkofer and Fuches, takes place. |
1850s |
Jean- Louis Lambot uses concrete in boats. |
1859 - 1867 |
London drainage system is built with Portland cement. |
1862 |
Blake Stonebreaker from England introduces the use of jaw crushers for grinding raw material. |
1884 |
Earnest L. Ransom takes out a patent on a reinforcement system using rods. |
1885 |
F Ransome takes out a patent on a horizontal kiln that could be rotated, moving the material gradually from one side to the other, inside the furnace. |
1886 |
In England, the first rotary kiln is produced. |
1887 |
Henri Le Chatelier establishes the required percentages of oxides and compounds for the manufacture of Portland cement. He called the compounds as alite, belite, and celite. |
1889 |
The first building and the first bridge, using reinforced concrete are built. |
1890 |
Gypsum, as regulator for the time of set is added to clinker. Ball mills are used to grind the clinker. |
1893 |
Michaelis develops a new set theory, criticizing Le Chatelier works. The two developed theories, the colloid and crystalloid are the basis of the current hydration theories. |
1900 |
Cement tests are standardized. |
1909 |
Thomas Alba Edison takes out a patent on rotary kilns. |
1927 |
Eugene Freyssinet creates the prestressed concrete.
|
1940 |
First wet process kilns are developed, which were twice efficient than the preceding rotary kilns. |
1970 |
Long dry kilns are developed. |
1970 |
Fibrocement is introduced in concrete. |
1980 |
Pre calcination in cement kilns starts. |
