The name “white cement” speaks for itself - this type of binder is characterized by a high degree of whiteness and purity of components, due to the excellent decorative properties it is recommended to be used for finishing work. This building material is considered a relative novelty and is currently presented on the market mainly by imported manufacturers. The manufacturing technology and raw materials differ from traditional ones, which has a positive effect on the hardening time and such operational characteristics, such as: strength, frost and weather resistance, crack resistance.
The use of cement in construction speeds up 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 own mixing characteristics; violation of the recommended proportions, incorrectly selected tools or unwanted impurities lead to stains on the surface or deterioration in color quality. On the other hand, if the basic nuances are observed, an amazing effect is obtained and the price of the product is completely justified.
What is white cement?
Its color and high-quality structure are achieved through a combination of the use of special raw materials and innovative technologies crimping and grinding. The basis is low-iron clinker made from kaolin clay; additives include gypsum, chalk (limestone), and chlorine salts. All substances included in the composition contain a minimum number of iron oxides or pigment inclusions. After calcination to 1200–1400 °C, the clinker is subjected to rapid cooling; such hardening helps to increase the strength and frost resistance of the future cement.
An important nuance: the stoves use environmentally friendly 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 plates, thus maintaining the purity of the material 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 special whiteness, clinker can be subjected to additional processing (with water, placement in an oxygen-free environment), after which it intensifies its color. The result is ultra-white stamps with a reflectivity of up to 90%. The latter variety looks impressive in the sun, but due to its high cost it is difficult to buy (virtually absent in construction markets).
Description of characteristics and properties
The main operational parameters of cement include:
As a result, this variety is valued for the following advantages:
1. High weather resistance.
2. Environmentally friendly, only natural ingredients are used for production.
3. Sulfate resistance due to the purity of the composition (up to 5% alkalis).
4. Accelerated hardening time (the material finally hardens on the 28th day, like any type of cement, but you can start processing it already on the 2nd day).
5. High dispersion and water resistance.
6. Crack resistance and minimal chipping.
7. Multifunctionality: use for interior and exterior work, both as a main building material and as an additional component.
8. Uniformity: thanks to the fine grinding, products made from this cement look like they have been polished.
9. Aesthetics and combination with any design ideas, the possibility of improvisation.
If we compare the characteristics of white and traditional brands, the advantages of using the first variety are more obvious. In particular:
The maximum possible strength grade of gray cement is M500, while decorative variety- 700. The latter is due to the use of innovative calcination and grinding technologies and the assessment of composition parameters in accordance with European building codes. It is important to consider that the material has increased shrinkage compared to traditional Portland cement (due to fine grinding). At the same time, the minimum cost of the M500 brand with a whiteness degree of 70% is 450 rubles per 50 kg bag.
Scope of application
In industry, this material serves as the basis for the manufacture of grouting and adhesive mixtures High Quality. Due to its good reflective properties and weather resistance, it is used for marking roads and airfields. For private purposes, it is recommended to buy cement with a high degree of whiteness for:
1. Facade cladding. IN 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. Creatures 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.
This material requires certain mixing conditions; it changes its properties upon 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 treated with anti-corrosion compounds and covered with a thin layer of concrete. The latter is important nuance Without this step, rust clearly shows 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 ordinary concrete in the absence of coarse 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 the solution.
The exception is colored additives such as marble chips, which are introduced to achieve a certain decorative effect. To separate the components you will need pure water with neutral PH, from open external sources you can't take it. 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. To do this, mix lead white and mastic in a ratio of 1:6, all ingredients must be ground to a powder and diluted with melted white wax. The independently obtained composition is most often used for decorative grout joints. However, due to the significant labor intensity of the process, this method is not considered convenient; customer reviews indicate in favor of white cement as the basis for mixing decorative concrete.
To create color cement mortar at home, coloring components and pure white sand are added to the original composition. Maximum allowable ratio mineral pigments to the dry mixture - 1:20, it is also important not to violate the proportions of the fine filler.
Excess sand will dull the color and reduce ductility, and exceeding 5% of the dye content can lead to loss of strength and deterioration of other characteristics. It is recommended to dilute the colored solution after thoroughly mixing the dry ingredients, gradually adding clean water.
Price
Probably every person has encountered construction or finishing work at least once in his life. Or at least watched it happen.
Every person knows that any construction process, includes working with white cement.
The use of this composition is widespread in construction, in the creation of sculptures and various architectural forms. When a person talks about cement, he imagines a gray homogeneous mass.
Indeed, previously this material had only this color. But, modern markets Now they are filled with a brand of cement that is beautifully white. It refers to a composition distinguished by its characteristics and aesthetic properties.
Besides the fact that it is used individual material, it can be added to various other formulations. You just need to take into account some of the features associated with working as a white man.
White cement is a light powder.
When it comes into contact with liquid, it becomes solid, so it is quite durable.
It is identical to ordinary cement, but is manufactured according to special technology using some additives.
They are what give the material its white color.
Additionally, this material has high atmospheric resistance. Therefore, it is a fairly durable material.
The composition of white cement includes:
To bleach clinker, gas is often used. It is based on reducing the degree of oxidation of dyes.
The main parameters of white cement are:
Frost and moisture resistance allow the use of cement under the most negative atmospheric conditions. At the same time, it will not crack, crumble or break off.
Pure color and good structure are achieved due to the use of special raw materials and innovative products.
All substances that make up the material contain a small amount of iron oxides and pigment inclusions.
Clinker must be calcined.
Then it must be cooled. Such actions increase the durability and frost resistance of the resulting cement.
To make the color of the material whiter, the clinker is treated with water. This procedure enhances the color.
Due to this, the latest brands of cement look quite beautiful under the rays. But this material has a high cost, so it is problematic to purchase. However, white cement is widely used in construction. The use of the material at home is just beginning to find its place.
This material was recently published on construction market, but has already established itself as one of the sought-after compositions. White cement has a large number of :
This type of cement is quite practical construction staff. Buildings built with its help will not shrink significantly. You can also see that they do not crumble. But this material also has disadvantages.
These include the need for increased attention. When working with this material, certain rules must be followed. Another disadvantage is the high cost of the material. But it is worth noting that high-quality materials are always not cheap. And if you take into account the duration of use and durability, this is quite profitable.
Sometimes when finishing works people use white cement. Application, how to knead it, does not cause any particular difficulties.
White cement is diluted identically to ordinary material. But, when working with it, you should take into account several features:
If a person adheres to all of the above rules for working with white cement, he will always be satisfied with the result of his work.
This material is used for decorative and industrial purposes. After all, the basis for the production of adhesives and grouting compounds is white cement.
It is used in road markings because it has reflective properties. And even this is not the last area of its application.
For private use, due to its whiteness, this material is purchased for the following purposes:
This is a material with increased strength, which has a huge range of applications in various fields. Its main advantage is its long service life. That is why it is widely used and has already established itself as one of the most popular.
White cement must be mixed under specific conditions. It will change properties upon close contact with fat. That is why, when mixing material, you need to take clean tools and containers. In addition, it is recommended to degrease them before use. Metal surfaces must be treated with anti-corrosion compounds. They are applied in a thin layer. Otherwise, the resulting rust will penetrate the concrete structure and will be visible from the outside. Of course, this will not happen immediately, but after some period of time it will definitely happen.
Otherwise, this type of cement is identical to conventional material. It can be easily prepared. Clean river sand can be used to fill the cement.
To produce the composition, standard doses are required: one to three. Mixing this composition will not cause any particular difficulties even for the most inexperienced person. You don't need any special skill here either.
Watch the video on how to prepare white mortar for laying bricks:
What distinguishes white from ordinary gray cement is not only its color, but also many of its other properties. In order for products made from it to serve for a long time and not lose their original appearance, you need to know how to properly mix the solution and what fillers to choose.
The main feature of white cement, of course, is its color, which is obtained thanks to its main component - low-iron clinker with a high content of calcium silicate. It is fired until completely melted and cooled.
Subsequently, fillers are added to the clinker, important indicator is purity and color. Even the highest quality clinker will lose its original color if low-quality additives are used. Related components are:
gypsum;
kaolin;
limestone.
All of them must be crushed or crushed to achieve a homogeneous mixture with clinker. Color finished product completely depends on the composition of the raw materials. The finished mixture varies in whiteness, drying time and resistance to the external environment.
Due to the characteristics of this building material, it is ineffective to use it in pure form and prepare the solution by adding only water. But there are also color requirements for additives, otherwise the solution will lose its original characteristics.
The most commonly used is quartz sand. Its usual purification is not enough - this is done only on an industrial scale. River sand is also added, but it also needs to be washed to remove possible inclusions of clay and dirt. These components have an acceptable cost, but the purest color can only be obtained with very fine marble flour.
The main advantage is its drying speed. The first solidification phase is completely completed after 7 - 13 hours, provided that the surface of the solution remains motionless.
Since the main components are natural mineral raw materials, cement can be considered environmentally friendly and safe. This makes it possible to use it for interior decoration of residential premises. High-quality raw materials and minimal content chemical substances makes it more durable compared to gray cement. This prevents cracks from appearing in the finished product.
The building material has high dispersion rates, which reduces its susceptibility to high humidity, sediments and aggressive liquids. If other cement requires specialized additives to improve these indicators, then white in this case is self-sufficient. This reduces costs and simplifies the process.
The disadvantage of white cement is its high cost. This is due to the cost of raw materials and production features. Now on the market you can find more cheap options white cement, but their composition leaves much to be desired.
The material can be found both in external and internal interior decoration, as well as in some decorative elements of the interior. Application is limited only by imagination and possibilities.
Cement is used for:
1. Grout for joints when laying tiles. In this case, gypsum or chalk ground into powder is used as additives.
2. Reinforced concrete structures for decorative purposes. Columns, stucco molding, stairs, railings and statues made from this material are used in the interior. They retain their color throughout the entire period of their use.
3. The masonry mixture looks advantageous in contrast with dark. This does not affect the quality of the solution in any way.
4. Decorative finishing bricks and slabs are also made from this material. If necessary, mineral dyes are added to them - manganese, chlorine oxide, etc.
5. The production of paving slabs is also not complete without white cement. Main role It’s not just the beautiful appearance that plays a role here finished products, but also its resistance to the influence of the external environment.
6. Mortar for self-leveling floors and exterior finishing walls To create the necessary interior, cement is added to these solutions or they are completely made on its basis.
7. Manufacturing decorative plaster. Fine is added to the mixture expanded clay gravel or marble chips. The walls lined with it are very similar in texture and appearance to natural stone.
When mixing the solution, you must maintain cleanliness. Grease, dirt and rust will ruin the color of the finished product. If fittings are used in the work, they also need to be cleaned and coated with an anti-corrosion substance. Without this, a structure will very soon become covered with rusty stains and lose its appearance. The water for mixing the solution must also be purified and free of sediment. The concrete mixer must be cleaned of the previous solution.
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 initial composition, but also in quality. Some of them set quickly, others, on the contrary, retain their plasticity for a long time, and others generally expand and cause reinforced concrete structures to strain. What about white cement? What can he do? We will have to deal with this and many other questions 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
According to their own physical characteristics and production technology, white cement is practically no different from its gray Portland counterpart, but it still has several key differences. One of them lies precisely in color, which is achieved through the use of a certain group of raw materials natural materials. This is still the same clinker, only the iron content in it is minimal. In addition, this cement contains whiteness additives such as diatomaceous earth and gypsum.
It is thanks to its white color that this can be used not only for making concrete structures and construction of block buildings, but also in many other branches of construction. For example, on its basis the main mass for tiles is created. In principle, it’s worth talking about its scope of application in a little more detail, but first we’ll look at the characteristics of white cement.
Composition of white cement photo
In most cases, all the characteristics of white cement are much higher and better than those of standard gray cement. This is high quality construction material, which differs in the following points.
And the last one is the most important point For modern man– these are the decorative qualities of the material. White cement can be painted in almost any color using pigments. In contrast, gray cement and mortars made on its basis cannot be painted in this way. What does this give? Neither more nor less, but the ability to produce various products based on white cement. Now we’ve come to the area of application of this material, which we’ll talk about in more detail.
The scope of white cement is quite extensive and, as mentioned above, it is not limited to the preparation ordinary concrete or masonry plaster mortar. That's just a small part of that area human activity, where this building material is intensively used.
And this is only a small part of where white cement can be used. Among other things, many varieties of cement-containing materials are made on its basis. adhesive compositions for stone and tiles. By and large, if its cost does not seem prohibitive to you, it can also be used to perform standard work - laying bricks, making. It has very high characteristics, so both the masonry and the screed will be very strong and durable.
White cement can be classified according to two criteria. First of all, these are standard grades of cement - 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.
In addition, many serious cement manufacturers and simply 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
White color cement and some of its characteristics determine some features of working with it. First of all, this is the preparation of mortars and concrete - crushed stone and ordinary sand are not used here. Usually it is replaced marble chips and sand with a low iron content, without impurities of silt and clay - this is the only way to create a solution or concrete that is white (like cement) in 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 could affect the color of concrete or cement mortar.
And that is not all. In addition to the correct preparation of mixtures, when working with white cement you should also pay attention to the following points.
White cement is much more expensive than its regular gray counterpart, and in order not to spoil it, you need to work with it carefully. Basically, it's too high price more than pays for itself with its decorative qualities and improved characteristics.
And to conclude the topic about white cement, I will say a few words about the manufacturers and the choice of this material. Today it is produced quite a lot various companies, and the quality of the products of some of them leaves much to be desired. You understand, when paying a lot of money for it, you want to count on high level quality that Turkish companies do not provide - Turkish white cement is no different high quality, degree of whiteness and characteristics. We can say that it is very close to standard gray cement. If you are going to purchase products of this type, then it is better to opt for Eurocement - there is an optimal combination of price and quality.
Compared to ordinary gray, white Portland cement has better performance and specifications. Products are able to retain their original appearance for a long time. It hardens tens of times faster than gray binder powder. Produced in crushing plants with special lining.
Resistant to atmospheric influences, so it can be used for indoor and outdoor work. It varies in degree of whiteness and is divided into 3 classes – I, II and III (from 68 to 85%). In terms of strength, the grades M400, M500 and M600 are produced. The white color is obtained thanks to the low-iron clinker that is used for its manufacture. The composition of the binder powder includes gypsum, limestone, chlorine salts and various mineral additives.
Another difference from the gray type is the fineness of the grind. For white it is much less - 4500 cm 2 /g (for standard Portland cement - 3500 cm 2 /g). Frost resistance cycles are 2 times more (minimum) than conventional ones - from F100.
Positive properties:
It can be mixed with other decorative building materials, since all particles have the same shade. The only drawback is the high cost.
Thanks to its excellent technical characteristics, it is popular not only in private housing construction, but also in industry. It is used to create various decorative elements, as well as for finishing facades. Objects made from it have a snow-white hue, so they are often used to decorate homes. They are much stronger and more durable than those made from gray cement.
White binder powder is added in the production of terrazite plaster mixture for facades, as well as in the production decorative brick and slabs for sidewalks. In order for the finishing or products to imitate natural stone as much as possible, cement is poured coloring pigment required shade, granite or marble crushed stone and expanded clay gravel.
It is used as a main component in the production of grouts, putties, adhesives, self-leveling floors, cement-lime and other plaster mixtures. Since the powder is wear-resistant and has increased strength, it is used for markings on roads and runways at airports.
Area of application at home – decorative plastering or self-production tiles for wall decoration.
It is necessary to strictly adhere to the technology and follow the instructions indicated by the manufacturer on the bag.
Before working with it, follow the rules:
1. Formwork, forms and tools must be absolutely clean - free from dust, grease, oil or rust spots, mold, mildew and the like. It is necessary to thoroughly wash the concrete mixer if it has been used before. Everything that is on the tool will later appear on the finished surface or created product.
2. For mixing, use only absolutely clean water, without any impurities.
3. If cement will be laid in places where there are metal parts, they should first be thoroughly cleaned of rust and treated with anti-corrosion agents several times. In this case, the minimum layer of laying on metal is 3 cm. If you make it thinner, there is a high probability that stains will appear after some time.
4. To give even greater whiteness, titanium dioxide can be added to the binder powder, but not more than 1% of the total volume.
5. Only white building materials with a fraction of no more than 2 mm (fine grinding) are used as fillers in the manufacture of solutions. If quartz sand is added, it should not contain sulfides, the grain size should be no more than 1.5 mm.
6. If plasticizers or other additives are needed, then they should also be selected according to their shade so as not to change the color of the cement.
Price
The price of white powder is higher than regular powder, since more complex technology is used for its production. The cost of the bag depends on the manufacturer and container weight. The following brands are considered the most popular: Adana (Turkey), Aalborg White (Denmark), Holcim (French concern, 2 factories in Russia), Cimca (Turkey).
| Manufacturer's brand | Tare weight, kg | Price per piece, rubles |
| Adana M600 D0 | 50 | 800 |
| Aalborg White M600 D0 | 50 | 840 |
| Aalborg White M600 D0 in big bags | 1000 | 15500 |
| Cimca M600 D0 | 50 | 900 |
| Holcim M600 | 50 | 700 |
| Diana PC 500 | 5 | 110 |
Before buying white Portland cement, be sure to check the date of manufacture. The longer the powder is stored, the worse its technical characteristics become. If it is packaged in paper bags, then moisture from the air gradually penetrates through the container. Some enter the hydration process and lumps appear. Using such material for mixing solutions, you will have to increase its proportion in relation to other components, since otherwise the composition will not work out the right brand in terms of strength. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately calculate the required volume so that as little as possible is left after construction.
In terms of aesthetic qualities, this binder powder is much better than gray, which is why artists and sculptures use it to create decorative items. It is also used to make flower beds, columns, borders and other architectural objects.
