Portland cement is the incredible material that has transformed our built environment perhaps more than any other. Cement is the component that bonds concrete together, and since its invention in the middle of the 18th century, Portland cement has become one of the most widely used cements for general purpose construction concrete across the world. The low cost and easy availability of Portland cement's constituents have made it an accessible and effective material for construction the world over. The Conco Companies is a leading commercial concrete contractor in Portland, Oregon that has situated itself in the long history of concrete as an innovator in the evolving technologies of the field.
First developed in Britain, Portland cement is named after its similar appearance to Portland stone, which was then quarried on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England. According to Robert Courland's book Concrete Planet: The Strange and Fascinating Story of the World's Most Common Man-Made Material, it was first named by Joseph Aspdin who obtained the original patent for Portland cement in 1824. Though Aspdin began the work of creating Portland cement, there was significant refinement of the process still to do. Joseph's son William Aspdin is regarded as the creator of the Portland cement we use today, as he pioneered many improvements to the process through the 1840's. Portland cement is created by mixing limestone or chalk with shale, clay, or slate, as well as silica sand and iron ore. The most common process for creating Portland cement is called the dry process. In the dry process, this mixture is heated at temperatures approaching 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit in massive cylindrical kilns that are slightly tilted to allow the components to gradually descend the kiln toward the heating element. According to the Portland Cement Association, kilns can be up to 12 feet in diameter, large enough to fit a car, and can be up to 40 stories tall. As the mixture heats up gases are released, a new substance known as clinker falls out of the heated lower end of the kiln. This clinker material, about the size of marbles, is then cooled and mixed with a 3% gypsum and limestone mixture and then grinded to create cement. It is amazing that natural and readily available materials can create such a ubiquitous bonding material for construction. Without the invention of Portland cement and the continued innovations in concrete mixing and placement, the built environment that has been created over the last 150 years and the roads and cities we know today may not have been as affordable or durable. The Conco Companies are a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western U.S. We got our start in the Bay Area in 1959 by offering clients the best value on a wide range of concrete services and products. Since that time, we have taken a leading role as one of the top concrete contractors in the region. We have four regional offices serving California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon and Colorado.
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