<ul><li>Sulfuric acid is widely produced but Portland cement, at 4.4 billion tons annually, may surpass it in production.</li><li>Cement is crucial for binding gravel and sand into concrete, playing a vital role in construction.</li><li>Portion of credit for cement discovery goes to Romans, though ancient Egypt also had cement usage.</li><li>Portland cement, named after Portland UK, is predominant in today's manufacturing.</li><li>Cement production starts with limestone quarrying and crushing, with clay being another primary ingredient.</li><li>Rotary kilns are critical in the production process, heating rawmix to create calcium silicate minerals.</li><li>Clinker is formed at 1,500 °C which is then cooled, mixed with gypsum, ground, and shipped as powder.</li><li>Cement arrives at concrete plants, mixed with gravel, sand, water, and admixtures for specific uses.</li><li>Cement curing involves hydration of calcium silicates and aluminate phases constituting a complex chemical process.</li><li>Concrete, referred to as 'green' in initial curing stage, continues to gain strength over weeks or months.</li></ul>

Big Chemistry: Cement and Concrete

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