Time is one of the most important resources in the building industry. Regardless of the size of the project, certain circumstances need quick and effective results that cannot be achieved with conventional materials.
Based on this premise, quick-setting cement has become one of the most popular alternatives when seeking to minimize time on a construction site.
What is quick-setting cement?
Fast-setting cement is a binding material with properties similar to the traditional Portland cement. Its main attribute is its fast setting time, which can harden in a time ranging between 20 to 40 minutes.
Unlike traditional Portland cement, fast-setting cement doesn’t lose strength nor is it negatively affected by its fast hardening in any way. What’s more, its mixture is capable of achieving high mechanical resistance in a short period.
That being said, quick-setting cement must be treated under special conditions to obtain the desired results, as soon as its prepared, its hardening process begins.
Main characteristics
These are the main characteristics of a quick-setting cement:
- Fast-setting cement hardening process begins approximately 5 minutes after it has been prepared, so it’s recommended to prepare the surface on which it’s going to be applied beforehand.
- Although it reaches its final mechanical resistance after 28 days, it can harden consistently in the first 20 minutes.
- It is easy to adhere to materials such as wood, brick, concrete, metals, and plastic.
- Fast-setting cement, when prepared and applied correctly, can optimally withstand weather conditions.
- It tends to have yellowish or brown colouring.
Where can fast-setting cement be used?
There are many uses for quick-setting cement, however, some of its most important applications are the following:
- It’s a great material to seal cracks, fissures, and all kinds of damages that can appear on concrete floors.
- Thanks to its fast-setting property, this cement is ideal for repairing pipes and drains where there are high levels of humidity.
- To install billboards, traffic signs, or any type of metal anchorage, fast cement can be used.
- Fast-setting cement is an excellent masonry material, as it can be used to join blocks and bricks, as a floor coverage for milling, and to install doors and windows.
Why is quick-setting cement a good building material?
Quick-setting cement has many advantages that make it a good building and flooring material. These are some of the reasons why:
- Due to its properties, it can be used to carry out waterproofing jobs in large spaces such as tunnels and basements.
- It can even be applied underwater without affecting its hardening process.
- It is capable of being used both in interior spaces and in those areas that are subjected to weather conditions.
- It has multiple uses and is very versatile.
Considerations when working with this type of cement
When working with quick-setting cement, it is necessary to take into consideration a series of necessary precautions to obtain the desired results and to also not jeopardize people’s safety.
These are the measures to take into account to work with fast-setting cement:
- Use a mask to avoid inhaling dust: Cement dust is harmful to human health and can cause respiratory diseases.
- Use glasses and rubber gloves: Just like traditional Portland cement, fast cement is irritant when it comes into contact with eyes and skin, therefore, it is recommended to use glasses and gloves.
- Prepare the mixture in moderate quantities: This way you will have enough time to handle and apply the material properly without risking premature hardening.
- Prepare the mixture near the workplace: This optimizes time and prevents the cement from hardening before being applied.
Fast-setting cement to repair concrete floors
Although quick-setting cement isn’t usually used to build interior concrete floors, it is ideal for carrying out repairs on these types of surfaces.
Within the industrial sector, concrete floors must be kept in perfect condition to not jeopardize the facility’s productivity. Therefore, adequate maintenance is required regularly.
In the case of minor cracks or fissures, fast-setting cement can be used, minimizing the interruption time in the working environment and offering optimal results.
