Natural Cement Needs New ASTM Standards For Restoration Industry
Pat MunroDecember 21, 2010 — 349 views
Restoration of our historical structures made of cement, such as canals, army bases, monuments, museums, and capitols is bringing back the notion and use of natural cement over the mostly used Portland cement of this generation. There are thousands of natural cement structures which were built back in the 19th century and are still loved and used today. The need for restoration of these structures has led to a need to produce natural cement once again, because restoration using the original materials are preferred to achieve strength and continuity throughout the structure. In historical structure restoration, avoidance of stress to the original building and its materials is obviously very important. Natural cement is lower in elasticity than present day Portland cement; this allows for its successful use in large concrete and masonry structures without the need of expansion joints. Natural cement deforms as the cement expands and contracts with changes in temperature and moisture levels, relieving stress. Continuity in this material is the goal to achieving the restoration of our historic structures. But there is a problem, the C10 natural cement standard by the ASTM no longer exists.
