OPC Clinker, or Ordinary Portland Cement, is made by heating raw materials like limestone and clay plus a few other ingredients like gypsum and iron ore to high temperatures.
OPC Clinker acts as a binding agent for concrete without which infrastructure projects like dams, bridges and buildings would not be possible.
Here’s how OPC Clinker’s unique properties make it crucial to projects:
Strength & Durability
When mixed with water, OPC Clinker forms a very hard and stable compound called calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) which binds aggregates like sand and gravel together. The strong bonds formed between the aggregates give structures exceptional strength and also makes them extremely durable. Roads, dams, bridges and buildings have to endure heavy loads and have to withstand harsh weather over many decades. Which is why the binding properties of OPC Clinker are absolutely vital.
Adaptable & Versatile
OPC Clinker is incredibly versatile because engineers can easily blend it in specific ratios with cementitious materials like limestone, fly ash etc. This ensures that the concrete created has the right properties required for their projects. By adding and adjusting the fly ash content to OPC Clinker, concrete can become more resistant to chemical attacks. The quantity of Clinker can also be adjusted to control the setting time and flowability of concrete to suit different projects.
Plentiful Supply
Infrastructure projects need raw materials in huge quantities. Because OPC Clinker is easily available, there are no supply chain and logistics problems and projects won’t be held up because of scarcity of material. For infrastructure projects which need millions of tons of cement, cost is also a very important criterion. OPC Clinker is more economical than other cements, making it an easy choice for mega projects.
To sum up, OPC Clinker is often the first-choice cement for infrastructure projects because it is strong, durable, versatile and, not to mention, cost-effective.
