The purpose of the binders is to bind all the components of the future product or structure into a monolithic whole. There are two types of binders – air-hardening – airy and materials, on the properties of which, after the beginning of setting, water cannot have a negative effect, and in some cases even has a positive effect – hydraulic. Clay, gypsum and air lime are airborne. To hydraulic – hydraulic lime and cements.
Clay
Clay is a soft, finely dispersed type of rock. When diluted with water, it forms a plastic mass that is easily subject to any shape formation. During firing, the clay is sintered, hardens and turns into a stone-like body, and at higher firing temperatures it melts and can reach a glassy state.
Depending on the impurities, the clay takes on a different color. The most valuable raw material is white clay – kaolin.
Clay tends to absorb water up to a certain limit, after which it is no longer able to absorb it or let it pass through itself. This property of clay is used to create bulk waterproofing layers..
Depending on the resistance of the clay to temperature, they are distinguished by high-melting, refractory and refractory clays. Their melting points, respectively: 1380, up to 1550 and above 1550 degrees. Pure kaolin melts at temperatures above 1750 degrees. Refractory clays serve as raw materials for the manufacture of refractory materials.
Lime
Lime is produced by calcining limestone at high temperatures. The lime obtained in this way is called boiling lime because, upon contact with water, there is an active release of carbon dioxide. This process is called “quenching”. For most lime applications, it must be “slaked”. The slaked lime turns into a dough that can be stored for many years. Long-term storage can even improve the properties of lime..
To obtain an astringent solution, lime dough is mixed with sand. Such a solution is used when laying foundations for stoves, chimneys up to 4-5 m in height and is used for plastering the walls of houses and stoves..
Cement
Cement is the most common binding material that allows to obtain products and structures of the highest strength. Cement is the result of fine grinding of sintered products of one of the types of clay – marl or a mixture of limestone and clay. The sintering process is carried out in special furnaces. During grinding, dosed additions of gypsum, slag, sand and other components are made to the sintering products, which makes it possible to obtain cement with a wide variety of properties.
Depending on the feedstock and the additives introduced, cements are subdivided into Portland cements and Portland slag cements. Among Potland cements, there are fast-setting and Portland cements with mineral additives..
Concrete structures in which one or another brand of cement is used can acquire unique properties. First of all, these are especially durable concretes, for example, for runways of airfields and rocket launch sites, frost, fire and salt resistant grades.
To indicate the maximum strength properties of cement, the concept of a brand is used. Grade 400 means that in a factory laboratory during a trial test of a hardened cement cube with an edge of 100 mm when crushed on a press, it withstood a load of at least 400 kg / cm2. The most common grades are from 350 to 500. Cement grades up to 600 and even 700 are produced..
All cements have a fairly fast setting time. The beginning of hardening – setting – lies within 40-50 minutes, and the end of hardening is about 10-12 hours.
Gypsum
Gypsum is obtained by firing rock – gypsum stone and then grinding the fired product. Gypsum is significantly inferior to cement in terms of the strength of products obtained by using it as a binder, and also inferior to it in hygroscopicity – the ability to resist the penetration of moisture into the body of the structure. Therefore, gypsum is used in structures and solutions that work indoors. Gypsum is grade A – fast-hardening (the end of setting is less than 15 minutes) and grade B – normally hardening (the end of setting is 30 minutes).
Gypsum serves as the basis for mortars for sealing small irregularities and cracks in the concrete surfaces of walls and ceilings, as well as for plastering furnaces.
What are some alternative ways to organize documents and materials besides using binders?
Some alternative ways to organize documents and materials besides using binders include:
1. Digital organization: Utilize cloud storage services or computer folders to categorize and store electronic documents.
2. Filing cabinets: Use filing cabinets with labeled folders to store paper documents in a systematic way.
3. Clear plastic storage bins: Store materials in clear bins to easily identify and access items.
4. Magazine holders: Use magazine holders to store documents vertically on shelves, saving space and keeping them easily accessible.
5. Rolling storage carts: Utilize rolling storage carts to keep materials mobile and easily transportable.
6. Zippered pouches or pouch organizers: Store small items like pens, notepads, or USB drives in zippered pouches or organizers for easy access.
7. Bookshelves: Use bookshelves with labeled compartments or bins to store documents and materials in an organized manner.
8. Desktop organizers: Use trays, compartments, or holders on your desk to keep materials within reach and well-organized.
9. Hanging wall organizers: Utilize hanging wall organizers with pockets or compartments to store documents while saving space on surfaces.
10. Digital task management tools: Use project management software or apps to organize documents and materials digitally and collaborate with others.