ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on inorganic polymers. Inorganic polymers are the major components of soil, mountains, and sand. Inorganic polymers are also extensively employed as abrasives and cutting materials (diamond, boron carbide, silicon carbide [carborundum], aluminum oxide); coatings, flame retardants, building and construction materials (window glass, stone, Portland cement, brick, tiles); and lubricants and catalysts (zinc oxide, nickel oxide, carbon black, graphite, silica gel, alumina, aluminum silicate, chromium oxides, and clays). Portland cement is the least expensive, most widely used synthetic inorganic polymer. It is employed as the basic nonmetallic, nonwoody material of construction. The manufactures of Portland concrete consists of three basic steps—crushing, burning, and finish grinding. There are a number of cements specially formulated for specific uses. They are air-entrained concrete, lightweight concrete, reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete and concrete masonry. The cements cited above are all typically derived from Portland cement. The following are non-Portland cements: calcium-aluminate cement, magnesia cement, and gypsum.
