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When was cement first used?

Cements are finely ground powders that harden when mixed with water. Cement has been in use since about 200 B.C. The cement used by ancient Egyptians was made of calcium carbonate and gypsum. Both the ancient Greeks and Romans used a cement made of calcium carbonate and limestone.

The Romans developed a concrete (a mixture of cement, sand, and some other finely crushed rock) that could be used to construct underwater drains and bridges. The concrete was embedded in a lime putty, mixed with brick dust or volcanic ash.

With the decline of the Roman empire around 395 A.D., concrete was abandoned as a building material. It was reintroduced around 1790 by English engineer John Smeaton (1724-1792). Smeaton found that when a combination of lime and clay was burnt, it would harden under water. He used this substance to seal the Eddystone lighthouse in the English Channel.

In 1824,...

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