Cement is an important building material used all over the world. There are many different types of cement, but one that has been gaining popularity in recent years is white cement. White cement is made with a special process that results in a very light-colored product.
Some people believe that white cement is more eco-friendly than traditional gray cement, but is this really the case? Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of white cement to see if it deserves its “green” reputation.
Is White Cement Sustainable?
In terms of sustainability, white cement is a bit of a mixed bag. To answer this question, we first need to understand what factors make cement more or less sustainable.
The three main factors to consider when assessing the sustainability of cement are its embodied energy, emissions during production, and its impacts on the environment after it has been produced. White cement scores well on the first two of these factors.
White cement has a lower embodied energy than gray cement. This is because white cement requires less energy to produce. The manufacturing process for white cement is also cleaner and results in fewer emissions than the production of gray cement.
It is also made with limestone, which is an abundant natural resource and won’t deplete anytime soon.
Additionally, because it is lighter in color, it reflects more sunlight and therefore helps to keep buildings cooler in the summer months. This can lead to lower energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint.
However, where white cement falls short is in its environmental impacts after production. Once white cement is in the environment, it can have some harmful effects.
For example, white cement reflects light more than gray cement. This means that it can contribute to the “heat island” effect, where urban areas are significantly warmer than rural areas due to all the reflective surfaces.
White cement also has a higher albedo than gray cement. Albedo is a measure of how much sunlight is reflected by a material. High albedo materials like white cement can contribute to global warming because they reflect more heat back into the atmosphere.
Furthermore, the manufacturing process for white cement can produce large amounts of waste, which can be difficult to recycle.
So, while white cement has some advantages in terms of sustainability, it also has some drawbacks that should be considered. Overall, it is up to the individual consumer to decide whether the benefits of white cement outweigh the potential drawbacks.
What is White Cement Made of?
White cement is made with a special process that results in a very light-colored product. It is usually made from limestone, clay, and portland cement. White cement can also be mixed with other color pigments to create different shades of white.
The manufacturing process of white cement is very similar to the process used to make gray cement, where the raw materials are heated to extremely high temperatures and then ground into a fine powder.
However, there are two key differences that result in the white color.
First of all, white limestone is used instead of gray limestone. And secondly, iron oxide is not added to the mix. These two changes help to create a product that is much lighter in color than traditional gray cement.
