Joseph Aspdin is almost universally acknowledged as the inventor of portland cement. Indeed, his son, William Aspdin, attempting to shield the process from any potential competitors, actively promoted the mystery of portland cement and its manufacture. In 1852 he related, "the most unscrupulous means were resorted to in order to obtain knowledge of Mr. Aspdin’s mode of manipulation. Men in his manufactory were enticed away and workmen employed in his works where ‘Patent Portland Cement’ was used were bribed to spoil it. These and similar discreditable manoeuvres were continually resorted to."

Learn how an intrepid young man named Isaac Johnson unlocked the secret and forever altered the course of cement manufacturing in this excerpt from Innovations in Cement Manufacturing. More.

Innovations in Cement Manufacturing

This is the definitive reference for cement manufacturing. A ground-breaking work with 45 chapters of state-of-the-art information. Ten major divisions cover materials on: historical perspective on cement manufacturing, materials and fuels, pyroprocessing and kiln operation, finish milling and material handling, optimization and control, environment and energy, health and safety, analytical techniques, cement types, specifications, and properties, and future trends. This monumental work is the product of dozens of internationally renowned experts in the cement industry.
Edited by J. I. Bhatty, F. M. Miller, and S. H. Kosmatka. 1404 pages.
SP400—$250
Also available on CD. (CD400)

Click here for more information and special combination offers.

Coal Mills and Clinker Coolers Come to the Lehigh Valley

The highly successful consecutive one-day programs will come to Bethlehem, PA in November. More than 138 plant personnel have already taken advantage of these regional courses in St. Louis, MO, Colton, CA, and Midlothian, TX.

• Coal Mills…Challenges, considerations, and common sense operation
  November 3, 2004

• Clinker Coolers…Balancing cooler conditions with clinker quality and combustion requirements November 4, 2004
  

• Combustion and Pollutant Formation (Day 1 – August 26, 2004)



• Vertical Roller Mills for Raw Meal Preparation (Day 2 – August 27, 2004)

More than 138 plant personnel have taken advantage of regional courses in St. Louis, MO, Colton, CA, and Midlothian, TX and now we’re headed to Atlanta, Georgia. More.

July 2004 Workshop a Success

The 12th annual workshop was held July 11-14 at PCA's headquarters in Skokie, Ill. Over 35 professors from colleges and universities across North America attended the workshop through the support of their local cement and concrete regional promotion group.

The ACBM/PCA Undergraduate Faculty Enhancement Workshop addresses the issues of adding and expanding coverage of concrete materials properties in undergraduate and graduate courses and laboratories. More.

Concrete: Principles and Practice
November 1-4, 2004 and February 7-10, 2005

A fast-paced, four-day comprehensive course on concrete technology, perfect for personnel new to the concrete industry who need fundamental yet practical concrete knowledge. Topics include:

• Materials for Concrete: Cement, Water, Aggregates, SCMs, and Chemical Admixtures
• Mixing, Transporting, Placing, Finishing, and Curing Ready-Mixed Concrete
• Introduction to Concrete Mix Design
• Reinforced Concrete-Theory and Application
• Quality Control Tests
• Hot and Cold Weather Concreting
• Introduction to Troubleshooting Hardened Concrete

At the end of this course, participants will be able to use fundamental principles of concrete and concrete-making materials to 1) assess proposed materials, 2) contrast concrete mixtures, 3) examine concrete mixture proportions, and 4) specify correct placement and finishing techniques for use in typical ready mixed concrete applications.

Click here for course outline.

This course was developed for engineers, architects, specifiers, ready-mix concrete producers, concrete contractors, consultants and other design professionals dealing with the use of concrete as a building material. More.

View complete schedules of Cement courses and Concrete courses.