Now that we have explained what cement is and how it works, we can begin to move into the processes and machinery involved in the creation of cement. Production of Portland cement begins at the Mayo Quarry where the limestone material is excavated, crushed and transported as slurry to the Claxton Bay plant, where the cement manufacturing process is completed.
The manufacture of Portland Cement takes place in a number of steps:
- At TCL's Mayo Quarry, limestone, one of the main ingredients in cement manufacture, is excavated.
- The limestone raw material then goes through several categories of 'crushing', until it is fine enough for water, sand and iron oxide to be added to produce a mixture known as Slurry.
- The slurry is then transported 8 miles via 8" and 10" pipelines from the Mayo Quarry to the Claxton Bay Manufacturing plant.
- At Claxton Bay, the Slurry is pumped into the ovens which are heated at 2700° F (1480 °C). The heat from the Kilns transforms the slurry into large, glassy, red-hot cinders called "CLINKER"
- Clinker, along with gypsum, is sent to the Grinding Ball Mill, for final grinding.
- In addition to Gypsum, Fly ash, pozzolan, limestone and slag may also be added to the cement in final grinding. This produces new compounds which lead to special characteristics. As such the cement can then be classified as Blended Cement.
