Pigments for Cement - Concrete Pigment Uses in 2024

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What are pigments for cement used for?

Pigments are stirred with cement and an appropriate amount of water, to change the color of cement. They are mainly used in cement floors, colored cement bricks, self-leveling, gaps, wall plastering (new walls are recommended), etc. Cement pigments are also used for garden pavement coloring, rockery coloring, wall pointing, exterior wall plastering, pond coloring, flower pot coloring, terrazzo, etc.

Concrete Color Powder

Titanium dioxide concrete pigment

Iron oxide pigments for concrete

color shift mica powder

glow powder for concrete

Pigments for Cement FAQs

Pigments for cement coloring:
I. Organic pigments: good coloring effects and bright colors;
II. Inorganic pigments: mainly composed of oxide colour for cement, simple process;
III. Alkaline pigments: mixed with white cement at appropriate proportions for desired colors;
IV. White Portland cement: it is sintered and ground with gypsum powder to prepare colored Portland cement.

  1. Prepare the materials and tools, including cement, sand, aggregate, coloring pigments, water, stirring equipment, molds.
  2. First, fully mix the cement, sand and aggregate according to the concrete formula.
  3. Add pigments into the mixtures, and ensure the even color. You can mix pigments with a little water to prepare pigment paste. Gradually add the pigment paste into concrete, and stir them to the desired color.
  4. Add an appropriate amount of water, to ensure the consistency of concrete paste. Be careful in this process. Do not add too much water. Otherwise, concrete will be in the liquid state.
  5. Stir the cement concrete, until the color is even and the mixture has the desired robustness and plasticity.
  6. If necessary, transfer concrete into the mold, and conduct curing until it is hardened.
  7. Note that the concrete color changes during drying and curing. Therefore, the final color may be slightly different from the color of wet concrete. Make sure that the pigments are compatible with cement concrete in chemical properties, to ensure the color stability and durability.
  8. The final proportion and color may vary, depending on project requirements and pigments.

1. Pigments for cement
Pigments are often used to color cement. They are divided into natural pigments and artificial pigments. Natural pigments include loess, lime, graphite, etc. Artificial pigments include iron oxide, chromium oxide, zinc oxide, etc. Fully stir pigments and cement.

2. Dyes for cement
Dyes are finer than pigments. They can penetrate into cement better. Dying is similar to the use of pigments. Pay attention to the concentration and uniformity of dyes.

3. Mineral powder for cement
Mineral powder is a kind of natural pigment. It is made by grinding mineral stones. It can make cement red, yellow, green, etc. Coloring with mineral powder is similar to the use of pigments. Pay attention to the quality and uniformity of mineral powder.

4. Chemical additives for cement
Chemical additives can change the cement color by changing its chemical properties. Common chemical additives include iron oxide, chromium oxide, zinc oxide, etc. Pay attention to the concentration and uniformity of chemical additives in the coloring process.

The above methods are all for coloring. Note that they are suitable for different applications. Choose coloring methods based on specific conditions. Pay attention to the quality and uniformity of cement, to ensure the quality and attractiveness of buildings.

I. Impact of pigment types on the strength of cement products
There are many types of pigments, including inorganic pigments, organic pigments, metal pigments, pearlescent pigments, solar reflective pigments, etc. Inorganic and organic pigments are often used. Inorganic pigments mainly include iron oxide pigments, titanium dioxide, etc. Organic pigments mainly include pigment powder, pigment paste, etc. Seen from the initial reaction, inorganic pigments have little impact on the early and final strength of cement. Organic pigments affect the early strength of cement. Appropriate pigments should be used based on specific conditions.

II. Impact of pigment color on the strength of cement products
Pigment colors affect the strength of cement products. In general, dark pigments will lead to a decline in cement strength, as they contain more macromolecular colorants. These colorants affect the growth of the internal lattice structure of cement, thus affecting the strength of cement. Light-colored pigments should be used to ensure the strength and bright color of cement products.

III. Impact of the amount of pigment on the strength of cement products
The amount of pigment is also a key factor affecting the strength of cement products. Too much pigment will affect the strength of cement, and increase the shrinkage of cement, resulting in cracking of cement products. Pay attention to the amount of pigment. It should not exceed 5% of the total cement under normal circumstances.

Cement pigments are toxic to some extent, depending on the type, dosage and exposure.

Dust of iron oxide and pigments may cause irritation and injury to the lungs and respiratory system. Long-term exposure to it will lead to lung diseases.

Aluminum, iron and other metal ions in cement may cause irritation and injury to the skin and eyes. Long-term exposure may also cause allergic reactions.

Avoid long-term and direct exposure to these substances. Take appropriate protective measures, such as masks, gloves, protective goggles, etc.

In general, be careful to handle these substances in production and use. Abide by relevant standards and environmental requirements, to protect the environment and human health.

Suggestions for cement coloring with acrylic pigments:

1. Polish a wall

2. Clean up dust (to ensure the adhesion).

3. Slightly increase the consistency (wallsare more likely to absorb oil than steel).

4. Protect the wall from rain before itis fully dry.

Mica powder can be mixed with cement paints for wall decoration. It mainly plays a functional and decorative role. On the one hand, if mica powder is a basic component, paints will have high hardness and toughness. On the other hand, mica powder is glossy and colorful. It can improve the color of cement paints, making walls brighter and glossier.

The amount of pigment depends on concrete and specific conditions. Under normal circumstances, pigments account for 2% to 10% of the total weight of concrete.

Cement is one of the most important raw materials of concrete. It has an important impact on the strength and durability of concrete. Pigments are used as additives. They affect the heat release, compressive strength and color of cement.

  1. Impact of pigments on the heat release of cement

Pigments can reduce the heat release of the cement by absorbing heat. If they absorb heat, they will inhibit the crystallization of cement, thus reducing the rate of thermal reaction. Colors of pigments affect the capacity of heat absorption. For example, black pigments have high capacity of heat absorption, so they can effectively slow down the heat release of cement. In hot seasons, pigments can be added to effectively control the heat generated in concrete, and improve the performance of concrete.

  1. Impact of pigments on the compressive strength of cement

Pigments have certain impact on the compressive strength of cement. In general, if the amount of pigment is increased, the strength of concrete will decline. Pigment particles occupy part of the space for cement particles, so the area of contact between cement and aggregate will be reduced. But the impact is not significant. The appropriate pigment and dosage can be chosen for better applications.

  1. Impact of pigments on concrete color

Pigments will make concrete in different colors, to greatly enrich the effects of building decoration. Concrete colors depend on pigment colors, so different pigments can be used as needed. The amount of pigment also affects the color concrete. It should be needed according to needs.

You can use mica powder in cement products. Due to its layered structure, Mica County can form a gelling system in cement. The gelling system is a gel-like state formed between the water in the cement and the cement particles with an appropriate consistency. The conductivity of mica is poor, so it has a great impact on the resistance, thus improving the conductivity of the cement system. At the same time, mica can adsorb atoms and molecules through its layered structure, thus stimulating the color and luster of the cement material.

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