Portland Cement

Portland cement is a type of cement that is commonly used in construction. It was named after Portland, Oregon because apparently, the person who named it didn’t realize that Portland, Maine was actually the first city in the US to use it. Oh well, too late now.

This cement was invented in the early 19th century by an English bricklayer named Joseph Aspdin. He was trying to come up with a new type of cement that would set faster and harder than the existing type of cement, which was made from crushed limestone and clay. Aspdin’s genius move was to use a mixture of limestone and clay that had been roasted at a high temperature, which produced a powder that would harden quickly when mixed with water.

But enough about the boring history, let’s talk about what really matters: what can you do with Portland cement?

Well, for starters, you can use it to build walls, foundations, and even entire buildings. But that’s not the fun stuff. The fun stuff is using Portland cement for all sorts of ridiculous projects. Want to make a giant sculpture of yourself? Portland cement can do that. Want to make a fire pit in your backyard? You guessed it, Portland cement. Want to make a concrete canoe and race it down the river? You can do that too (yes, it’s a real thing).

But what’s really amusing about Portland cement is its ability to get everywhere. Seriously, you might think you’ve cleaned up all the cement dust but the next thing you know, there’s a thin layer of cement on everything in the room. And don’t even get us started on the mess that can happen if you accidentally spill the wet cement.

In conclusion, Portland cement may be an important building material, but its real value is in the endless opportunities for creative (and messy) projects. Just make sure you wear old clothes and keep a broom handy.