cementation

[ see-muhn-tey-shuhn, -men-, sem-uhn- ]

noun

1. the act, process, or result of cementing.
2. Metallurgy. the heating of two substances in contact in order to effect some change in one of them, especially, the formation of steel by heating iron in powdered charcoal.

cementation

/ ˌsiːmɛnˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the process of heating a solid with a powdered material to modify the properties of the solid, esp the heating of wrought iron, surrounded with charcoal, to 750–900°C to produce steel
2. the process of cementing or being cemented
3. civil engineering the injection of cement grout into fissured rocks to make them watertight

cementation

/ sē′mĕn-tā′shən /

1. A metallurgical coating process in which a metal or alloy such as iron or steel is immersed in a powder of another metal, such as zinc, chromium, or aluminum, and heated to a temperature below the melting point of either. Cementation is often employed to increase resistance to oxidation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cementation¹

First recorded in 1585–95; cement + -ation

Example Sentences

If the cementation be continued too long, the steel acquires a darkish fracture, it is more fusible, and incapable of welding.

From Project Gutenberg

It is conveyed into reservoirs containing pieces of old iron; the sulphate is thus decomposed into copper of cementation.

From Project Gutenberg

It is covered with black blisters, like steel of cementation; whence it has got the name of blistered copper.

From Project Gutenberg

This is an easy way of making cast-steel without previous cementation of the iron.

From Project Gutenberg

By a blast so tempered at the beginning, the ore gets well calcined, and partially reduced in the way of cementation.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• consistency
• continuity
• integrity
• rationality
• solidarity
• unity