Portland cement is one of the most traditional of construction materials. Rising costs of the energy required for its manufacture and the increasing interest in understanding the mechanisms of concrete deterioration, as well as the importance of optimising the use of Portland cement in high quality concrete, have continued to sustain interest in this important material. This second edition of this popular book provides an up-to-date introduction to the raw materials and manufacturing processes of Portland cement. It gives an introductory account of cement composition, manufacture, quality assessment, hydration and the resulting microstructure-physical property relationships, and some mechanisms of the chemical degradation of hardened cement paste. The book is primarily intended for students of materials sciences and graduates in pure science or engineering entering the cement or concrete industries. However anyone requiring a good clear introduction to this material will find this book provides helpful information.