Sorel cement

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Sorel cement is a hydraulic cement mixture of magnesium oxide (burnt magnesia) with magnesium chloride together with filler materials like sand or crushed stone. The usual weight ratio 2.5-3.5 parts MgO to one part MgCl₂. This material is also called magnesia cement.

A variant uses zinc oxide with zinc chloride instead of the magnesium compounds.

Sorel cement was developed since the mid of the 19th century. It is used for grindstones, tiles, artificial stone (cast stone), cast floors, and even artificial ivory (e.g. for billiard-balls). Magnesia cement floors are credited a high resistance to wear.

Its chief drawback is its poor resistance to water, making it unsuitable for construction applications.

Its formula is MgCl₂.5MgO.nH₂O where n is the number of molecules of water of crystallization