Gypsum from Ancient Times to the Present

Abstract

Gypsum binders and materials based on them are one of the first man-made mineral building materials that were obtained in the history of human civilization and found application in building construction from ancient world to the present. Building gypsum, anhydrite and gypsum-anhydrite individually or combined withlime, minerals and chemical additions were used BCE, in the mediaeval and renaissance and to XX century as masonry and plastering mortars. In VII—VIII centuries gypsum application experienced a revival in Europe forgotten in the beginning of our era after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. XX century is epoch of second renaissance of gypsum in building construction not only in Europe but also in the whole world. Commodity-related opportunities of gypsum binders and materials based on them and scientificlevel of achievements in Russia allow to takeleadership position in the world on the production and application in building construction.