It means when the cement transfers from the liquid state to the solid state. So, the paste becomes rather solid during the setting process. The vulcanization indicates an increasing the hardness of the cement paste. There are the so-called cement primary setting and cement finally setting.

When mixing cement with water, an easy configuration plastic cement paste is formed, and it is kept for a period called the dead period.

After this period, the paste starts coherence and it will be difficult to reform it again. This is called the process of primary setting. The cement is keeping interactions with and begins to vulcanize gradually. The paste transforms to a coherent unit, so it reaches the stage of final setting. The paste is called the vulcanized cement paste or cement stone

As long as the paste is immersed in water, its vulcanization increases as a result of the increase in the bonds of the material of Sodium Silicate in it This is called the process of vulcanization.

The time of primary and the time of final setting are important factor to determine the standard specifications of cement. The time of primary setting should not be less than 45 minutes, and the cement of final setting should not be more than 10 hours depending on the Egyptian, British and American standard specifications.