Lime-calcium Hydroxide Uses

Calcium hydroxide is an inorganic compound, Ca(OH)2, composed of calcium oxide, referred to as lime, combined with water. It is also called slaked lime or commercial hydrated lime. Calcium hydroxide is a versatile chemical combination used in construction, dentistry and other environmental and manufacturing processes.

Mortar

When slaked lime is mixed with sand, it creates a mortar mixture. This mixture can be combined with carbon dioxide to produce a mortar that hardens quickly, according to the University of Wisconsin. This mortar can be used in various home and industrial construction uses such as cementing bricks together, to secure bricks, blocks and stones, and as tile adhesive.

Root Canals

Calcium hydroxide is used in dentistry to help heal and create a barrier in the tooth wall after root canals on immature teeth, according to E.C. Sheehy and G.J. Roberts in a review published in the October 11, 1997 issue of the "British Dental Journal." The walls of the root canal in immature teeth or in traumatic injuries to immature permanent incisors often have open apexes where the dental pulp is damaged or infected, according to the Journal of Indian Society of Pedondontics and Preventive Dentistry. This must be treated to induce healing and apical closure. Calcium hydroxide is one of the treatment options for fractured immature permanent incisors to induce an apical barrier.

Tanning Agent

Calcium hydroxide is a leather tanning agent used in the de-hairing process. The de-hairing process, called liming, ensures that grain is clean and free of hair roots. The process uses a series of drums containing calcium hydroxide and sharpening agents such as sodium sulfide or sodium sulfhydrate. The hair is loosened in the first bath, which can take several days. After the hide is removed from the last bath, it is sent for de-hairing by manual scraping or a de-hairing machine, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Water Treatment

Calcium hydroxide is used to treat water for pH control and as corrosion control on pipes. Adding calcium hydroxide to the water helps create a pipe-protecting coating, according to the Martinsville's, Virginia Water Treatment Plant. It is also added to the water for pH adjustment. Hydrated lime is alkaline and neutralizes acidic salts, according to the Greensboro Water Resources.