How Concrete Is Made
How Concrete Is Made
What is concrete made up of? The answer to this common question is aggregates, additives, water and cement. Concrete remains an indispensable material across construction types due to its malleability while newly mixed and strength when hardened.
Raw material used to produce concrete
|
|
How Concrete is Made: Aggregates
Aggregates, which make up roughly 60% to 75% of ready-mix concrete’s volume, are obtained from quarries and aggregate banks.
How Concrete is Made: Additives
Additives are solid or liquid chemical substances that can be added to ready-mix concrete before or during preparation. Most commonly used additives either improve a hardened concrete’s durability or reduce a concrete’s water content in an effort to shorten setting times.
How Concrete is Made: Water
This is the mix’s vital fluid, which sets of a chemical reaction when it comes into contact with the cement.
How Concrete is Made: Cement
No other material rivals cement’s importance in the mix; it’s the ingredient that gives concrete its resistance.
How Concrete is Made: Concrete mixing
During the mixing phase the different components come together to produce a uniform mass of concrete. Mixing time is registered from the moment material and water are poured into the cement mixer, and it begins rotating.
While transporting concrete to a site, the cement mixer never stops revolving at a speed of two to six rotations per minute.