What Exactly is Concrete Made of?
Concrete is the most common construction material in the world. It’s used to build nearly every structure in the modern world such as skyscrapers, houses, and infrastructure. If you pass by any construction site, they’re very likely to be using concrete. They could be using it to set up the foundations of a building, or installing concrete pavers on a house’s courtyard.
Concrete is a versatile material, and can be used for both construction and design. Decorative concrete, for example, can be used to add patterns on the walls and floors of one’s house. House owners simply need to contact a concrete supplier, order decorative concrete, and have them installed as patterns on walls or concrete pavers on the floors.
While many think that concrete is a complex material, it’s actually very simple. This is one of the beauties of concrete as well. Plenty of complex materials such as steel require many processes to be durable and usable. Steel requires complex materials to process as well, such as metal. On the other hand, concrete requires simple materials that are abundant in supply and easy to find.
Let’s dive in and take a look at the main components that make up concrete.
Cement
· A binding material. This is the key part of the concrete that binds the whole thing together. Cement can be simply described as a simple powder that’s turned into a gooey paste, applied to a structure, and left to harden. Cement is usually used in construction like a glue, and can be used on its own to create a solid standing structure. However, cement can be brittle and weak when used alone. Usually, aggregates are added to cement to give it more strength. This way, the paste becomes a lot harder, solid, and durable. And this is how concrete is made – when aggregate materials are added to cement to make it stronger. When it comes to the components of concrete, cement is the glue the holds everything together.
Water
· A part of what makes concrete so simple is that it uses components that are easy to find, and are in abundance. One of these components is water. Liquid is mainly used on powdered cement in order to liquify it and turn it to the gooey paste it is known for. Just add the correct ratio of cement powder to water. The measurement has to be just right. Otherwise, the cement can’t be as gooey, and may be hard to apply. Any type of water may be used to mix cement – even one that’s not drinkable, as long as they’re not brackish or saline.
Aggregate
· An aggregate is a term for some solid materials that are mixed into cement in order to form concrete. There are two kinds of aggregates – fine and coarse. Fine aggregates are small particles such as sand and ground stones. Coarse aggregates are harder and chunkier materials such as crushed rocks and gravel. Concrete suppliers usually offer concrete with either fine or coarse aggregate depending on the house owner’s preference.
