Fundamentals
Cement is an ingredient in concrete. Concrete also includes water and
aggregate, and may include chemical admixtures as well as coloring
agents.
Cement or, more specifically, portland cement is calcium silicate made with a combination of calcium, silicon, aluminum and iron.
Everyday Applications and Beyond
Ready mix
is the type of concrete with the most applications for homeowners and
small business owners. It is used for home and commercial construction
projects, driveways, parking lots and other everyday uses.
Other major types of concrete include:
Making Concrete
The typical formula for concrete might call for:
To make concrete, aggregate is combined with a paste made from
portland cement and water. The paste coats the surface of the aggregate,
then hardens as part of a chemical reaction.
The basic steps to making and installing concrete include:
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