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Cement & Concrete Basics

In its simplest form, concrete is a mixture of paste and aggregates. The paste, composed of portland
cement and water, coats the surface of the fine and coarse aggregates. Through a chemical reaction
called hydration, the paste hardens and gains strength to form the rock-like mass known as concrete.
Within this process lies the key to a remarkable trait of concrete: it's plastic and malleable when newly
mixed, strong and durable when hardened.
Concretes durability, strength and relatively low cost make it the backbone of buildings and
infrastructure worldwidehouses, schools and hospitals as well as airports, bridges, highways and
rail systems. The most-produced material on Earth will only be more in demand as, for example,
developing nations become increasingly urban, extreme weather events necessitate more durable
building materials and the price of other infrastructure materials continues to rise.
Even construction professionals sometimes incorrectly use the terms cement and concrete
interchangeably. Cement is actually an ingredient of concrete. It is the fine powder that, when mixed
with water, sand, and gravel or crushed stone (fine and coarse aggregate), forms the rock-like mass
known as concrete.

The Forms of Concrete

Concrete is produced in four basic forms, each with unique applications and properties.
1. Ready-mixed concrete, far the most common form, accounts for nearly three-fourths of all
concrete. It's batched at local plants for delivery in the familiar trucks with revolving drums.
2. Precast concrete products are cast in a factory setting. These products benefit from tight quality
control achievable at a production plant. Precast products range from concrete bricks and
paving stones to bridge girders, structural components, and wall panels. Concrete masonry
another type of manufactured concrete, may be best known for its conventional 8-by-8-by-16inch block. Today's masonry units can be molded into a wealth of shapes, configurations,
colors, and textures to serve an infinite spectrum of building applications and architectural
needs.
3. Cement-based materials represent products that defy the label of "concrete," yet share many of
its qualities. Conventional materials in this category include mortar, grout, and terrazzo. soilcement and roller-compacted concrete "cousins" of concreteare used for pavements and
dams. Other products in this category include flowable fill and cement-treated bases.
4. A new generation of advanced products incorporates fibers and special aggregate to create
roofing tiles, shake shingles, lap siding, and countertops.

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