What Is Concrete?There are three basic ingredients in the concrete mix:
Portland Cement - The cement and water form a paste that coats the aggregate and sand in the mix. The paste hardens and binds the aggregates and sand together. Water - Water is needed to chemically react with the cement (hydration) and to provide workability with the concrete. The amount of water in the mix, in pounds (compared with the amount of cement) is called the water/cement ratio. The lower the water/cement ratio, the stronger the concrete (higher strength, less permeability). Aggregates - Sand is the fine aggregate, gravel or crushed stone is the coarse aggregate. |
