What is Cement? What is Concrete?
What is Concrete?
Concrete is a blend of aggregates, usually sand and gravel or crushed rock, bound together. Concrete is a composite material made up of fine and coarse aggregate bound together by fluid cement that hardens over time.
What is Cement?
Cement is a fine powder, obtained from the calcination at 1,450°C of a mix of limestone, clay, and iron ore. The product of the calcination process is clinker—the main ingredient of cement—that is finely ground with gypsum and other chemical additives to produce cement.
Is concrete and cement the same thing?
No. Cement is an ingredient of concrete, and concrete is a mixture of sand, gravel, and cement.
Can I use cement on its own?
Cement on its own is not very strong but when it's combined with other materials it takes on new form and is commonly used to create mortar, plaster, and concrete.
What happens when cement is mixed with water?
The water causes cement to harden through a process called hydration. Hydration is a chemical reaction in which the major compounds in cement form chemical bonds with water molecules.
What does concrete setting time mean?
When cement is mixed with water, the paste that is formed is fluid, or plastic, for a short period of time. During this time the paste material may be reformed or remoulded. As the chemical reaction between water and cement continues, the paste becomes stiffer and ultimately hardens. The early period of hardening is referred to as the setting time.