The terms concrete and cement are interchangeable. However, they are different. Cement is one of the crucial ingredients of concrete. Let us understand them better, learn how they are made, and explore the various kinds of cement and concrete.
About cement and concrete
Cement refers to a binding agent used to bind different construction materials. When mixed with water, it forms a paste that binds aggregates like crushed rocks or sand. Construction is usually impossible without the use of cement. If you are building a home, you need to purchase the best cement. For this, you need to consider various factors like quality, packaging, and more.
However, if you are wondering about PM Awas Yojana benefits, it offers monetary assistance for building an all-weather pucca house. The aid depends on the category of household and other factors. Now, if you want to know what concrete is, it is a mixture of raw materials, such as water, cement, and aggregates like rocks, sand, or gravel. It is often considered the backbone of construction.
How are concrete and cement made?
The process of making concrete is simple. To make it, you just need to mix the aggregates, cement, and water. However, the cement-to-water ratio is a crucial aspect of making concrete, which can influence its shrinkage and porosity. Now, if you are wondering how cement is made, it is manufactured using the following steps:
- Rock quarries are blasted with explosives to form limestone and clay.
- The above raw materials are crushed into smaller particles. Next, it is mixed with iron ore, silica, etc., to make the required type of cement. This is then crushed into a homogenous mixture.
- This homogenous mixture is fed into a kiln at extremely high temperatures, where it converts into clinker.
- The clinker is then cooled down and stored in silos. It is later ground into a fine powder called cement.
Types of cement
Cement can be categorised into two main types:
- Hydraulic cement
Hydraulic cement is formed when powdered cement reacts with water. It is also the most utilised cement.
- Non-hydraulic cement
Non-hydraulic cement sets and becomes adhesive because of carbonation.
Types of concrete
The different uses of concrete include constructing walls, foundations, roofs, and floors. It also plays a vital role in the construction of airports, highways, and more. However, if you are wondering about the various kinds of concrete:
- Reinforced cement concrete
- Normal strength concrete
- Prestressed concrete
- Plain concrete
Conclusion
Cement is usually a crucial part of construction. It is defined as a binding agent used to bind different construction materials. When cement is mixed with water and aggregates like gravel, sand, or crushed stones, it forms concrete. Concrete is utilised to construct beams, slabs, columns, roads, buildings, and more.
