Basics of Concrete

Mastour Ready Mix is one of the major companies operating in the field of construction and reconstruction depends in its work

Concrete is made up of five primary constituents.

• Water
• Cement
• Air
• Fine Aggregate (FA)
• Coarse Aggregate (CA)

The water and cement form a paste, which binds the aggregate into a rock-like mass as the water and cement combine through a chemical reaction called hydration. The paste also includes entrapped air introduced by mechanical mixing and entrained air introduced by the addition of chemical admixtures. The paste constitutes between 25 and 40 percent of the volume. The aggregate makes up the remaining 60 to 75 percent. Air in concrete varies from about ½ to 2 percent in non-air-entrained concrete to about 4 to 8 percent entrained air in concrete containing air-entraining admixtures.
FA, sometimes called “sand”, is composed of particles that pass the 4.75 mm (No.4) sieve. CA, or gravel, consists of particles retained on or above 4.75 mm (No.4) sieve. Well-graded aggregate, consisting of a wide range of FA and CA sizes, provides for efficient use of the water/cement paste. Since aggregate makes up most of the mix volume, it should consist of particles with adequate strength and resistance to exposure conditions.
Concrete
Concrete is a construction material that consists, in its most common form, of Portland cement, aggregate (generally gravel and sand) and water.
Concrete solidifies and hardens after mixing and placement due to a chemical process known as hydration. The water reacts with the cement, which hardens, bonding the other components together and eventually creating a stone-like material.
Concrete is used more than any other man made material on the planet. It is used to make pavements, architectural structures, foundations, motorways/roads, overpasses, parking structures, brick/block walls and footings for gates, fences, and poles.
Concrete powers over a $35 billion industry which employs over two million workers in the United States alone. Over 55,000 miles of freeways and highways in America are made of this material. The People’s Republic of China currently consumes approximately 40% of world cement production.

The vulnerability of porous concrete

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Though it is believed that porous concrete to protect not need all the same should pay attention to the presence of a set of tiny cavities, making it vulnerable to external factors (wind, water). Therefore, additional protection such as plastering, tiling, painting – cannot hurt. And facing materials offered today by various construction companies, encouraged by a wide selection. However, each material has its pluses and minuses. Aerated concrete – lightweight material with a lot of advantages. But we should remember that in no case be obkladyvat wall of aerated concrete bricks on the front side. This is one of his weaknesses.
WARNING: brickwork, laid up against the cellular-concrete wall, will reflect the resulting vapor in the house and send it back to the room that faces the consequence of an increase in moisture content and the appearance syrostnyh phenomena on the walls of the house.
CONCLUSION: Pay close attention to the selection of materials and use them exactly as prescribed.

Concrete: To determine the name

At Mastou Ready Mix, we understand that our product, concrete, is one of the most unique and versatile building materials in the Saudi Arabia.

Building full of questions. When are you going to buy a faucet at once confronted with the questions: “What a crane to buy, and where?” “Is not it better to buy a faucet?” When it comes to concrete, issues no less. Many people do not quite clearly understand what is the difference between an aerated concrete, foam and aerated concrete. Just do not understand their accompanying values “autoclave” and” “non-autoclaved concrete. So what, five of these titles represent a whole, or each exist separately? Answer, for starters, on this issue. Overriding and fundamental in this series is a cellular concrete. Under aerated concrete involve materials for which a single, the same composition (having equidistant cells, strengthening of physical and mechanical properties of concrete). Due to the porosity of the material is much reduced, its density and weight. These enhanced qualities distinguish the concrete from the resulting product, produced from the usual mixture of sand, water and cement. By the term “cellular concrete” is often added the definition of “light”. Lightweight cellular concrete is divided into two types: foam and aerated concrete. The difference is in the process of production. Hence, too, came the concept of autoclave and non-autoclave. Autoclaved aerated – aerated and non-autoclaved aerated – this is aerated concrete.

Crushed stone and gravel of solid rocks

After many years’ research, Mastour company has developed an advanced vertical shaft impact crusher, which can be used together with other machinery as a complete sand making flow. This design racks a leading role in the same industry

Fields of mining granite and other dense rock myriad of the former Soviet space. Those who are still not closed, or just under construction, capable of supplying companies for the production of building materials for many years. One of the most essential elements for building work can be considered as crushed stone and gravel of solid rocks.
Based on the fact that there are standards for road metal and gravel, rocks, those instances that have a relative density of the particles from 2 to 3 grams per cubic centimeter, are used exclusively as a filler for concrete mixtures and as material for road and other works building character. What concerns rubble and gravel, which does not apply the standard, its application is limited to use as ballast for railway tracks and of course, as a decorative gravel.
Granite rubble, as well as other rocks, starting with mine explosions solid granite slabs. After that huge chunks of granite transported to the crushing plant, where with the help of special equipment all parts and sorted into fractions. Thus, the smallest fraction of a granite screenings, which is used exclusively for decorative purposes. All subsequent fractions used in the manufacture and filling of building materials. The largest is usually used very rarely. Their use is limited to decorative features, such as decorating the fountains, pools and artificial lakes.
Before the rubble and gravel get into the building materials, conducted a series of studies, which determine the structure of rocks, their strength, flakiness, frost resistance, bulk density, and of course radionuclide diagnosis to identify the class of ionizing radiation. Only after all results are known, rubble and gravel can be sorted by application. To date, rubble and gravel can be bought in DIY stores, or directly at the mining complex.

What Are the Correct Proportions for Cement Mix?

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Concrete is typically made of four components mixed together and poured or placed in a stiff, slurry form. This material goes through the chemical process of hydration, which hardens the concrete into a rock-like material. The proper proportions of the four components of the concrete mix are important in producing a workable material that is durable and looks good. The common proportions are one part cement to two parts sand and two parts gravel, based on volume.

Cement

Cement is a calcium product processed through a kiln in to a fine powder. Cement makes up the smallest part — 12 percent — of a standard concrete mix. The cement is the active ingredient that generates the chemical process that causes the hardening of the concrete.

Sand

Sand is fine particle inorganic material. For masonry mortar it is the principle fill material; gravel is omitted due to the size of the organics. Sand can be screened to remove larger stones or aggregate pieces. The sand should not include any organic materials. The sand component of the concrete mix is commonly about 34 percent.

Gravel

Gravel, also inorganic, is larger pieces of material. Think of it as small stones or crushed pieces of rock. The gravel increases the volume of the cement and provides strength. Gravel or crushed rock is sold in various sizes of stone separated by a screening process. Masonry mortar contains smaller pieces of gravel, if any, while cement for walkways or driveways could include stones up to 3/4 inch.

Water

Water reacts with the cement to cause the hydration or hardening process. Water makes up about 6 percent of the weight of the concrete although the amount is more commonly determined by slump tests rather than measurements. Cut out the end of a Styrofoam cup and fill with the concrete mix. Place the cup upside down on a dry surface and remove the cup. The concrete should “slump” to about half the height of the cup if it has the proper water quantity. If it slumps more than half it is too wet. If it doesn’t slump it has too little water.

Ready Mix Concrete Composed Of

Mastour ReadyMix provides its customers with high-quality branded Ready mix concrete and cement products for their construction needs

Ready mix concrete is composed of standard concrete ingredients and additives, according to the intended use of the concrete. “Ready mix” is not a special type of concrete. Instead, the term describes the way the concrete is delivered to a job site–already mixed. Ready mix concrete is the solution to the problem of having to mix concrete components in large quantities while maintaining consistently precise properties.

Features

By volume, ready mix concrete is compose of 60 to 75 percent aggregate including sand, gravel and stone. Any clean, hard, non-reactive, non-porous rock or sand may be a suitable aggregate. Size and shape of aggregate are selected according to the desired strength and texture of the concrete, how the ready mix concrete will be placed, and also cost.

Function

Cement is the binder in ready mix concrete, and it represents 10 to 15 percent of ready mix concrete volume. The most commonly used cement, Portland cement may contain limestone, marl, shale, blast furnace slag, silica sand and iron ore. Ingredients may vary; it’s the chemical constituents of these–calcium, silicon, aluminum, iron and gypsum–that are important in ready mix concrete.

Effects

The components of ready mix concrete cannot become solid without water. Water molecules, when combined with calcium silicate, react in a chemical process called hydration. The hydrated compounds of water and calcium silicate form a dense crystaline structure that binds the aggregate into a single solid form. So technically concrete does not dry. Instead, it cures chemically.

Significance

The ratio of water to cement in ready mix concrete is the critical determining factor in concrete strength. Water not used up by the hydration reaction remains a part of the concrete, causing it to be less strong. Ideally, only enough water would be added to the mix to react with the cement, and no more. In practice though, this makes for concrete that is difficult to work with, so more water is added than necessary for hydration. Depending on the intended use, ready mix concrete is composed of 15 to 20 percent water by volume.

Potential

Ready mix concrete may also contain fly ash, silica fume, blast furnace slag or metakaolin as a substitute for a percentage of the Portland cement. These components, like Portland cement, react with water to form a monolithic solid. The advantage of their use is the improvement of concrete strength and durability. Fly ash, silica fume and furnace slag are byproducts of power generation or industrial processes, so their use benefits the environment by reducing waste.

About Ready Mix Concrete

Mastour ReadyMix is a Ready mix concrete and cement products company Jeddah, Khamis Mushyat, Dammam, Abaha Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Ready-mix concrete is made at a batching plant and delivered by a cement truck to a work site. This type of concrete speeds up the construction process by having the concrete already mixed and ready to pour once it reaches the site. Ready-mix concrete saves builders time and money.

History

Ready-mix concrete was first mixed in a factory in the 1930s. It wasn’t until the 1960s that ready-mix concrete became more in demand. Since that time, the ready-mix concrete business has continuously grown and is now a major industry.

How Ready-Mix Concrete is Made

Ready-mix concrete is made out of 10 to 15 percent cement, approximately 60 to 75 percent aggregates, and about 20 percent water. Cement is made out of limestone, sand or shale, and clay. Aggregates are sand, gravel and rock.

Function

Ready-mix concrete is used for small and large construction projects. It is used to pave driveways and for foundations on homes and large commercial buildings. It is also used for bridges, roads and sidewalks.

Benefits

There are several benefits to the use of ready-mix concrete. Ready-mix concrete helps speed up the building process. Construction companies save time and money by using concrete that is already mixed. It eliminates the need for a crew to mix concrete at the work site. Ready-mix concrete also helps to reduce construction-site pollution. A lot of dust is created when concrete is mixed on site.

Limitations

Ready-mix concrete cannot be transported over long distances. When concrete is mixed at a batching plant, it must be poured within two hours to hold up to industry standards. This creates the need for central mixing plants to serve the construction industry.

Speculation

The advantages of ready-mix concrete far outweigh all limitations. The building and construction industry would be greatly inhibited without it. What used to take several man-hours to do can now be accomplished in a very short period of time.

What Materials Are Used to Make Concrete?

Mastour ReadyMix is a Ready mix concrete and cement products company Jeddah, Khamis Mushyat, Dammam, Abaha Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Concrete is an integral part of modern society. From roads and bridges to the buildings in which we live and work, everywhere around you are structures and infrastructures comprised of concrete. Considering concrete is used to make vital parts of our everyday lives, you should know the science behind concrete that makes it so strong and reliable.

Composition of Concrete

Concrete is made from more than one type of material, making it a composite material. The composite material is formed with a filler, which is an aggregate used to make the texture of the concrete, and a binder or paste used to “glue” the filler together. Cement and water make up the binder. The mixture of aggregates, cement and water creates the useful composite we know as concrete.

Cement

Cement is made from clay, sand, iron ore and limestone burned together at extremely high temperatures. The limestone must be quarried and crushed into small pieces. A mixer combines the small pieces of limestone, iron ore, sand and clay to form a powder of all four components. A rotating cylinder-shaped kiln then burns this composition of materials for up to two hours.

Water

When you mix water with cement, it forms a paste that binds all the components together. The process of hydration is a chemical reaction between the water and the components of the concrete that causes the concrete to harden. You must use pure water to ensure the chemicals react correctly and create strong cement. The ratio between the cement and the water is crucial to making useful cement. Too little or too much water could make the cement too weak or unworkable. Useful cement requires the perfect balance between cement and water.

Aggregates

Aggregates are another component used in making concrete. Aggregates are materials such as sand or rocks added to the cement and water mixture. Since cement is the most expensive part of making concrete, adding cheaper aggregates gives you more concrete for less price. The final product is about 70 to 80 percent aggregates. Choosing a type of aggregate depends on the type of concrete you want to produce. You can create dense, strong concrete by using dense aggregate. Likewise, using soft and porous aggregates like sand creates weaker concrete with less resistance to wear. Like water, good aggregates should be pure. Any impurities in the aggregate could interfere with the chemical reaction required to make concrete or make the concrete weaker.

Concrete mix Design

Concrete Mix Design

Basic considerations 
1-  The proportioning of concrete mixes consists of determination of quantities of different concrete-making materials necessary to produce concrete having the desired workability and 28-days compressive strength of concrete for a particular grade of concrete and durability requirements. Emphasis is laid on making the most economical use of available materials so as to produce concrete of required attributes at the minimum cost.
2-  Concrete has to be satisfactory both in fresh and hardened states.  The proportioning of concrete mixes is accomplished by the use of certain established relationships from experimental data which provides reasonably accurate guidance for selecting the best combination of ingredients so as to achieve the desired properties of the fresh and hardened concrete. Out of all the physical
The following basic assumptions are made in design of concrete mixes of medium strength:
a) For given aggregate characteristics, the workability of concrete is dependent on its water content.
b) The compressive strength of concrete is related to its water-cement ratio.
3-  For high strength concrete mixes, considerable interaction   occurs between these two criteria and validity   of. such   assumptions may become limited. Moreover, there are various other factors which affect the properties of concrete e.g. the quality and quantity of cement, water, aggregates and admixtures (if used);  procedures of batching, mixing, placing, compaction and curing etc.

Is there a difference between cement and concrete?

Difference between cement and concrete

Yes, there is a difference.  Cement, or Portland cement, is a finely ground powder made from limestone and other raw materials.  The materials are blended together and fired in a kiln at extreme temperatures.  The resulting stone sized pieces, called “clinker,” are then ground into a fine powder that we call Portland cement.  Portland cement is the active ingredient in concrete.
Concrete is the product used in buildings, bridges, road paving, sidewalks, patios, etc.  Concrete is a mixture of Portland cement, water, aggregate (sand and stone), and miscellaneous chemical admixtures.  Concrete is mixed at a concrete plant facility and delivered to customers in revolving drum truck mixers, also referred to as concrete trucks or mixer trucks.  Concrete is sometimes generically referred to as “ready-mix” because it is ready to use or already mixed upon arrival at the project location.  Many concrete producers have incorporated various forms of this terminology into their company name.  It’s common to see names such as Ready Mixed Concrete Company, Hank’s Ready Mix, Smith Ready-Mix, etc.

Many Uses of Ready-Mix Concrete

Mastou Ready Mix, we understand that our ready mix concrete and cement products, are the most unique and versatile building materials.

Concrete is a popular building material. You can see it in home building sites, commercial building sites and government projects such as bridges and highways. It is easier to complete big projects like these by using ready-mix concrete. Completing projects on a tight deadline is possible and achieved in less than half the time it would when not using this product.
Ready-mix concrete comes from manufacturers and plants ready for delivery and mixing at work or project sites. With the use of a concrete mixer, one can get a precise mixture of concrete for the project. Using this type of cement material eliminates too much confusion at the work site. It also saves considerable amount of time because it requires less time to prepare than concrete prepared from scratch.
Cements, sands, aggregates (gravels) and water are the main contents of the mixture. It has the same ingredients as the ones that are not except that instead of carrying and mixing the raw materials at the site, the ready-mix arrives at the site on mixer trucks already pre-mixed and ready to use. Adding different additives and aggregates offsite and then delivering onsite for a different project based upon the specification of the customer is another feature of the ready-mix concrete. Different textures, finishes and colors are also available in ready-mix form.
Using ready-mix concrete eliminates having to carry and mixing the materials on site, which is a painstaking process. It eliminates errors that come with wrong measurement of water and the concrete materials. Using ready-mix saves time and effort. Big projects take less time to complete after pouring in the mixture using the transit mixer. The quality of the product is also much better than those that come in a non-ready mixed form.
Ready-mix concrete has a big potential in a lot of building projects. Aside from using it on big infrastructure projects such as building bridges, highways and huge buildings, we see this type of concrete as the choice of homeowners when building driveways, walkways made of concrete. Some homeowners choose concrete for their kitchen and bathroom countertops and as floorings. Stained concrete floors and counters provide a rustic look and patina adding more character to the interior of the home.
When using ready-mix concrete one must work with caution. One must ensure that there is enough space for the transit mixer. In addition, the location should be strong enough to handle the weight of the transit mixer and the concrete. The workers practice caution when working with the concrete mixer, by avoiding standing near the way of the mixer, especially when operating and pouring concrete. Accidents can and do happen which can endanger the well-being of the workers.