Concrete Science - Concrete and Cement

Concrete Science - Concrete and Cement

Concrete Science - Concrete and Cement

Concrete is so common in our buildings and all around us today that most of us take it for granted. It should not be dismissed as a common and simple material, though, because there are elements of this building material that should be appreciated. It certainly is respected by those that work with it as a foundation of buildings and much more.

Pouring of concrete is a simple enough activity. The cement truck pulls up and the nozzle is placed over the desired place, usually prepared ahead of time with forms into which the concrete will be poured. This is similar to mixing up a batch of cookie dough, then placing it into appropriate forms with which to shape them as they cure or bake. Concrete is no different.

There are four ingredients that go into a batch of concrete. Gravel, sand, water, and cement are mixed together. There are variations on the amounts of each of the ingredients depending on where it will be used and the specific conditions of the area and the curing process that will occur.

Concrete is a wonder as these four ingredients dry into the super hard and weather proof material that it is. The glue that holds it all together is the cement. The added water is the activator for the cement glue. The science behind the curing process starts with the mixing of the ingredients to a specific consistency and the crystallization that occurs. Crystals grow until the ingredients are all mixed together and are beginning to form a solid block. The crystallization starts the hardening of the project, but even when you are satisfied with the hardness of the area and begin to use it, you should be aware that the crystals continue to transform and grow.

The growth rate of the crystals will make a difference in the resulting strength or weakness of the project in the end. Where the crystals grow too quickly, the concrete sets up faster than planned and this can cause cracks and surface defects later. Too much water in the mixture is also a cause of cracks, as is water that settles on top of the surface when it is curing.

Concrete pouring is really an art as much as it is a science. There are things that experienced concrete contractors know that we would never see. When the mixture comes from the truck's funnel, it has a particular consistency that must be just right. Only the most seasoned contractors hold the key of knowledge necessary to a perfect job.

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