subject: A Useful Breakdown Of Concrete And Concrete Mixing Plants [print this page] A brief history of concrete A brief history of concrete
Concrete has been around since the time of the Ancient Romans and Egyptians. During the time, there was a variety called Roman concrete, which was made out of quicklime, pozzolana, and pumice. Roman concrete is probably one of the strongest in the world. Evidence of the strength of the material can be found in Ancient Roman architecture still around today. In those days, the material was made without having to use modern concrete mixing plants. Surprisingly, these products have survived the test of time.
What exactly is concrete made of?
Many of us ignore the science that goes into concrete production. The truth is, ask anyone and they probably won't be able to tell you that there are numerous varieties, but that's taking it a step ahead. Concrete is created out of the mixture of these ingredients: cement, water, aggregates, reinforcements, and chemical and mineral admixtures.
Many of us believe that cement and concrete are one in the same. Although the words may be used interchangeably, they're different things. Cement is a component of concrete, but the same cannot be said of the other.
What are the different varieties of concrete?
Truth be told, there are several kinds of concrete. The more prevalent ones are the following:
- Regular cement - This is actually the material many people are acquainted with. It's the stuff that comes in sacks or packets and may be bought at hardware stores.
- Pervious concrete
- Stamped concrete - This concrete can usually be treated while still wet to imitate the appearance of brick, wood, or cobblestone, amongst others.
Concrete mixing designs are intricate. It is also a fairly versatile material. This is said as the design of concrete can be tailored from project to project. For instance, the concrete used for a modern day home will be different from the concrete made for a high rise building. Concrete designs are customised according to the various demands such as strength and weight requirements.
How is concrete produced?
In the past, concrete was made by hand. The same can be said for small projects today. For bigger projects, however, concrete plants are used. Concrete mixing plants are manufacturing plants where concrete ingredients are blended prior to being transported to a construction site. There are two types of concrete mixing plants. The first is a ready mix plant, where all ingredients are blended, except for water. The second, known as the central mix plant, brings together all ingredients in a central location. The final product of the former is then moved to a construction site.
Employing the use of such is helpful to a construction site because of two reasons. One, it removes the potential risk of waste. It's important to remember that for projects, a definite quantity is produced. This is accomplished so there is no oversupply. The other benefit is it eliminates inefficiency at the construction site.
