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Cement and Concrete

Concrete is the familiar material used in construction. It is a mixture of portland cement, water and aggregates such as crushed stone, sand, and gravel. The cement and water comprise a paste that coats the surfaces of the aggregates and then hardens by chemical reaction know as hydration to form the familiar rock-like material known as concrete.

The following figure depicts the proportions of the various components of concrete. Portland cement, the key ingredient, constitutes only 11 percent (%) or so of the concrete mix.

Components of Concrete Mix (Portland Cement Association, Cement Association of Canada)


Copyright American Cement Company 2007