Concrete and Cement Flashcards
Portland cements are used to make…
Concrete + motar, buildings, infrastructures, roads
Special cements (such as low-co2 and rapid hardening) are used for…
Immobilisation of toxic/ radioactive waste
Medical cements are used for…
Tooth and bone placements
ASTM…
Consists of calcium and calcium sulfates
Basis of most concrete reactions is…
A hydraulic reaction whereby the cement reacts with water and hardens
Definition of a paste and its use =
Cement + water
Rarely used by itself and so is combined with aggregates
Definition of mortar and its use =
Paste + sand
Used to join bricks together or used as a coating
Definition of concrete and its use =
Paste + sand + coarse aggregate
which is gravel or crushed rock
Aggregates are…
Sand, gravel, rocks ( much cheaper than cements)
Aggregates are bound together by…
Cement as it acts as a glue
Best to use aggregates that do not react with cement such as..
Granite, quartz and basalt
or a slightly reactive rock such as limestone
What happens when using a reactive material with cement (such as glass aggregate or sulfide)
They expand and cause the concrete to fail
Fine vs coarse aggregate =
Fine = sand or crushed rocks Coarse = larger rocks
Why should we not use glass aggregates or sulfide?
Aggregate does not normally react with the cement so this does and causes concrete failure
Two reasons we use aggregates
- Strength; the concrete will be as strong as the aggregate
- Reduces thermal cracking (dilution of cement)
Shear-thinning is..
Concrete flows better if a force is applied to it otherwise it will set and harden
How to measure the flow of concrete:
-slump test; fill a cone with concrete then lift off and measure the distance in height
Role of water in cement:
Required for the hydration reaction and allows concrete to flow.