What is Concrete Vs Cement?

16 Nov What is Concrete Vs Cement?

Many may think that concrete and cement are the same, but they’re actually quite different. This article clarifies their differences and explains their roles in construction projects.

Cement is a binding material that creates a hard paste for making buildings. Concrete is a composite material that includes cement, water, and aggregates. This is the solution builders use in civil engineering.

Cement is what really gives concrete its strength and long-lasting effect but cannot build anything on its own. Let’s look into both materials and understand their characteristics and applications.

Concrete Vs Cement: Explained

The following table covers the unique features of concrete and cement in a side-by-side comparison.

What is Cement?

The entire urban infrastructure depends on cement. Here’s how it is made and used in construction projects:

Composition:

Cement is made by mixing limestone and silica (SiO2) from sources like sand, gravel, clay, granite, or soil. All these materials are ground into a fine powder and heated to about 1,450 degrees Celsius.

The intense heat triggers a chemical reaction. It transforms these materials into a semi-liquid compound known as clinker. Once it cools down, it is then crushed and combined with water to make cement.

Primary Use:

Cement’s primary function is to bond with all the building materials. Ancient builders applied lime and gypsum plaster to build structures. However, this costs more time and money as this solution takes a long time to provide strong adhesion.

Portland cement made history in the 19th century. It became an international standard for civil engineering. The cement, as it is known now, reaches its maximum strength within a month. It costs less time and money than lime, which speeds up building projects.

Properties:

Cement contains calcium silicates (C2S and C3S) that go through a hydration reaction upon mixing water. This forms a new compound called calcium silicate hydrate (CSH). It gives cement its ability to harden every particle around it.

Common Applications:

Here are some of the major applications of cement.

○      Mortar for Masonry:

Mortar is a paste that binds building blocks like bricks, stones, and marble together. It has been mixed with lime and water since early civilizations. However, cement has now replaced lime to help mortar stabilize the structure quickly.

○      Grouting:

Grouting is an essential part of construction. It enhances the structure’s solidity, stability, and integrity. It involves fusing a binder with water and sand. Cement is a popular binder in this mixture for filling gaps in the masonry, repairing fissures, and sealing joints. This also protects the structure from building up moisture.

○      Plastering and Rendering:

Plastering and rendering cover the building’s interior and exterior walls, respectively. They are both made from water, sand, and cement to create smooth wall surfaces. Then, the walls are ready for paint or wallpaper.

For wall textures or ceiling designs, builders use lime instead of cement because of its neat finish and moisture resistance. Cement is best for creating the foundation and making it strong.

○      Base for Concrete Production:

Cement is the base material for concrete, on which critical urban infrastructure stands today. Without cement, a building would not be able to suffer load and collapse.

What is Concrete?

Concrete is the most abundant material on Earth, second only to water. It is made after mixing three key ingredients:

Composition:

Concrete comprises cement, water, and aggregates like sand, gravel, or small stones. Cement is the binder in this composition that holds all aggregates and makes them stronger. There are usually 70% to 80% of aggregates in concrete, whereas cement is only 10% to 15%.

The remaining 10% to 15% is water required for the hydration reaction. Water activates the power of cement to start hardening fast, but too much can weaken the concrete. In structural application, builders reinforce concrete with steel bars or mesh to ensure it holds maximum load.

Primary Use:

The primary use of concrete is to help build the urban civilization. Almost every structure that bears extreme load contains concrete.

Properties:

Concrete has several properties that make it the best building material. It bears substantial weight and stands the test of time, due to its compressive strength. High-grade concrete can even survive underwater amidst continuous tidal hits.

Concrete is highly resistant to water, making it perfect for marine use. It also has elastic properties that prevent it from deforming under pressure.

Common Applications:

The versatility of concrete helps in all types of construction. Some common applications are:

○      Building Foundations

Concrete provides a foundation. All houses, factories, hospitals, schools, and skyscrapers stand stand on this foundation. Without concrete, buildings would sway under load and collapse. It gives them durability and longevity.

○      Roads and Highways

Roads and highways need material that can withstand wear. Concrete is the only option that can take continuous weathering from traffic and still stay smooth for a long time. Its elastic properties help the road resist deformation from pressure.

○      Bridges and Infrastructure

Concrete adds the holding power and duration for infrastructure like bridges and dams. Human life hangs on bridges every day. They easily carry countless tons of traffic hundreds of feet above sea level. Concrete keeps them standing through storms and earthquakes.

Dams, on the other hand, control entire bodies of water. Using concrete in the construction of dams offers more resistance to water and reliability. They don’t damage easily like the general embankment dams.

○      Marine and Coastal Structures

Marine and coastal structures face constant impact from water. These structures include piers, seawalls, breakwaters, groynes, and revetments. Concrete saves these structures from penetration by water or salt due to its low permeability. Saltwater can cause corrosion, which weakens metals and other materials in the building.

○      Industrial Floors and Pavements

Surfaces in industrial settings bear heavy machinery, thuds and falls, chemicals, and screeches. A normal floor would require frequent maintenance. Concrete flooring can handle the rough treatment of industries and save considerable expenses.

Conclusion

In conclusion, concrete and cement both play their unique roles in founding formidable structures. One cannot work without the other in large-scale infrastructure.