These
days of automation and speedy work, Concrete suppliers can be considered the
life blood of any construction project, big or small. They are the ones that
will not just deliver the ready concrete mix, they are also tasked to prepare
and mix the raw material ingredients which are actually the most critical
phases in the whole process.
These
suppliers would have to fulfill all the necessary requirements to produce a
good product. All throughout, the suppliers would need to satisfy all the
important properties of concrete which include strength, durability and water
tightness.
Cement
The supply of good cement needed for the work at hand is the first requirement of a good concrete. The others would include the supply of satisfactory sand, coarse aggregate and water.
The
mix with the best graded, best shaped, and the cleanest aggregate can create
the strongest and durable concrete. However, this mix that is best in every
quality cannot make a good concrete if it is not workable enough to fill in the
form spaces thoroughly.
Too
much fluidity, on the other hand, can result in certain defects. Improper
handling of the items needed during the whole concrete-making process can cause
segregation of aggregate particles by sizes, and can result in non-uniform,
poor concrete.
Curing / strength
Finally,
to achieve the best graded and best material of the highest quality, a good
concrete mix needs to have materials that are properly cured. Curing is protecting
the material against loss of moisture during the setting.
Another
important factor to consider is that concrete has a very high compressive
strength but its tensile strength (resisting stretching, bending and twisting)
is low. Concrete, however, needs to have high tensile strength for the bending,
stretching or twisting in beams, girders, and walls
Durability
This
is the extent with which the material is able to resist deterioration caused by
exposure to service conditions. Ordinary concrete exposed to the elements needs
to be watertight and weather-resistant. The floors, for instance, must need to
resist abrasion. The stronger the concrete is, the more durable it is.
Concrete
that becomes durable needs a water-cement ratio that can produce maximum
strength consistent with its workability requirements. The maximum strength and
durability cannot be obtained unless the sand and the coarse aggregate is
comprised of well-graded, clean, hard, and durable particles that are free from
undesirable substances.
Water tightness
Ideally,
an excellent concrete mix will be one with just the amount of water required
for complete hydration of the cement. However, this would be a dry mix which
would be too stiff for pouring in the forms.
The
mix that is fluid enough to be poured into forms always contains enough water
that is over the amount that will combine with the cement. However, this water
will then evaporate eventually, most likely leaving voids or pores in the
concrete.
