Concrete Mixing – ThermoConcrete

Concrete

How Necessary Are Concrete In These Modern Times?

The world is ever changing and part of the change is the creation of different kinds of infrastructure projects that will make it possible to attain development. That is why, in any development, concrete is something that plays a vital role. It is in fact one that plays a centric role when it comes to the circular economy in general. As concrete is being used, you see schools, hospitals and different offices that are seemingly sprouting everywhere.

Thus, concrete should be seen as something that is bringing about developments to those who know how to maximize its use. It is one that is perhaps an integral aspect of what the world really needs. There are so many important benefits of concrete and that understanding such will give you a bigger overview of the benefits it carries.

The Role Of Cement And Concrete In The Circular Economy

The question is: what is our role in the circular economy, and what do we realistically have to offer?

Raw materials: Did you know that the raw materials that we use (limestone for cement and aggregates for concrete) are abundantly available in Europe? This is important, as we are not extracting and using scarce raw materials.
The cement manufacturing process: It probably comes as no surprise to hear that we use primarily coal and petcoke in our kilns. But what you may be less aware of is the fact that we are able to replace part of these traditional fuels with fuels and biomass derived from waste. Not only does this form of energy recovery reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, we are also able to recycle the ash back within our process. Our main energy sources are : petcoke, oil are the primary fuels with which we fire up our kilns; that, you know; what is probably new to you is that the cement industry in Europe takes a pioneering role in recovering energy and recycling material from waste in an operation we call “co-processing”
Concrete: Concrete is in fact made up of cement, water and aggregates (gravel, crushed stone, sand, recycled concrete). And guess what: concrete is 100% recyclable and can go back into concrete as a recycled aggregate or into other applications (e.g. road base). Another interesting fact is that concrete is such a durable material that structures can last for decades, or even centuries! We have all heard of the Channel Tunnel, but what you probably did not know is that the concrete used to build it is contractually guaranteed to last at least 120 years! Visit main article source…

Additionally, if you wish to benefit so much from concrete, then you need to know the practical uses of such in your home. As a homeowner, you can see that concrete can be used to make concrete countertops, and when you partner it with precision grout, and then it is certainly going to make you realize that you’ve made an ideal choice at the very first glance!

Can I Use Non-Shrink Precision Grout to Create Concrete Countertops?

NSPG and Concrete Countertops

This is part of the problem with using NSPG for countertops. With the oridnary applications that NSPG is intended for, usually not much of the grout’s surface area is exposed to the air, so drying occurs slowly. With a countertop made out of NSPG, there is a huge amount of surface that can dry out. Thus any early expansion that would normally counteract the inevitable shrinkage is overwhelmed by the excessive amounts of shrinkage caused by rapid and continuous drying.

Countertops are large, flat beams with large amounts of surface area exposed to the air, so drying becomes a serious issue. As concrete dries and loses moisture, the capillary tension created by the water in the fine pores causes volumetric shrinkage. It is the loss of internal water that causes the shrinkage. The longer the concrete is allowed to dry, the more shrinkage will occur. For larger pieces of concrete, drying shrinkage can continue for years. Even very thin pieces of concrete will continue to shrink over time, as will be seen below. View more details here: http://www.concretecountertopinstitute.com/blog/tag/cement/.

So remember that, concrete will give any infrastructure project that you are making the durability as well as longevity that it must carry with it. Thus, you can certainly reflect on the value as well as that of the importance of the product in whatever it is that you are using it for.

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Concrete

What You Can Do With Roller Compacted Concrete?

To those still unfamiliar with construction terms, there is an innovation being implemented—-known as roller compacted concrete; in a way, it is a special blend of concrete as opposed to the traditional one. Essentially, this kind of concrete is a mixture of fly ash, water, sand and common additives. When all these things are mixed up then you will get something that is drier in form and one that is essentially without any slump in it, which is great for use in any concrete works.

The use of the roller compacted concrete is somehow similar to that of paving; such that the material is delivered through the use of dump truck or that of conveyors. Vibratory rollers are also being set in place in order that the material becomes even more compacted. Thus, there are a lot of construction projects that will certainly benefit when proper use of the roller compacted concrete is utilized.

Thin RCC Pavements In Use

The question of how thin roller compacted concrete (RCC) pavement can be placed is being asked more frequently. As residential and commercial applications are finding a fit with RCC, thinner pavement sections are being constructed. Traditionally, RCC pavements have been installed at large industrial facilities (e.g. sea ports, tank hardstands, logging yards) requiring pavement sections as thick as 18 to 22 inches, constructed with multi-lift placement techniques. However, RCC’s popularity is growing fastest in applications that require thinner sections.

The Portland Cement Association’s (PCA’s) RCC Pave software encourages a 4-inch minimum pavement thickness, for constructability reasons. Many projects have employed 4 and 5 inch thin RCC pavement throughout the U.S., including:

Plant Vogtle; Waynesboro, GA (2011); parking – 4 inches

Volkswagen Auto Manufacturing Plant; Chattanooga, TN (2010); parking – 4 inches

Jack Daniel’s Distillery; Lynchburg, TN (2011); parking – 5 inches

Honda Auto Manufacturing Plant; Lincoln, AL (2000 & 2004); access roads – 5 inches

A Retail Lumber Store; Ft. Payne, TN (1998); lumber storage yard – 5 inches

Saturn Auto Manufacturing Plant; Spring Hill, TN (1989); parking – 5 inches

Why choose RCC? Because RCC can be designed and placed for lower cost than an equivalent asphalt/flexible pavement on many projects–and provide a higher level of performance. CCT can help road agencies and engineers determine if RCC is the right choice for a project. Give us a call. Read more…

On the immediate uses of concrete, it is important for you to see that there are concrete tiles which you can install in your homes to make it more dashing than it was once. This will help enliven the interior aspect of your home, and in a way will make it look more livable than it should.

Granada Tile Fez Cement Tile In The Kitchen of Emma Magazine’s Editor

Many of our most popular concrete tile designs, like our Fez encaustic tile, our Cluny concrete tile and our Serengeti cement tile are in stock and ready to ship out to you immediately! Or you can have any of our cement tile designs custom colored for your tile project, like the Badajoz cement tile above, which has been custom colored in black and white. The qualities that make Granada Tile’s cement tiles the choice of award-winning coffee shops and hot restaurants around the country — along with their beautiful designs and vivid colors, our concrete tile is long lasting, easy care and low maintenance — are the same ones make it perfect for your home tile project, whether used as patio tile, porch tile, kitchen floor tile, kitchen backsplash tile, bathroom tile, shower tile or laundry room tile. Start by visiting our cement tile shop to peruse our large selection of in-stock handmade master-crafted cement tiles and call us today at 213-788-4238 to discuss which of our encaustic tile designs would be perfect for your home or restaurant project.

We’re always curious to see what other tile designers are doing, especially when they are moving in a similar direction to what we’ve been exploring. Lately, in a desire to explore more way to create cement tile designs, we been working to create embossed cement tiles which we will be introducing shortly. So we were intrigued when we spotted the cement tile designs of British designer Lindsey Lang. Borrowing from the archives of the London Underground, she created these patterns in embossed cement. It seems the old saying is true: great minds think alike! Read more info on this site: http://www.granadatile.com/blog/tag/concrete-tiles/.

It is certainly an important point to understand that there are so many benefits that you can derive from concrete. And seeing that you can even beautify your interior with the use of such will definitely entice you to making the most of what it can offer. There are definitely a lot of great things that will come your way with all these concrete when properly chosen.

Concrete

Common Facts You Need To Be Familiar with When It Comes To Concrete

If you want to be guided when it comes to the construction works that you are undertaking, it pays that you are familiar with some important words. Understanding the basic definitions about concrete and its uses will make you see a much bigger picture of it. You will therefore enable yourself to utilize your understanding so that you will get an in depth overview of when it comes to construction works.

When you are well informed with all construction details, then it will be much easier for you to get an informed decision in any matters that will come your way in the course of the construction process. You will essentially get the upper hand in whatever it is that you are going to decide along the way.

Some Basic Definitions Used In Cement And Concrete

A few useful basic definitions follow, since the meanings of the words ‘cement’ and ‘concrete’ are rather blurred in general use.

Portland Cement: Material made by heating a mixture of limestone and clay in a kiln at about 1450 C, then grinding to a fine powder with a small addition of gypsum. Portland Cement, the main subject of this site, is the most common type of cement – ‘basic cement’, if you like. In particular, ordinary Portland cement is the normal, grey, cement with which most people are familiar. Other types of Portland cement include White Portland Cement and Sulfate Resisting Portland Cement (SRPC).

Clinker: Portland cement is made by grinding clinker and a little added gypsum. Clinker is a nodular material before it is ground up. The nodules can be anything from 1mm to 25mm or more in diameter.

Cement: Usually taken to mean Portland Cement, but could mean any other type of cement, depending on the context.

Aggregate: Cobbles, pebbles, gravel, sand and silt – the ‘rock’ component of all particle sizes in concrete.

Concrete: Synthetic rock made using cement (usually, but not necessarily, Portland cement) mixed with aggregate and water. Read more!

So how does the concrete being extracted so that it can be used in any construction works? That is really an interesting question that needs to be put to rest. Mining concrete is an important aspect that needs to be tackled to fully get a good look at its astonishing advantage.

Sand Extraction For Concrete

And creating all the concrete relies on mining sand and gravel, collectively known as aggregates. Aggregates are extracted from the earth at an astonishing rate – exceeding 40 billion tons. A year. In the US, for example, the market for mined sand has been growing at 10% annually since 2008, meaning it is a billion-dollar business annually.
Now, although the deserts are awash in sand, it is considered unusuable for making concrete. This happens because it is subject to so much wind erosion, causing the grains to become too round and blow away. (Which is why Dubai, located in the desert, ships in sand for its beaches from Australia.) Desert sand also fails to bind well. Instead, we source the bulk of our sand from land quarries and riverbeds, so much so, that we’re running out and have turned to the coasts. “River and marine aggregates remain the main sources for building and land reclamation,” notes a recent report by the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) on the dwindling sand situation. Details explained here: http://www.ecoconcretedesign.com/single-post/2015/08/25/SAND-EXTRACTION-FOR-CONCRETE-An-Eco-Disaster-in-the-Mining.

These few facts will give you a deeper perspective to what concrete is really all about, it will encourage you to get a whole picture of how it is mined and, in the process, being utilized. There are so many great things that you will learn from the use of concrete which you can apply during the construction works in your property.

Concrete

What Is Concrete Recommended For?

There are definitely a lot of uses that concrete has for anyone in today’s world. In fact, concrete plays a major role in development in such a way that it is a material that is second most consumed in the world. You will see that it is heavily used in major economies to propel them to development. That is why, there are a lot of infrastructure projects such as schools, dams, roads and what not that are being constructed, thanks entirely to concrete.

At the context of your very own home, you can make use of concrete in repairing any cracks or breaks that you see in your property. Any broken pieces will surely be repaired in no time when utilization of concrete is further maximized.

Cement Cove

If you have any broken pieces of concrete, or you need to repair some major mortar joints, this is the stuff you need. And you don’t need to mix this with water. It comes pre-mixed. Keep that in mind as other repair compounds may require that you actually still mix them with water.

The only time I wouldn’t recommend this, is if you need to use it where you might be driving your vehicle. It’s not recommend for that. Small cracks in your driveway yes, but for major driveway repairs, you’ll need something else.

Which Product is Recommended?

The particle mix I recommend is the Dap 32611 Phenopatch Pre-Mixed Patch.

This particular compound is very high strength and used primarily on cracks or breaks in your concrete.

You can purchase it in several different packs, however each jug carries 1 qt of compound.

The convenience is great.

Instead of having to mix your own cement with a mixer, these pre-mixed products are super convenient.

They should not completely replace the need for standard concrete, however for patching and small repairs, they’re definitely helpful. Read more facts here…

It would be essential that you find experts that will help you in the testing and evaluation processes of the concrete that you have with you, so that you will be able to get the high quality ones. You will see that the best concrete are those that will make you enjoy its functionality for a long period of time. Thus, carefully selecting which is the best, as aided by an expert, will put you at an advantageous position.

Concrete Expert Witness: Concrete Repair and Testing Evaluations

Building Forensics International utilizes consultants from various fields of expertise. The video is from one the consultants we refer when waterproofing issues arise involving concrete/cement issues. American Restore and it’s founder Jim Andrews has vast experience when it comes to tipping floors and all types of concrete warehouse slabs of any kind.

Waterproofing and repairs of concrete slabs requires expertise and experience to get the job done correctly. This videos shares information on many aspects of concrete repair and testing of concrete slabs.

BFI hopes you take the time to watch this informative video. If you are in need of a concrete expert for litigation, investigation or concrete expert witness assignments please consider calling Building Forensics International. More to read here: http://www.buildingforensicsintl.com/single-post/2016/06/13/Concrete-Expert-Witness-Concrete-Repair-and-Testing-Evaluations.

All these details will guide you in the way that you choose the kind of concrete you must make use of in your property or any construction works for that matter. Having an understanding about all these details will lead you to the right path in choosing what kind of concrete suitable for any construction projects you have at the end of the day.

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Concrete

What Concrete Curing Blanket Is All About?

For every construction projects that are making use of concrete, it will certainly take time to let the concrete settle and thaw on the ground quickly. Yet, one very important aspect when it comes to the use of concrete is that, it should be settled first to enhance its quality, and make it sturdier than ever before. You cannot let any external factor to impede on the way the concrete is settling or being dried up, as it will certainly compromise the quality of your poured concrete.

It is for this reason that there are concrete blankets which most construction works can depend upon. With its use, you are certain that the concrete will thaw quickly on the ground, thus ensuring you of a much sturdier quality. You are for certain that what you have with you is extremely helpful in the construction works that you are embarking on.

Concrete Curing Blankets and Ground Thawing Blankets for Quick Results

There aren’t many options to choose, but that’s really not a bad thing. From my experience, the products from Powerblanket are very good quality. Whichever model you choose will be based on the size you want. For those looking for a larger sized blanket, such as 4 feet by 5 feet, consider thePowerBlanket MD0304.

For those who don’t need one this size, consider the PowerBlanket EH0202, which is 2 feet by 2 feet. This manufacturer actually offers sizes to meet everyone’s needs. If you need a 3 foot by 20 foot blanket, they have one.

These are some of the major specs on these particular products:

Very easy to use
Removes frost from frozen ground quickly
Cures concrete faster than other methods
Heats to a preset amount
Used to melt snow and ice from all areas. Read more from the main source:

Fact is that concrete is actually one substance that is second most consumed in the planet, that is only after water. There are so many uses of such in today’s fast developing world, it is being utilized in school, sidewalks, dams and whatnot. Thus, it is important to see how the concrete and that of the cement industry is affecting the world in general.

Emissions from the Cement Industry

Indirect emissions from burning fossil fuels to heat the kiln can be reduced by switching to alternative fuels, including natural gas, biomass and waste-derived fuels such as tires, sewage sludge and municipal solid wastes. These less carbon-intensive fuels could reduce overall cement emissions by 18-24% from 2006 levels by 2050.

Alternatively, efficiency measures can reduce the demand for fuel by addressing the production process itself (such as switching from inefficient wet kilns to dry ones) or through technical and mechanical improvements (such as preventative maintenance to repair kiln leaks). While some estimate that energy efficiency improvements could achieve emission reductions of up to 40%, some industry analyses suggest that producers may have already exhausted this potential. Without additional financial incentives (such as subsidies or a tax on carbon), further breakthroughs could be difficult.

Reducing emissions from the calcination process means looking to a material other than limestone. Blended cement replaces some of the limestone-based clinker with other materials, primarily coal fly ash and blast furnace slag. Blended cement could reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 20%, but widespread use of blended cement is limited by other environmental regulations (these substitutes can contain toxic heavy metals); the limited availability of substitute material; and some building code restrictions (blended cement can take longer to set). See this site for more details: http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/05/09/emissions-from-the-cement-industry/.

With all these being said, it can be concluded that now more than ever before, concrete will play a big role in how the world would be like. It is essential to really get an in depth understanding of the major role that it is playing and what it can bring to the table. There are certainly a lot of benefits that you will experience from the use of concrete.

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Concrete

Concrete Mixing Ratios

When making concrete it’s important to use the correct concrete mixing ratios to produce a strong, durable concrete mix.

To make concrete there are four basic materials you need: portland cement, sand, aggregate (stone), and water. The ratio of aggregate to sand to cement is an important factor in determining the compressive strength of the concrete mixture.

A concrete mixture ratio of 1 part cement, 3 parts sand, and 3 parts aggregate will produce a concrete mix of approximately 3000 psi.

Mixing water with the cement, sand, and stone will form a paste that will bind the materials together until the mix hardens. The strength properties of the concrete are inversely proportional to the water/cement ratio.

Basically this means the more water you use to mix the concrete (very fluid) the weaker the concrete mix. The less water you use to mix the concrete (somewhat dry but workable) the stronger the concrete mix.

Accurate concrete mixing ratios can be achieved by measuring the dry materials using buckets or some other kind of measuring device. By measuring the mixing ratios you will have a consistent concrete mix throughout your entire project.

Mixing ratio to make 1 yard of concrete

To produce a 3000 psi cubic yard of concrete (27 cubic feet) the concrete mixture ratio is:

1. 517 pounds of cement

2. 1560 pounds of sand

3. 1600 pounds of stone

4. 32 – 34 gallons of water

This mixing ratio will give you a concrete mix that is strong, durable, and good for most concrete projects. A cubic yard of concrete will fill an area 8 feet wide by 10 feet long by 4 inches thick, or 80 square feet @ 4 inches thick.

At 6 inches thick a cubic yard of concrete will fill an area 52 square feet and at 5 inches thick, it will fill an area that’s 65 square feet.

To produce a cubic yard of 4000 psi concrete, you have to adjust the concrete mixing ratio to:

1. 611 pounds of cement

2. 1450 pounds of sand

3. 1600 pounds of stone

4. 33- 35 gallons of water

As you can see a little more cement and a little less sand is required to produce this stronger concrete mix that is great for driveways, pooldecks, sidewalks, exterior patios, and commercial garages.

Knowing the weight of the materials and how much water to use should help you determine how much cement, sand, and stone to purchase to complete your project.

For estimating purposes, you can make about 1 cubic yard of concrete with 5 1/2 94-pound bags of cement, 17 cubic feet of sand, and 18 cubic feet of gravel. (It takes about forty 80-pound bags of prepackaged materials to make 1 cubic yard of concrete.)

You can read the full article by visiting the original source at http://www.everything-about-concrete.com/concrete-mixing-ratios.html.