ConcRetE MateRiaL

CONCRETE is made by mixing:

CEMENT

WATER

COARSE AND FINE AGGREGATES

ADMIXTURES (if required).

The aim is to mix these materials in measured

amounts to make concrete that is easy to:

TRANSPORT

PLACE

COMPACT

FINISH

and which will set, and harden, to give a strong

and durable product.

The amount of each material (ie cement, water and

aggregates) affects the properties of hardened concrete.

CEMENT The cement powder, when mixed with water,

forms a paste.

This paste acts like glue and holds or bonds the

aggregates together.

There are six major

types of cement sold

in Australia:

Type GP (General Purpose Portland cement)

Type GB (General Purpose Blended Cement)

Type HE (High Early Strength cement)

Type LH (Low Heat cement)

Type SR (Sulfate Resisting cement)

Type SL (Shrinkage Limited cement)

Each type of cement will produce concrete with different properties.

The most common types of cement are Type GP and Type GB.

Blended cements contain portland cement and more than 5% of

either fly ash, ground slag, silica fume, or a combination of these.