WHAT IS CONCRETE?
In its simplest form, concrete is a mixture of paste (cement & water) and aggregates (sand & stone). The paste coats the surface of the fine (sand) and coarse (stone) aggregates and binds them together into a rocklike mass known as concrete.
In addition to paste and aggregates, concrete may also contain highly specialized chemical admixtures that enhance the specific properties of concrete. Chemical admixtures are used to improve both the workability and/or the durability of concrete. Within this process lies the key to a remarkable trait of concrete: it is plastic and can be molded or formed into any shape when newly mixed, and is strong and durable when hardened.
These qualities explain why concrete is a primary building material throughout the world that is used to construct everything from skyscrapers, bridges, highways and dams to sidewalks, curbs, patios and houses.
