Concrete Basics (1) Concrete Materials

Concrete is made from a mixture:

    * Cement
    * Water
    * Aggregate (gravel), coarse and fine
    * Admixture (additive) if necessary
These materials are mixed and stirred with a certain amount so easily moved, placed (poured), compressed (compact), and formed (finish), and mixtures of these materials will harden and produce strong and durable.
Amount of each ingredient is mixed (cement, water, aggregate, etc.) will affect the properties of concrete produced.
CEMENT.In powder form, and if mixed with water, will form a paste. Cement paste is used to attach and bind the aggregate among each other.

The types of cement in Indonesia, among others:- Portland cement and white- Portland cement Pozolan / Portland pozzolan cement (PPC)- Portland Cement / Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)- Portland cement mixed- Cement MASONRY- Portland cement composites
For more stories about the cement can be read here.
Each type of cement will provide different properties on the resulting concrete. Portland cement is the most common type of cement used to make concrete mix.
Semen StorageCement if not used, must be kept properly. Cement should not be placed immediately above the ground or floor because it can cause moisture. If moist, no water vapor, so that the cement reacts with water to harden. Therefore, the holder of cement should be dry, clean, and has good air circulation.

Piles of cement also be covered with plastic sheeting or the like to provide extra protection. Do not forget, keep air circulation must be addressed.
Piles of cement is very much usually placed in special warehouses.AggregateAlso referred to as gravel, or the term handyman usually "split stone" (maksutnya opposition yo??). Anyway .. their language is a bit different, which is important can be translated into technical language.Okay .. There are two types of aggregate: coarse aggregate and fine aggregate. Coarse aggregate such as gravel or crushed rock types. While the fine aggregates are usually composed of sand and fine gravel. Sand must be real sand, not a brick or stucco sand fractions are refined.
Things about aggregates.

    * Strong and hard! Fragile and porous aggregates can reduce the quality of concrete. agg-strong
    * Resistant to extreme weather and any time. There are types of rocks that are not resistant to weather changes so easily broken. This species is not suitable to be used as concrete aggregate

*Not reactive (chemically). Aggregate should not react to the chemical constituents of cement, because it can degrade the quality of concrete.* Net. If there are layers lempur aggregate surface or soil, then the bonding between aggregate with cement will not be maximized.

 *Size gradation. Aggregate size should vary. Should not be dominated by one particular size. Gradation of this size will make the concrete more dense and to be strong 

*Spherical aggregates more easily mixed, while the aggregate angled a little more difficult but it can make concrete stronger. agg-round

Aggregate StorageAggregate should be placed in a clean from dirt like leaves, twigs, mud, and other small trash. If the aggregate is too wet (ie rain), then measure the water when mixing the concrete may be reduced.
WATER

Water serves to "dissolve" the cement that into a paste and then bind all of the greatest aggregation up to the most subtle.
Water should be clean, free of dirt or trash, and do not contain chemicals that can affect the concrete. Ground water (drill) the most widely used for mixing concrete mortar. Sea water is not recommended, because it can cause rust on iron bars. River water? Look around .. there is waste or not?

Admixture (Additive)Additives are usually added for special purposes, eg to improve the quality of concrete, accelerate the process of hardening and drying of concrete, making it easy to change the level keenceran poured, etc..
HOW process of mixing these materials?

Coarse aggregate and aggregate mixed hasul first. Then a number of cement is added and stirred into a mixture of aggregates. Add water little by little so that cement can be turned into a paste and glue the aggregate well.