Title:
There is More to Concrete than Cement
Author(s):
Adam Neville
Publication:
Concrete International
Volume:
22
Issue:
1
Appears on pages(s):
73-74
Keywords:
aggregates; cements; quality control; durability; interface zone; voids
DOI:
Date:
1/1/2000
Abstract:
In assessing the quality of concrete, especially in disputes over the appropriate properties of concrete in place, the cement, while important, is not the sole factor. In applying research on cement to concrete, and particularly concrete in service, one should beware of the direct translation from one material to the other: concrete is not the same as cement, nor is it a “diluted” cement. Between the aggregate and the cement paste of a concrete mixture, the very important interface zone exists. Mixing and the various activities leading to the final product all have influence on the quality of concrete in place.