Product Brochure

Coarse aggregates
Coarse aggregates are any parcles greater than
0.19 inch, but generally range between 3/8 and 1.5
inches in diameter. Gravels constute the majority
of coarse aggregate used in concrete with crushed
stone making up most of the remainder.
“Parcle shape and surface texture inuence the
properes of freshly mixed concrete more than the
properes of hardened concrete. Rough-textured,
angular, and elongated parcles require more
water to produce workable concrete than smooth,
rounded compact aggregate. Consequently, the
cement content must also be increased to maintain
the water-cement rao. Generally, at and elongat-
ed parcles are avoided or are limited to about 15
percent by weight of the total aggregate.”
STRENGTH THROUGH CURING
Concrete is known to have exceponal strength
in whatever shape it forms to. Not only for ground
covering and building columns, concrete can be
used to create tableware bowls, plates, cups and
jars. It’s strength comes from curing over me.
Though concrete becomes usable within a few
days, concrete will never stop curing. As long as
there is even a minuscule amount of moisture
present, the cement will connue reacng and
hardening.
FACTORS INFLUENCING CURE TIME
• Mixture proporons- Increasing cement to
water rao will decrease seng me but may
compromise long-term strength
• Type of mix used- Some fast curing concrete
mixes and add-ins are available
• Specied strength
• Size and shape of slab
• Ambient weather/temperature- Higher tem-
peratures decrease inial concrete seng me,
but may decrease long-term strength
Typically, concrete is recognized to have reached
full strength 28 days aer placement; however, this
does not mean you need to wait 28 days to walk
on, or even connue construcon on newly placed
concrete. Aer placement, concrete increases in
strength very quickly for 3-7 days, then gradually for
the next 3 weeks. This means that concrete harden-
ing me is typically 24-48 hours, at which point it’s
safe for normal foot trac. Aer one week, con-
crete is typically cured enough to handle connued
construcon including heavy machinery.
4
WHEN IN DOUBT REMEMBER THE RULE
70 in 7
MOST CONCRETE MIXES
REACH 70% OF SPECIFIED
STRENGTH AFTER 7 DAYS
THEN IT’S READY FOR EXPOSURE
TO NORMAL TRAFFIC