Civil concrete is a type of construction material that is made from cement, sand and coarse aggregates. The ingredients are treated with water and allowed to gradually get hard with time. In the construction sector, this type of item is very highly used for developing columns, slabs, foundations, beams and other elements that need to bear a considerable amount of load. Cement is a type of binder that holds the other components together and provide the needed strength and durability. In most construction sites, this type of concrete is highly used, owing to the toughness they provide to a structure.
There are many advantages of using civil concrete, as it is highly effective for all types of construction activities. Many types of cement can be found in the market like Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC), sulfate resistant cement, etc., but all of them serve the same purpose. We take a look here at the advantages that can be expected of the same:
It can take the needed shape – When fresh concrete is made, it is in liquid form and can flow easily. Therefore, it can easily be poured into different types of shuttering and formwork designs to create different sizes and shapes. One can also adjust the civil concrete mix so that it can be made into various types of shapes and features.
It easily hardens at room temperature – Concrete is primarily made of cement and it hardens easily at ambient temperature. Moreover, cement is a low-temperature inorganic product that bonds well too. Therefore, concrete can easily be used in any type of climatic condition with ease, and if needed, it can also be optimized with the help of admixtures.
It needs very low maintenance – As compared to wood or steel, civil concrete does not need painting or coating for regular usage. It can stay the same without any change for a considerable period of time without any alteration in its quality. Therefore, the maintenance cost of concrete is very low as compared to the other structural products.
It is very economical – As compared to other binding materials used for building structures, civil concrete can be said to be one of the cheapest options. It is economical and very much available at all places unlike materials like polymers, steel, etc. Concrete is made from cement, aggregates, and water, and all of these ingredients can be readily available in any nearby market.
It can resist high temperature – Civil concrete can easily tolerate high temperatures, and that is why it is often used to fireproof steel in high-temperature applications. The primary binder in concrete is calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) that is capable of tolerating up to 910 degrees Celsius. It is not a good conductor of heat, and that also explains why it can be easy for rescue operations in case of fire in a concrete building, as people can get ample time to rush to a safer place.
It offers superb water-resistance – Civil concrete has a very good water-resistance capability too, and that is why it is often preferred for underwater construction activities like pipelines, canals, waterfront developments, and dams. Pure water does not spoil concrete, but if it has chemicals in it like chlorides, sulfates or carbon dioxide, that can lead to corrosion over a period, but that too over decades.
In addition to all these advantages, concrete construction offers high energy efficiency and it can easily consume waste to provide ample environmental protection. Due to all these reasons, concrete is the most preferred choice of people worldwide for all types of construction activities.
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