Mixing for More

It’s common knowledge that most concrete mixes are categorized by a strength unit of measurement such as 20 MPA, 3000PSI, Etc.  This allows for easy identification at a basic level and a clear, universal language for the industry. However, concrete mix designs have never simply been about achieving a strength threshold. When designing a mix, there are quite a few important factors that go into the process that not only affect your concrete quality and strength, but also your business efficiency and long-term results.

Durability and Long-Lasting Concrete

Concrete mix designs aren’t just about making things strong; they’re about making them last. By using the right recipe, you can protect a structure from the elements before it’s even built. For example, ensuring good air entrainment helps concrete survive freezing winters without cracking, while using specialized cements keeps harsh chemicals from eating away at the surface, like road salt and vehicle debris. Additionally, a good mix acts like a shield for the steel inside, preventing it from rusting and “popping” the concrete. It’s basically about dialing in the density and ingredients so the environment can’t get a foothold.

Making concrete that is not only strong, but also durable will help your business by maintaining your reputation and product quality.

Cost Effective Designs

Success in business is almost always about the balance of lowering input cost, or effort, and maximizing output while retaining quality. Your mix designs are no different. Cement is typically the most expensive component in the mix, so fine- tuning your design will save cost on your concrete, especially over a long period of time. This of course will impact the strength of the design. More often, modern mix designs are incorporating Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) like silica fume or fly ash to offset the cost of portland.

Using too much cement powder in your mix not only wastes material, but is can also affect the efficiency of a concrete pump on site. Once it is poured, too much cement in the concrete can also lead to increased shrinkage and cracking.

Make it Work

For your customer, strength and durability are very important, but ease of use is also a huge factor. Placing the concrete down, leveling, and ensuring it is finished correctly is a skill set in and of itself, but your mix design can make that process a lot easier. Using admixtures to improve workability, and finding that “Creamy” balance of cement powder results in a great mix that is very usable and improves jobsite efficiency.