Cement, Concrete and Mortar

Cement, concrete and mortar are polymer or cement-based binders, compounds or aggregate mixtures for joining components and forming structures. Although the words concrete and cement are often used interchangeably, cement is actually an ingredient of concrete. Cement is typically made by heating limestone until it nearly fuses. The material is then ground into a fine powder. When this powder is mixed with water, the cement undergoes a chemical reaction and hardens into a mass that is resistant to water. If concrete is mixed with water and other aggregates - such as sand, stone, or gravel - the mixture is called concrete. Cement generally accounts for approximately 10 to 15% of the concrete’s total mass. Cement is, however, the essential binding agent for concrete.