Cement vs Concrete: Difference and Comparison

Cement’s major job or function is to hold different types of concrete together, such as sand, silt, clay, and stone. There are several varieties of cement.

A mixture of fine and coarse aggregates with any form of binding substance, such as cement or asphalt, is known as concrete.

Concrete is primarily made up of cement, sand, and stone. Sand and stone are mostly used to provide strength. Meanwhile, adhesives such as cement or asphalt are employed to bind the aggregates together.

Key Takeaways

1. Cement is a binding agent used in construction, made from limestone and clay.
2. Concrete is a cement, water, sand, and aggregate mixture, forming a strong building material.
3. Cement serves as a concrete component, while concrete is a finished product used in construction.

Cement vs Concrete

The difference between cement and concrete is that Cement is a binding material that also serves as an adhesive in house construction. Alkaline, Sulphur Trioxide, Magnesia, Alumina, Lime, and Silica make up the majority of cement’s makeup. A mixture of fine and coarse aggregates with any form of binding ingredients, such as cement or asphalt, is referred to as concrete. Cement, sand, and stone make up the bulk of concrete’s composition.

Cement’s major function or application is to hold various concrete compositions together, such as sand, silt, clay, and stone.

Two processes help to describe the working mechanism of cement. When you mix cement with water, you get a hydration process, which results in a hardened cement paste.

The first reaction is the formation of the cement, and the second is the hardening of the cement to produce a tobomite gel.

Concrete is utilised in the construction of various housing regions that require compressive strength, such as the footing, column, beam, or slab. Sand and stone’s primary function is to offer structural support.

Meanwhile, the aggregates are held together by adhesives such as cement or asphalt. Using a combination of fine and coarse particles, the working mechanism of Concrete may be explained.

Concrete’s power and strength gradually diminish as time passes.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Cement	Concrete
Definition	Binding material or adhesive	A mixture of fine/course aggregates+ binding material or adhesive
Composition	Alkaline, Calcium Sulfate, Alumina, Lime, Iron Oxide, Sulphur Trioxide, Magnesia and Silica.	Cement, sand and stone.
Mechanism of working	Hydration reaction- setting up, hardening.	Fine products fill up any type of void, concrete gives a definite shape and strength.
Use	Hold different compositions of concrete, like sand, silt, clay, stone together.	Compressive strength is required in the building of different house areas like footing, column, beam or slab.
Types	Coloured cement, high alumina cement, Hydrophobic cement, low heat cement, quick-setting cement.	Glass concrete, polymer concrete, limecrete, shotcrete, stamped concrete.

What is Cement?

Cement is a binding material that also serves as an adhesive in the construction of buildings.

Alkaline, Calcium Sulfate, Iron Oxide, Sulphur Trioxide, Magnesia, Alumina, Lime, and Silica are the primary components of cement.

Two reactions can be used to explain the working mechanism of cement.

The first reaction occurs when cement and water are combined, resulting in a hydration reaction and the formation of a hardened cement paste.

The first reaction is the setting of the cement, and the second reaction is the hardening of the cement to produce a tobomite gel.

Cement’s primary function or application is to hold various concrete compositions together, such as sand, silt, clay, and stone. Cement can be divided into several categories.

Types of cement include hydrophobic cement, coloured cement, high alumina cement, low heat cement, quick-setting cement, and white cement.

What is Concrete?

A mixture of fine and coarse aggregates with any form of binding ingredients, such as cement or asphalt, is characterised as concrete.

Cement, sand, and stone are the major ingredients of concrete. Sand and stone’s primary function is to offer strength.

Cement or asphalt, which are utilised as adhesives, are used to bind the aggregates together in the meantime. The combination of fine and coarse particles can be used to describe the working mechanism of concrete.

Fine aggregates fill in gaps or voids left after the coarse aggregates have been set.

Cement or asphalt is the most common binding material employed. Fine and coarse aggregates result in correct gradation to retain proper strength.

Concrete develops its strength and power over time. Concrete is utilised in the construction of various housing parts where compressive strength is required, such as the footing, column, beam, or slab.

Based on differences in composition, such as lime, cement, and reinforced cement, concrete is categorised into three categories.

Other types of concrete include vacuum concrete, ordinary concrete, glass concrete, stamped concrete, polymer concrete, limecrete, and shotcrete.

Main Differences Between Cement and Concrete

1. Cement is a type of binding material which also acts as an adhesive in the construction of houses. On the other hand, Concrete is defined as a mixture of fine and coarse aggregates with any binding material, such as cement or asphalt.
2. The composition of Cement mainly comprises Alkaline, Calcium Sulfate, Iron Oxide, Sulphur Trioxide, Magnesia, Alumina, Lime and Silica. On the other hand, the composition of concrete mainly comprises cement, sand and stone. The main role of sand and stone is to provide strength. Meanwhile, the role of cement or asphalt, which are used as adhesives, is used to bind the aggregates altogether.
3. The working mechanism of cement can be explained with the help of two reactions. The first reaction happens when the cement and water are mixed, resulting in a hydration reaction and a paste of hardened cement. The setting up of the cement is considered as the first reaction, and when it hardens to form a tobomite gel, it is considered as the second reaction. On the other hand, the working mechanism of Concrete can be explained by using the combination of fine and coarse aggregates. When course aggregates are set, fine aggregates are used to fill up the remaining spaces or voids. The main binding composition that is used is either cement or asphalt. To maintain proper strength, fine and coarse aggregates result in proper gradation. With time, Concrete gets its power and strength to settle.
4. The main work or uses of cement can be defined as holding different compositions of concrete, like sand, silt, clay, and stone altogether. On the other hand, when compressive strength is required in a building, different house areas like footing, column, beam or slab concrete are used.
5. Cement can be categorised into various types. Hydrophobic cement, coloured cement, high alumina cement, low heat cement, quick-setting cement, and white cement are some of the types of cement. On the other hand, concrete is divided into three types based on variations in composition, such as lime, cement, and reinforced cement. Otherwise, some examples of concrete are vacuum concrete, regular concrete, glass concrete, stamped concrete, polymer concrete, limecrete, and shotcrete.

References

1. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.1201/9781482289053/cement-concrete-gan
2. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=lang_en&id=0cxPCgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=cement+and+concrete&ots=dzyaCXENZW&sig=tPKo9I23DUEeXNgj8N3tjC0wOKM