HOW WATER QUALITY IMPACTS THE CONCRETE MIX

 

  How does water affect concrete?

Concrete is a composite construction material made up of water, cement and aggregates. The quality of water in the concrete mix play a vital role on the strength of the concrete. Some water which have adverse effects on hardened concrete sometimes may not be harmless or even beneficial during mixing.

Water to be used during concrete mix:

• When water comes in contact with cement, they react chemically and make the concrete stronger.
• Water that is to be used for concrete mix should not be dirty. Dirty water will affect the longevity of the concrete structure in the long run and weakening the concrete, in some cases even retard the setting.
• Make sure you use good quality or drinking type of water in concrete mixing. Poor quality of water can affect the setting, strength and durability of concrete.
• Remember that adding the right amount of water to concrete ensures that it is strong enough for its intended application.
• Over-watered concrete may lead to lower strength, reduced durability, shrinkage cracking and a variety of surface problems. 
• Sometimes wrong mixing at the beginning could ruin the entire concrete mix. 
• Remember, for concrete mixing you can use a bag/pack of cement and 20 to 27 litres of water for best results. 

These are some of the guidelines about water quality that needs to be remembered while mixing the concrete. The results indicated that source of water used in mixing concrete have a significant impact on the comprehensive strength of the resulting concrete. Max Cement provides best quality cement for strongest concrete in north east region.