Cement

The Basics

Do you know the difference between cement & concrete?

Words like cement and concrete often are used interchangeably but they are different. Cement is actually an ingredient of concrete. Concrete is basically a mixture of aggregates and paste. The aggregates are sand and gravel or crushed stone; the paste is water and portland cement. A unique quality of concrete is that it gets stronger as it gets older.

In its most basic form, concrete is made from cement, water, and aggregates or rocks. Most concrete today is also comprised of supplementary cementing materials and chemical admixtures.

Types of Cement

CSA Cement Types

  • Type GU - General Use Cement
  • Type MS or MH - Moderate Sulphate Resistant or Moderate Heat of Hydration Cement
  • Type HE - High Early Strength Cement
  • Type LH - Low Heat of Hydration Cement
  • Type HS - High Sulphate Resistant Cement

*Please consult CSA A23.1/23.2, CSA A3000, ASTM Section 4 Volumes 04.01 and 04.02 as well as ACI Manuals of Concrete Practice for differences between Canadian and U.S. Standards.