Can I just use cement without sand?

Yes, cement can indeed be used without sand. Cement and water can be used as a slurry. Cement is a binding material and it develops strength once it reacts with water. The strength in case of cement mortar (which is a mixture of Cement and Sand with water) is due to sand present in it.

Is 25 MPa concrete strong?

As a rule of thumb 20mph concrete is fine for foot traffic, I.e., footpaths and house slabs, depending on your sub base, whilst 25 mph is more appropriate for driveways and light traffic. 32mpa and 40mpa concrete is suitable for shed slabs and heavy traffic areas.

Is higher MPa concrete better?

Higher strengths can be achieved (e.g. 65 MPa to 100 MPa concrete) as well as allowing for the placement of concrete in difficult formed areas and where reinforcement is congested.

Is pumped concrete weaker?

It was believed for many years that a pump mix was weaker because it had to be batched with less large aggregate and more sand. We have learned over the years that a pump mix will be a better product because it will have a better gradation and maybe even a little more cement and the mixing will be better.

What is 25 MPa concrete used for?

This 25 MPa concrete mix is the commonly adopted mixture for use in reinforced concrete beams, floor slabs, driveways and footpaths. It is ready to use straight from the bag, you just blend in the correct amount of water.

What is the mix for 25 MPa concrete?

Concrete is a well-proportioned mix of blended cement, 10 mm crushed stone and sand. This 25 MPa concrete mix is suitable for all non-structural applications such as garden paths, stepping stones, patios, light foundations and post hole filling. It only requires the addition of water followed by mixing prior to use.

How can I strengthen my concrete mix?

Concrete is rated on a system that indicates the strength of the mix after it’s cured for approximately a month. To make the concrete stronger, add more cement or less sand. The closer you bring the ratio to an even one-to-one of sand to cement, the stronger the rating becomes.

How can I strengthen concrete without rebar?

If you’re not doing a commercial-level project but still want some additional reinforcement for your concrete, a wire mesh is a great (and cheaper) alternative to rebar. Wire mesh use is becoming much more common for projects like a home driveway.

Why is superplasticizer added to concrete?

Plasticizers and superplasticizers retard the curing of concrete. Their addition to concrete or mortar allows the reduction of the water to cement ratio without negatively affecting the workability of the mixture, and enables the production of self-consolidating concrete and high performance concrete.

What’s the mix ratio for concrete?

In terms of the ratio for concrete, it depends on what strength you are trying to achieve, but as a general guide a standard concrete mix would be 1 part cement to 2 parts sand to 4 parts aggregates. For foundations, a mix of 1 part cement to 3 parts sand to 6 parts aggregates can be used.

How many bags of concrete can you put in a mixer?

So you should be able to fit 6-7 bags in a full load. However that is probably the full volume of the barrel. You won’t be filling the barrel full, so one load would probably be 2.5 – 3 bags. I would suggest no more than one wheelbarrow in the mixer at a time.

What is the best concrete mix for a garage floor?

ACI goes further and recommends 4500-psi concrete for garages in the northern half of the country. To achieve this strength, the water-cement ratio should be kept at 0.5 or less, typically about a 5-inch slump concrete.