High-performance concrete is known for its strength, longevity, and ability to withstand extreme weather conditions. This type of concrete is used to build commercial buildings and complexes while regular homes can also be built if you are willing to pay the price. High-performance concrete is made the same way as conventional concrete but with different mixtures and provide by many concrete suppliers. We will discuss its composition and benefits to help you understand why choosing high-performance concrete is the best choice.

Composition Of High-Performance Concrete

High-performance cement is made of the following materials and mixtures that you should know about.

Cement

Cement is the most important material when it comes to manufacturing high-performance concrete. The physical and chemical properties of cement can be selected to produce high-performance concrete based on your needs and preferences. For instance, cement containing low C3A tends to be the best choice for high-performance concrete as it creates incompatibility of cement with a superplasticizer.

Plus, it is a lot easier to control the rheology of cement with low C3A. But, you have to keep in mind that the cement needs to have a certain amount of C3A for strength purposes. At the same time, water is mixed with cement as it is compatible and helps harden both the concrete and cement.

Fine Aggregate & Coarse Aggregate

Both fine and coarse aggregate play a crucial role in determining the strength of concrete. But, as the quantity of such additives increases, the overall price of the high-performance concrete increases as well. This is why high-performance concrete can vary for repairing and building purposes.

If you intend to build a structure, you should opt for a high-performance concrete mixture that will last decades. But, if you plan to fix cracks or holes, you are not going to need large quantities of additives. Plus, fine coarse aggregate is preferred to coarse aggregate as it contains finer sand that increases the water demand of concrete.

Superplasticizer & Cementitious Materials

Superplasticizer is yet another important ingredient that is added to the concrete mix to reduce the water-cement ratio. While producing high-performance concrete, manufacturers should keep in mind the needs and preferences of their clients.

It is often clients tend to believe in word of mouth and place an order without knowing what high-performance concrete is. So, when the concrete is delivered, they have no idea what to do with it or how to handle/manage it. This is why, if you own a high-performance concrete manufacturing business, make sure to educate your clients first.

Furthermore, when compared to conventional concrete, high-performance concrete is much pricier considering the additives. Then again, you wouldn’t want your clients to feel as if they were ripped off.

Silica Fume

This might be your first time hearing silica fume, which is the byproduct of silicon alloys and silicon. Silica fume is found in different forms but the most common tends to be the densified form. You might not be able to find it in underdeveloped countries but developed countries have already started manufacturing and using it.

One thing you need to consider is the fact that high-performance concrete can be made without silica fume. The maximum strength level it can achieve is 98 MPa. However, if you exceed that number, you are going to need silica fume. Using that, it is a lot easier to make high-performance cement that is between 63-98 MPa.

Fly Ash

Fly ash as compared to silica fume is relatively old and has been used in concrete for many years. Also, Fly ash is more variable in terms of chemical and physical characteristics when compared to silica fume. In most cases, using Fly ash won’t get you the strength of more than 70 Mpa.

That said, it is important to use Fly ash with silica fume to increase the strength of concrete. For high-performance concrete, fly ash is added to around 15% of the cement content.

Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag And Others

Slags are also used in the production of high-performance concrete at dosage rates of about 15-30%. But, if you plan on increasing the strength to more than 98 Mpa, it is necessary to use the slag combined with silica fume. Other than that, fiber and quartz flour are some other components that are added to the high-performance concrete mixtures too depending on the desired result.

Features Of High-Performance Concrete

Now that we have discussed the composition of high-performance concrete, let us now talk a bit about the features. Moreover, an important thing to note is that you can order it from a supplier and you will get this concrete mix delivery Rockville at your construction project site. As the suppliers use special trucks for delivering concrete, you should ask for the time it will take for it to reach your site and plan the project accordingly.

High-performance concrete is known to have compressive strength ranging from 80 Mpa to even 800 Mpa. Essentially, high-performance concrete tends to be brittle but by adding some fibers, you can improve its ductility.

Furthermore, high-performance concrete is a lot more durable. If you live in a region that experiences extreme weather conditions, this concrete is not going to crack or break easily. Plus, there is hardly any chance of cracking either. This means that high-performance concrete tends to be a long-term investment and does not require much maintenance.

So, if you intend to build structures using high-performance concrete, you should go ahead with it. This is the best choice to ensure you get top-quality work done.

Benefits Of High-Performance Concrete

Enhanced Durability And Longevity

One of the major advantages of high-performance concrete is enhanced durability and longevity. High-performance concrete is manufactured to withstand harsh industrial conditions such as exposure to chemicals, mechanical stress, and extreme temperatures.

Then again, this resilience is achieved through the addition of high-quality materials like silica fume and other admixtures such as slag cement and fly ash. These admixtures also improve the corrosion resistance and impermeability of concrete.

This is why high-performance concrete is used for industrial purposes such as building warehouses, manufacturing plants, and heavy machinery. This helps such structures carry weight and withstand strong windows, rainfall, and heavy snow and blizzards. In the long run, you get to reduce or avoid the effort and money spent on repairs and maintenance.

Superior Strength And Load-Bearing Capacity

There is no doubt that high-performance concrete features exceptional strength, which is unlike conventional concrete. The enhanced strength properties of high-performance concrete allow contractors to design thinner and more lightweight structures that feature impressive structural integrity and load-bearing capabilities.

That said, high-performance concrete allows contractors to reduce the volume of material required and keep the structural framework simple resulting in low material and labor costs.

Conclusion

You must consider the information mentioned above and define the purpose as well. High-performance concrete is the next level and does not come cheap. So, you have to be careful with its application and utilization. Consult a ready mix concrete supplier Bethesda for details on which types of concrete mixes they offer and which one will be the right fit for your project. Don’t forget to compare prices and choose a high-quality product so the structure or building you build last for a lifetime.