What are the measures to save cement when producing concrete

There are various ways to save cement in the concrete production process, which not only help to reduce costs, but also achieve efficient use of resources while maintaining or improving the performance of concrete. The following are some of the major methods of conserving cement:

1. Use of water-reducing agents

Water reducing agent, also known as dispersant, is an important additive in concrete. It can promote the dispersion of cement in concrete by increasing the fluidity of concrete, thus improving the efficiency of cement utilization. With the addition of water reducing agent, the amount of water can be significantly reduced (usually by 12% to 18%), which in turn reduces the amount of cement (generally saving about 6% to 15%), while keeping the strength of concrete unchanged. This is because the water-reducing agent improves the dispersion state of cement particles, which enables the cement particles to react more fully with water and form more hydration products, thus increasing the strength of concrete.

2. Use of active mixed materials

Active mixed materials such as fly ash, slag and volcanic ash can partially or completely replace cement in the formulation of concrete. These materials are not only widely available and produced in large quantities, but also have the effect of improving the properties of concrete. For example, fly ash is the fine ash captured from the flue gas after coal combustion, which can not only be used as a substitute material for cement, but also increase the ease, fluidity and durability of concrete. By adding appropriate amount of active mixed materials such as fly ash, the amount of cement can be effectively reduced under the premise of ensuring the strength and other properties of concrete.

3. Optimization of concrete mixes

By scientifically and reasonably designing the concrete mix ratio, the amount of cement can be reduced under the premise of ensuring the performance of concrete. This includes choosing the appropriate aggregate gradation, adjusting the water-cement ratio, and controlling the admixture of additives. For example, by reducing the particle size of aggregate and increasing the amount of aggregate, the filling amount of cement can be reduced; by reducing the water-cement ratio, the amount of cement can be reduced and the strength of concrete can be improved.

4. Adoption of new technologies and processes

With the progress of science and technology, more and more new technologies and techniques are applied in concrete production. For example, the use of ready-mixed concrete technology can reduce the waste and pollution caused by on-site mixing; the use of automated control systems can accurately control the dosage of raw materials and mixing time, improving the production efficiency and quality of concrete; the use of advanced curing technology can accelerate the hydration reaction of concrete and improve the early strength of concrete, and so on. The application of these new technologies and techniques can help save the amount of cement.

5. Strengthening construction management

Strengthening construction management is also one of the important means of saving cement. By strengthening the management and supervision of the construction site, it can ensure that the production of concrete and the construction process meet the requirements of the specifications and reduce waste and loss. For example, strengthening the acceptance and storage of raw materials to prevent moisture, deterioration or waste of raw materials; strengthening the training and management of construction personnel to improve their technical level and sense of responsibility; and strengthening the supervision and inspection of the construction process to ensure the quality of concrete production and construction.

To summarize, there are various methods to save cement, which need to start from many aspects. By adopting the above methods and technical means, the amount of cement can be effectively reduced on the premise of guaranteeing the performance and quality of concrete, lowering the production cost and realizing the saving of resources and environmental protection.