Ready Mix Concrete
Ready Mix Concrete is an abbreviation for ready-to-mix concrete. This is an excellent form of concrete when mixed in large amounts, but as with everything, there are pitfalls to this method of construction. Ready-mix concrete uses various forms of high-pressure cement, which can be mixed with water to form slabs. The larger the substantial volume, the higher the pressure generated and, therefore, the larger the concrete slab. The yield from a ready mix concrete processing plant utilizing 16/12 mixer yields approximately 4 to 6tons of concrete per hour, equivalent to 30-60 tons of concrete per day in a ready mix concrete production plant.
Ready Mix Concrete ensure that minimize negative impacts are caused during construction. Therefore, an adverse environmental impact is created during concrete production by the emission of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, water vapor, and harmful emissions of inert substances during concrete production. Due to improper mixing of concrete, transportation and waste handling are the most critical environmental issues in ready-to-mix concrete. These issues are therefore of great concern to the concrete producers. Furthermore, a large amount of energy is required in transportation and waste handling to meet the requirements of concrete manufacturing. Also, a large amount of construction debris and waste is generated during the construction process, thereby creating additional environmental problems.
Therefore, the negative environmental impact of ready mix concrete is a direct result of improper concrete handling. The use of unclean equipment, dangerous chemicals, unhygienic conditions and poor mixing techniques create significant health and environmental impact on the users. These issues lead to heavy materials such as water, oil, gas and dust, land pollution and adverse effects on the climate.
The production of ready mix concrete also leads to the emission of green house gases. During batching and transportation of finished products, the quantity of carbon emissions produced is dependent on the ingredients used for the production of the batch. For example, cement dust, water, oil and gas are made during the processing of cement.
The main components of ready mix concrete include cement, water, air, lime and compressed air. Cement acts as the principal constituent, providing strength to the structure while water and air lubricate the concrete. Therefore, it is essential to apply the right amount of lubrication for the best results during transportation. The correct mixture of ingredients will consequently determine the performance and durability of the cement structure.
Emission of carbon into the atmosphere during manufacturing is a significant concern for most builders, including homeowners and mobile car park operators. A small change in the composition of cement can lead to the emission of more carbon into the atmosphere and hence should be considered when manufacturing ready mixes. To counter this problem, producers incorporate an appropriate ratio of plasticizers into their cement mixture. Plasticizers like PVC help remove the excess moisture in the sustainable concrete and reduce the time the cement mixture spends in contact with the external environment. Other forms of plasticizers may also help reduce the amount of fuel used to transport ready mixes.
