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From Wikipedia: "Concrete is a construction material composed
of cement (commonly Portland cement) as well as other
cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement,
aggregate (generally a coarse aggregate such as gravel
limestone or granite, plus a fine aggregate such as sand
and water) and chemical admixtures. The word concrete
comes from the Latin word "concretus", which means "hardened"
or "hard". Concrete solidifies and hardens after mixing
with water and placement due to a chemical process known
as hydration. The water reacts with the cement, which
bonds the other components together, eventually creating
a stone-like material.
During the Roman Empire, Roman concrete was made from
quicklime, pozzolanic ash/pozzolana, and an aggregate
of pumice; it was very similar to modern Portland cement
concrete. The widespread use of concrete in many Roman
structures had ensured that many survive almost intact
to the present day. The Baths of Caracalla in Rome are
just one example of the longevity of concrete, which allowed
the Romans to build this and similar structures across
the Roman Empire. Many Roman aqueducts have masonry cladding
into a concrete core, a technique they used in structures
such as the Partheon, Rome, the interior dome which is
unclad concrete.
The secret of concrete was lost for 13 centuries until
1756, when the British engineer John Smeaton pioneered
the use of hydraulic lime in concerete, using pebbles
and powdered brick as aggregate. Portland cement was first
used in concrete in the early 1840's."
Concrete is an incredibly durable and versatile material.
At home in both traditional and contemporary settings,
concrete provides an unlimited freedom of creative expression.
Cast and shaped concrete can feel like stone rounded and
smoothed by the flow of the sea, and textured or colored,
it can echo the patina of stone, wood or tile.
With aci, your concrete castings become functional sculptures
- unique and timeless works of art. |
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