The Mysteries of Making Cement Aggregate

Aggregates are composed of different types of rock that are quarried from the earth. This can include rocks, sand, stone and gravel, as well as boulders, sidewalks and old home foundations. Recycled pieces of countertop can even become an aggregate. When the rock or gravel is ground to a fine powder, it can be made into cement aggregate. Here are the steps used to make the popular concrete.

Locating Material

Raw materials can be located through mining from open quarries or gathering previously made aggregates. Either source of rock must be uncontaminated, and the supply must be a pure natural earth source. Once located, the materials are taken to the quarry site and crushed by the rock breaker machine.

Crushing Aggregate

When the rock comes from the ground at a quarry, it runs along a belt that sorts it into different sizes. Some of the material will run into the crusher that breaks the larger chunks into aggregates. For pieces that will become cement, the material runs through the crusher until it is a fine powder.

Sifting Cement

No matter how many times the crusher hits the rocks, there will be pieces that defy being broken. The sifter can vibrate the material through several filters to make sure the larger pieces are removed from the powder. What is left in the bottom filter will be used to create cement aggregate.

Visiting Kiln

The last stop for the powder is the kiln. The mixture is heated to 3000 degrees to burn all possible impurities from the rock. Once burned, the powder is pure and ready to be transported.

Deliver Goods

When a customer orders the cement mix, the power will be loaded into a truck and mixed with water. As the tub turns, it continues to keep the contents wet and ready for easy placement.

Aggregate cement is known for its hardness and strength when used in building projects. Although creating the cement powder may be an intense process, the results are worth the effort.