What Is In 1 Cubic Metre Mix of Concrete?

Concrete is one of the most versatile construction materials available, and by far the most popular. Used for an endless variety of building projects, there is a huge range of concrete mixes to suit specific applications, so the proportions of each mix need to be measured with precision.

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In this article, we’re looking at the materials that go into making a standard 1 cubic metre concrete mix, helping you to understand the fundamental ingredients of concrete, and how these interact with each other.

Water – 150 litres

Water has a direct impact on the strength and workability of concrete. Too much, and you’ll have a high-workability mix that sacrifices strength; too little, and the mix will be very strong and durable, but difficult to work with while pouring.

Water also causes the hydration process — where chemicals in the cement bond with the water, triggering the mix to harden.

Cement – 250 kg

Cement hardens when mixed with water, which then forms a paste that binds together with any aggregates present. More cement in a mix means better adhesion — but this does not make the mix stronger.

Sand – 700 kg

Sand helps to prevent air pockets from forming in a mix by filling out the empty spaces between aggregates. Air pockets will greatly undermine the strength of concrete, but by binding to the cement and water, sand will ensure consistency. Sand also has a high compressive strength, so this amount of sand will go a long way towards ensuring durability of the final mix.

Aggregates (crushed rock) – 1200 kg

Aggregates directly influence the compressive strength of concrete. In a standard cubic metre of concrete, this amount of crushed rock forms a sturdy framework for the mix, while the size and shape of the aggregates will influence workability.

1 Cubic Meter of Concrete

1m³ of concrete = 150l water + 250kg cement + 700kg sand + 1200kg aggregates.

Cubic Meter Conversions

What is a cubic meter in other measurements?

• 1 cubic metre = 1000 litres (exactly), and also equals;
• 35.3 cubic feet
• 1.31 cubic yards
• 6.29 oil barrels
• 220 imperial gallons
• 264 US fluid gallons

Did you know that 1 cubic meter of water has a mass of 1000kg?

With all of this put together, a cubic metre of concrete will weigh in at 2.4 tonnes — that’s almost as heavy as an adult male giraffe!

At Total Concrete, we here to serve all your concrete needs. We supply commercial, domestic and industrial customers with a huge range of concrete mixes suited to any building application.

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Using quality aggregates and honing each mix to suit your individual needs, we make finding the right type of concrete easy for anyone.

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