Extracted from quarries, crushed and then calibrated, aggregates appear in a range of products, including gravel, broken gravel and sand. They have many uses.
A wide range of uses |
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Aggregates are fragments of rock measuring from 0.08 to 80 millimeters in diameter. Examples of their uses include:
They can also be mixed with a binder - either cement to make concrete or tar to make asphalt - and used in the manufacture of houses, structures and bridges.
Lafarge's customers are:
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An essential resourceAhead of water... France produces 400 million tons of aggregates each year. Aggregates account for 75% of the minerals quarried every year in the country.This is the equivalent of 7 tons per Frenchman per year, compared with 1.5 tons of oil or 0.5 tons of iron. Aggregates have become the most consumed raw material in the world, just ahead of water! |
The 3 functions of aggregates |
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Aggregates are used to create concrete and, although usually invisible, provide the structure for many buildings. They have 3 main functions:
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MortarMortar is a mixture of cement, sand (an inert component which provides body) and water, which may be complemented with additives, supplements and colored pigments. Unlike concrete, mortar does not include aggregates. It may be prepared on site or delivered from a mixing plant. Mortars are used for bonding (to join cut or molded elements), for cladding (waterproofing and dressing of walls and coverings, finishing of floors), and for a number of other purposes including jointing, rendering, insulating, sealing and plugging. |
Last update on 06/05/2008
