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How does mortar differ from concrete?
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Cement
The cement-making process, from crushing and grinding of raw materials, through roasting of the ground and mixed ingredients, to final cooling and storing of the finished product.
Mortar and concrete are both mixtures of cement, water, and aggregate, but they differ primarily in their composition and intended use.1
- Composition: Mortar consists of cement mixed with fine aggregate, such as sand, where the particles are typically less than 5 mm (0.2 inch) in size. Concrete is a mixture of cement, fine aggregate, and a coarse aggregate (such as gravel or crushed stone) that is significantly larger, often ranging from 19 to 25 mm (0.75 to 1 inch) or more in size.12
- Purpose: Mortar is used as a bonding agent to join bricks, stone, tile, or concrete blocks into a structure. It is designed to be plastic enough for application with a trowel and to distribute loads uniformly across bonding surfaces. Concrete is a structural material used for a wide variety of construction purposes, including foundations, beams, and large-scale projects like dams.312
While mortar provides a weathertight joint between masonry units, concrete serves as a primary structural component capable of sustaining heavy stresses, especially when reinforced with steel.32