The trend toward improving concrete is bringing into focus the benefits of using lightweight aggregate as an ingredient. Mixtures using 100% lightweight, mixtures with lightweight coarse and natural sand, mixtures of lightweight with normal weight coarse and fine, and lightweight fines (LWAS) partially as a replacement for normal weight sand, all are finding applications.

We see a future of innovative ways to make any concrete more durable, more sustainable, and especially more economical to use. It will have Hydrocure® in it for internal curing (IC) by hydrating the cement not hydrated by the mixing water in high performance concrete mixtures. IC will be involved in the trend toward accelerated construction techniques and construction design characteristics, so that concrete pavements will be smoother, quieter and safer, and will last longer. In structures of all types, the reinforcing steel will be better protected and can be reduced.  Used in all top quality concretes, it will make concrete the most ecologically sound, most lasting construction material.

Concrete mix design has historically been a selection between regular weight concrete (150 pcf) and lightweight concrete (110 pcf) consisting of lightweight structural coarse aggregate and natural sand. Both have been used successfully countless times and will continue to be the dominant products in the industry. However, today a growing number of innovative designers are using a third way that combines the best attributes of both products.

This concrete has numerous attractive features. It is lighter in weight than regular concrete, and provides different values of the modulus of elasticity. It drastically reduces cracking and shrinkage due to internal curing provided by the lightweight aggregate and it can be used monolithically in columns, floors and beams.