Each block is aligned and stacked to form a cube four blocks across by two blocks deep and six blocks high. Our split-face blocks, for example, are molded with two blocks joined together. Once they are cured, the double blocks go through our splitter.

How is a concrete masonry unit made?

Concrete masonry units are manufactured from very dry, stiff concrete mixtures. The “no-slump” or “low-slump” material is placed into molds, vibrated and compacted, and demolded quickly. Units are stiff enough to hold their shape as they enter the curing chamber.

What is CMU made out of?

Concrete block is made from Portland Cement, aggregates and water. It is also known as a concrete masonry unit (CMU). As a building material, concrete offers several attractive characteristics to designers and builders, including the following: Durable.

How concrete blocks are made?

A typical cinder block weighs 26-33 lb (11.8-15.0 kg). Lightweight concrete blocks are made by replacing the sand and gravel with expanded clay, shale, or slate. Expanded clay, shale, and slate are produced by crushing the raw materials and heating them to about 2000°F (1093°C).

What is Portland cement made of?

Cement is manufactured through a closely controlled chemical combination of calcium, silicon, aluminum, iron and other ingredients. Common materials used to manufacture cement include limestone, shells, and chalk or marl combined with shale, clay, slate, blast furnace slag, silica sand, and iron ore.

Concrete Block Production

20 related questions found

How is cement manufactured?

Cement is manufactured by heating a precise mixture of finely ground limestone, clay and sand in a rotating kiln to temperatures reaching 1450ºC. ... The cement clinker emerges from the kiln, is cooled, and then finely ground to produce the powder we know as cement.

Is Brick a CMU?

Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) Specifications

Concrete brick is made from concrete similar to concrete block, but concrete bricks are fabricated in sizes that match traditional clay bricks (i.e. 2 2/3" tall). The weight of concrete masonry units varies depending on the density of concrete mix used.

Is CMU cheaper than brick?

Cost. Both bricks and concrete masonry are relatively inexpensive. As of 2011, a single clay brick costs about $1.50, while an 8 inch concrete block costs about $1.35. ... Traditional brick masonry requires more skill than concrete masonry, and may be difficult to do on your own.

What is a CMU structure?

A concrete masonry unit (CMU) is a standard-size rectangular block used in building construction. CMUs are some of the most versatile building products available because of the wide variety of appearances that can be achieved using them.

What is brick on CMU?

Brick Block is an embossed concrete block with a six brick running bond pattern. Brick Block, or Embossed Block in some regions, can be painted after installation, transforming the CMU wall into a colonial brick facade. These units can be used in a veneer application or Single Wythe Construction.

What is CMU infill?

Masonry infill refers to masonry used to fill the opening in a structural frame, known as the bounding frame. ... When properly designed, masonry infills provide an additional strong, ductile system for resisting lateral loads, in-plane and out-of-plane.

Which is a standard component of a CMU?

What are Concrete Masonry Units Made of? CMU are made from cast concrete, such as Portland cement and aggregate, usually sand and fine gravel for high-density blocks. Lower density blocks may use industrial wastes as an aggregate. Lightweight blocks can also be produced using aerated concrete.

How much rebar is needed for a block wall?

A 20-foot-long wall with one door, for instance, probably will require eight or nine sections of rebar, depending on placement of the door. One block supplier recommends 5.3 feet of reinforcing per block length or 7.5 sections for every 100 square feet of wall.

Can you build a retaining wall on concrete?

While you can build a retaining wall on concrete, it isn't that straightforward. If you have an existing concrete base, you cannot just build your wall on top of it. Without being secured into the concrete, your wall will slide due to the soil pressure against the wall.

How much does it cost to build a concrete block wall?

While some capstones can cost as little as $0.95 apiece, the average cost of a cinder block is $1 to $3 each. The total cost of building a cinder block wall ranges between $9 and $12 per square foot with labor, so an 8 x 15-foot wall would cost between $1,080 and $1,440.

Which is stronger red brick or cement brick?

Compressive strength is the physical property of the building material to withstand pressure. Generally, cement bricks have higher compressive strength compared to red bricks. This is primarily due to the way concrete bricks are manufactured and the materials that are being used.

Are hollow blocks strong?

As far as the technical view is concerned, hollow bricks are light,durable, easily available and gives adequate strength to the construction. ... It is very cheap in cost, strong and available at all local construction material shop. Many people used this hollow bricks because it reduces heat and make the building in cool.

What are CLC blocks?

CLC Blocks (Cellular Light Weight Concrete Blocks) are made of Cellular Light weight concrete (CLC) or Foam Concrete. Cellular Light Weight Concrete (CLC) is a light weight concrete that is produced by mixing cement and flyash slurry with pre-formed foam.

How thick is a CMU block?

Typically, concrete masonry units have nominal face dimensions of 8 in. (203 mm) by 16 in. (406 mm), available in nominal thicknesses of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 in. (102, 152, 203, 254, 305, 356, and 406 mm).

Does CMU expand?

The clay masonry will expand as a result of moisture expansion. This is a permanent expansion that begins from the time the units are removed from the kiln. The concrete masonry, in contrast, will undergo drying shrinkage.

What CMU means?

Concrete Masonry Unit. CMU. Couverture Maladie Universelle (French: Universal Health Coverage) CMU.

What is the raw materials of cement?

The most important raw materials for making cement are limestone, clay, and marl. These are extracted from quarries by blasting or by ripping using heavy machinery.

What raw materials make up concrete?

Such raw materials are limestone, shale and sand. Limestone is for calcium. It is combined with much smaller proportions of dolerite, sand, and aluminium.

How is cement made in India?

Cement is basically is made by heating limestone (calcium carbonate) with small quantities of other materials to 1450°C in a kiln. The resultant hard material which is recovered after heating limestone and chemicals is called 'Clinker'.