Construction Aggregates; Basic Components of Composite Materials such as Asphalt Concrete and Concrete

Construction aggregates, also known as aggregates, are a wide spectrum of coarse-to-medium-grained sedimentary material utilized in construction, which includes stone, sand, slag, crushed rock, recycled concrete, and many others. Construction aggregates – gravel, crushed stone, and sand – are the most mined material in the world. They are used for a variety of reasons from road surfacing, to the making of decorative stone features, to the construction of steel girders. These aggregates provide a multitude of functions and are frequently made from cementitious materials such as gravel, sand, and stone.

The composition of these aggregates varies, with some featuring very fine grain characteristics and others consisting of fine to coarse particles. When used in construction or other projects, construction aggregates must undergo several processes before they are ready for use. One of the processes involves removing any unwanted debris and excess rocks from the area before the aggregates are placed. Another process is sealing the aggregates and compacting particles together so that they may be used.

Natural rock aggregates are most commonly used in road surfacing and in lining rock walls. Limestone aggregate production is most prevalent in decorative river bed edge sand, as well as on the interior of paved trails and street medians. Clay and sand aggregates are commonly used for decorative features in museums, on building facades and in the construction of homes and other buildings. Rock and sand aggregates may also be used to create backfill in excavated areas. One of the most versatile and commonly used construction aggregates is asphalt.

Construction aggregates are used as base materials underneath railroads, highways, airports, runaway, and parking lots to increase the strength of composite materials. Asphalt is one of the most prominent components of construction aggregates. The increasing popularity of asphalt resulted in its expansion into new applications such as roads, parking lots, flyways, bridges, residential complexes, airport terminals, health care facilities, institutional buildings, industrial parks, industrial parks, rail yards, commercial centers, and other public amenities and areas.

Thus, with increasing construction and infrastructure activities across the globe, the demand for construction aggregates is also increasing. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), India, China, and the United States are expected to account for almost 60 per cent of all global growth in the construction sector by 2025.