Difference between Mortar and Cement/Concrete
Mortar is a workable paste used to bind building blocks such as stones, bricks, and concrete masonry units together, fill and seal the irregular gaps between them. Mortars are typically made from a mixture of sand, a binder, and water. Compared to cement, mortar has a thicker consistency with higher water content and the final mixture looks relatively like creamy slurry.
A cement is a binder, a substance used for construction that sets, hardens, and adheres to other materials to bind them together. Cement is normally used to bind sand and gravel (aggregate) together with a thinner consistency when mixed and the produce is concrete. So that “cement” is one key ingredient in concrete.
Screed Mortar Mixers
Mortar Mixers (Vertical Shaft Mixers, or Pan Mixers) has a stationary barrel that doesn’t rotate like a drum cement mixer. Inside the barrel, there are 4 mixing paddles that rotate on a shaft right in the center to create the mixing action. With the rotation of the paddles, the adhesive mortar will be scraped off the barrel, ensuring the mixtures to be prepared well. Note that the mortar mixers are only suitable for mixing finer materials, they should never be used for coarse aggregates which can cause damage to the machine. To discharge the mixture, open the small door located at the bottom of the barrel then let the mixing paddles scrape the materials over the opening hole.
Drum Cement Mixers
Drum Cement Mixers use a round rotating drum or barrel with fixed paddles inside to mix the materials. In operation, the drum rotates at a consistent rate and is often tipped up at a certain angle depending on different requirement of job. One end of the drum is open for loading/unloading the materials. And normally there is handle or wheel control at the side of the machine to adjust the tilting position of drum and unloading mixed concrete. This type of mixers are perfect for mixing coarse concrete that contains large aggregates. The design of the drum and inside paddle makes it less effective for mortar mixing.
