The key difference between binary and ternary mixes is which factor?

• A. Type of aggregate
• B. Curing temperature
• C. Number of SCM used
• D. Water content

Answer: (C)

The main idea is how many cementitious materials are blended in the mix. A binary mix uses two cementitious components, such as Portland cement plus one supplementary cementitious material (SCM). A ternary mix includes three cementitious materials, meaning two SCMs in addition to cement. Because of this, the defining difference between binary and ternary is the number of SCMs used. For example, binary could be Portland cement with fly ash, while ternary could be Portland cement with fly ash and silica fume. The other factors—type of aggregate, curing temperature, and water content—affect performance but don’t define whether a mix is binary or ternary.