Which statement is true about a ternary concrete mix?

• A. It uses two cementitious materials
• B. It uses three cementitious materials
• C. It uses four cementitious materials
• D. It uses one cementitious material

Answer: (B)

A ternary concrete mix involves three cementitious materials in the binder system. Cementitious materials are binders that harden and contribute to strength, such as Portland cement plus supplementary cementitious materials like fly ash, slag cement, or silica fume. In a ternary mix you combine Portland cement with two additional cementitious materials, totaling three cementitious components, while aggregates and water are not counted toward this total. So the statement that it uses three cementitious materials is true. Using two would make a binary mix, four would be a quaternary mix, and one would be a mono-cementitious mix.