Low clinker cements in concrete: details, performance and practical experience

Abstract

Global cement industry has elaborated a very stringent roadmap for the reduction or elimination of greenhouse gases emissions. The strategy behind involves a wide approach ranging from new construction philosophies to CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) technologies and, obviously, to clinker factor reduction. This means that the use of new hydraulic or pozzolanic materials and highly reactive clinkers will be combined, to produce low clinker cements. The present paper describes a case study, discussing in detail the performance of two low clinker cements in concrete, the investigation methods, and the possibilities of improving their practical behaviour. Particular attention is given to the use of a new generation of chemical additives able to improve the quality of these new hydraulic binders, and to the modification of performance, microstructure and durability of concrete when cement is produced with this kind of innovative chemical additions. As a matter of fact, without the correct combination of strength enhancer, grinding aid and superplasticizer added during cement production, the possibility of use of new low clinker cements would be strongly reduced.