Work

Technological Approaches to Improve Early-Age Strength of Limestone Calcined Clay Cements

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Limestone calcined clay cements (LC 3 ) present a sustainable alternative to traditional Portland cement due to their potential to significantly reduce CO 2 emissions. However, LC 3 cements often exhibit slower early-age strength development, which poses a challenge for their broader adoption. This study critically examines various technological approaches to enhance the early-age strength of LC 3 cements, focusing on physical, chemical, and hybrid methods. The findings highlight the effectiveness of increased clinker and supplementary cementitious material (SCM) fineness, chemical acceleration using calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) seeds and admixtures that promote the reaction of aluminate phases. Additionally, the study assesses the environmental impact of these strategies, evaluating their global warming potential (GWP) in relation to strength performance. The results demonstrate that while these methods effectively improve early-age strength, they may also inadvertently increase late-age strength, necessitating a balanced approach to optimize both performance and sustainability. This research provides a comprehensive framework for advancing LC 3 adoption in high early-age demand applications.

Source: Engineering

DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2025.03.029

Authors: Franco Zunino, Xuerun Li, Joachim Dengler

Institutions: ETH Zurich, Institute for Building Materials, University of California, Berkeley, BASF (Germany)

Language: English

Topic: Concrete and Cement Materials Research

Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Responsible consumption and production, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,300