A comprehensive review on the toughening technologies of cement-based materials: From multiscale materials to advanced processes

Traditional cement-based materials are quasi-brittle materials characterized by their low flexural toughness and susceptibility to cracking. In recent years, numerous endeavors have been devoted to this challenge, and also plentiful fruits have been evidenced. In this work, the comprehensive review is dedicated to exploring enhancement technologies for the toughness of cement-based materials. Emphasis is placed on current advancements in the area of toughening materials and manufacturing processes. The reviewed toughening materials are systematically categorized according to their scales, including nano, micro, and macro scales. The combination of toughening materials at multi-scales has also been illustrated. Moreover, the manufacturing processes are examined, with a focus on homogenization mixing and precision molding. The effects of these technologies and the corresponding mechanisms behind them are compared and revealed, respectively. Eventually, this work concludes the existing findings and provides insights into future research directions for the toughening of cement-based materials. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd.