Low-carbon cementitious materials : Scale-up potential, environmental impact and barriers

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

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Author(s)

  • Muhammad Riaz Ahmad
  • Ana Fernàndez-Jimenez
  • Bing Chen
  • Zhen Leng
  • Jian-Guo Dai

Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Article number139087
Journal / PublicationConstruction and Building Materials
Volume455
Online published15 Nov 2024
Publication statusPublished - 13 Dec 2024

Abstract

The construction industry's heavy reliance on ordinary Portland cement (OPC) significantly contributes to global carbon emissions, accounting for 7–9 % of CO2 emissions. This paper reviews low-carbon cementitious materials (LCCMs) as sustainable alternatives to OPC. Key LCCMs examined include supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), limestone calcined clay cements (LC3), alkali-activated materials (AAMs), belite-rich Portland cements (BRPCs), ye'elimite-rich cements (YRCs), and non-hydraulic carbonatable binders (CBs). The paper examines the reaction mechanisms, hydration products, and properties of these materials, whereas scalability potential, cost, environmental impact, barriers, and research gaps are also highlighted. LC3 demonstrates high scalability potential due to its similarities with OPC, cost-effectiveness, and the abundant availability of raw materials. Environmentally, AAMs offer the most significant impact reduction, achieving a 40–75 % decrease compared to OPC, followed by LC3 (∼40 %), CBs (∼37 %), YRC (∼20–25 %), and BRPC (∼10 %). However, the costs of AAMs, YRC, and CBs may be higher than OPC and other LCCMs. Technical challenges and research gaps for LCCMs include low reactivity of SCMs, low early-age strength, prolonged setting times, availability of suitable activators, finding compatible superplasticizers, and a lack of long-term performance studies, which shall be further explored in the future. Existing infrastructure may not be adaptable for the new LCCMs, which may require a significant initial investment. Policy barriers are also significant, as updating standards is linked with the satisfactory long-term performance of LCCMs and is hindered by the dominance of OPC market. There is a need of enhanced collaboration efforts among researchers, industry, and policymakers to overcome these technical, economic, and policy barriers, paving the way for sustainable construction practices. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd.

Research Area(s)

  • Alkali-activated materials, Belite-rich Portland cement, Carbonatable binders, Limestone calcined clay cements, Low-carbon cementitious materials, Ye'elimite rich cements

Citation Format(s)

Low-carbon cementitious materials: Scale-up potential, environmental impact and barriers. / Ahmad, Muhammad Riaz; Fernàndez-Jimenez, Ana; Chen, Bing et al.
In: Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 455, 139087, 13.12.2024.

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review