Cement and Concrete Research

Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) are key components of sustainable, low carbon cements. To maximize their use in blended cements , the impact of SCMs on cement hydration needs to be understood and accurately captured by models. A central element in such models is the reactivity of the SCM, which is tedious to measure. Establishing relationships between SCM properties and their intrinsic reactivity is therefore highly important. Moreover, mechanisms enhancing or limiting SCM reactivity in blended cements need to be well-understood. This work reviews recent progress in the description and understanding of the reactivity of SCMs and their impact on Portland clinker hydration. Insights derived from fundamental work using synthetic SCMs, dissolution experiments and model systems are discussed as well as recent work studying the impact of common SCMs on hydration and microstructure of blended cements. Particular attention is paid to recent work on calcined clays , which are currently receiving substantial interest.

Reactivity of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in cement blends