Low-Carbon Cementitious Binders from Industrial Waste and Supplementary Materials
This community develops concrete and mortar formulations that replace traditional Portland cement with industrial by-products like slag and fly ash, or with alternative binders such as geopolymers and magnesium phosphate cements, to reduce carbon emissions while maintaining structural strength.
The work centers on the chemical mechanisms of hydration and carbonate precipitation in calcium- and magnesium-based systems. Researchers frequently test the compressive strength and durability of composites reinforced with fibers, graphene oxide, or silica fume. A major strand involves utilizing solid wastes—specifically copper slag, steel slag, and fly ash—as supplementary cementitious materials. Another significant focus is the development of alkali-activated slag and geopolymer concrete as lower-carbon alternatives to ordinary cement paste. These studies often examine the influence of chloride ions and water content on the long-term performance of these cementitious composites.
The largest share of this community’s output is found in calcium research, accounting for 10.4% of all calcium-related papers, with 11,760 papers in this group. Chlorine research also features prominently, representing 4.5% of that element’s tracked literature.
The community comprises 44,716 papers, publishing most frequently in Construction and Building Materials, Cement and Concrete Research, and Journal of Building Engineering.
Recent work continues to focus on the durability and porosity of these materials, with specific studies on the hydration behavior of N-A-S-H gel, the use of recycled powder in alkali-activated concrete, and the stabilization of dredged sediment using low-carbon supersulfated cement.