Title:
Porosity, microstructure, durability and performance of low clinker cements
Author(s):
C. Moletti, M. Magistri
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
370
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
65-78
Keywords:
low clinker cements, porosity, durability, additives, image analysis
DOI:
10.14359/51751750
Date:
5/1/2026
Abstract:
The cement and concrete manufacturing contribute significantly to the global anthropogenic carbon emissions, and, for this reason, the goal of the industry is to produce net-zero CO2 cement and concrete by 2050. In recent years, different solutions have been studied, and great efforts are currently ongoing to find and implement effective decarbonization strategies. At present, the most feasible and noticeable strategy is the reduction of the clinker content in cement. Indeed, the blended cements have become more and more widespread, and their utilization and development are continuously growing. In this framework, it is crucial to study the properties and performances of such cements since they are strongly related to the type of secondary cementitious material (e.g., pozzolanic material, slag, limestone, calcined clay, fly ash) introduced in their composition. The present study aims to investigate the porosity, microstructure, and mechanical performance of mortars produced with low clinker cements, with a particular focus on the modification obtained using chemical additives to improve performance and durability. More precisely, porosity is quantified by an innovative image analysis of sections cut from mortar samples and correlated with macroscopic properties of mortars.
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