Low-carbon cements in Brazil: the use of metakaolin as SCM

The use of Portland cement in the world has grown exponentially in recent years. There is a relationship between this material and the economic and social development, especially in development countries. The predictions are that consumption will be 40 billion tons per year in 2040, leading to consequences for the environment, including emissions of CO₂ arising from clinker production. One of the supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) used in Brazil is derived from natural or calcined clays. In this way, metakaolin (MK) represented a good option to cement replacement in the Northeast of Brazil. The aim of this paper is to present a review on MK as a SCM and its behaviour to prevent concrete durability issues.

Author: A. Caldas , E. Silva, S.M. Torres, S. Barnett

Section: Science and production

Keywords: low-carbon cements, LCC, supplementary cementitious materials, SCM, regional raw-materials, novel cements