Novel cement systems (sustainability). Session 2 of the Fred Glasser Cement Science Symposium

The significant and persistent demand for concrete in meeting modern infrastructure requirements, particularly in developing economies, presents an increasing challenge to the global community. Portland cement is an important constituent of constructional concrete but its production emits about 0·8 t of carbon dioxide per tonne and Portland cement must now be considered together with alternative binders if environmental impacts of construction are to be reduced. The present paper addresses this sustainability issue and places the current position, in which Portland cements are commonly blended with supplementary cementitious materials, into context with binders that are emerging as candidates for more radical chemistry changes, the details of which are also presented.