Admixtures in Cement-Matrix Composites for Mechanical Reinforcement, Sustainability, and Smart Features

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Civil Engineering
• Sustainable Construction

Background:

• Portland cement (PC) is the world's most consumed construction material.
• Inclusions have been used for over a century to improve PC strength and durability.
• Growing demand for sustainable and advanced construction materials necessitates innovation in cementitious composites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review different families of inclusions for cement matrices.
• To assess advancements in mechanical performance, carbon footprint reduction, and smart functionalities.
• To identify barriers to the adoption of green cement alternatives.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific achievements regarding cementitious inclusions.
• Analysis of mechanical performance data.
• Evaluation of environmental impact reduction strategies.
• Assessment of smart functionalities like sensing and photocatalysis.

Main Results:

• Nanomaterials enable advanced features such as thermal/strain sensing and photocatalysis in concrete.
• Self-cleaning (photocatalytic) concretes are commercially available.
• Smart concretes are expected for specialized construction and architectural applications.
• Inclusions for enhanced strength and reduced environmental impact are still in the research phase.

Conclusions:

• Inclusions offer significant potential for improving cementitious materials.
• Nanomaterials are key to developing multi-functional and sustainable concrete.
• Economic, institutional, and technical barriers impede the transition from traditional Portland cement to green cements.
• Further research and development are needed to overcome these barriers for widespread adoption.