Tribo-Chemical Activation of Green Eco-Cements

Abstract

Due to growing global demand for cement, the production of cement worldwide has significantly increased in the past 15 years, and this trend is the most significant factor affecting the technological and manufacturing advancements in the cement industry. While the increase in demand for cement reflects the growth of national economies, the production of cement clinker is ecologically harmful because it consumes considerable energy and natural resources, and it emits many pollutants into the atmosphere. Therefore, new ways to produce high volumes of cement clinker with less energy and less impact on the environment is greatly needed. One such approach is the production of tribo-chemically activated, high-volume mineral additive (HVMA) cement, which helps to improve the ecological compatibility of cements. This “green” technology is based on the intergrinding of portland cement clinker, gypsum, mineral additives, and a special complex admixture. Tribo-chemical activation increases the compressive strength of ordinary portland cements, improves the durability of cement-based materials, can be processed with a high volume of inexpensive indigenous mineral additives or industrial by-products, and which reduces energy consumption per unit of the cement produced. Additional ecological advantages for green HVMA cements include higher strength, better durability, less pollution at the clinker production stage, and fewer industrial by-products placed in landfills.