Supplementary Cementitious Materials in Concrete Technology
Summary
Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) have become integral to modern concrete technology by partially replacing Portland cement, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions and enhancing performance. Conventional SCMs include fly ash, blast furnace slag, silica fume and metakaolin, while natural pozzolans such as zeolite and volcanic ash are gaining renewed interest. These materials engage in pozzolanic or latent hydraulic reactions that consume calcium hydroxide and generate additional calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H), refining pore structure, reducing permeability and improving long-term strength. Advances in characterisation methods—such as isothermal calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy—have enabled systematic classification of SCM reactivity and better prediction of fresh and hardened properties. Emerging non-conventional SCMs derived from industrial by-products and mining residues are under evaluation for both environmental sustainability and local availability. Practical applications range from marine structures with enhanced chloride resistance to high-performance concretes with controlled autogenous shrinkage. Challenges remain in ensuring consistency of supply, standardising reactivity assessment and understanding durability under diverse exposure conditions. Holistic deployment of SCMs supports circular-economy objectives while aligning with global targets for low-carbon construction.
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Supplementary Cementitious Materials in Concrete Technology publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in supplementary cementitious materials in concrete technology across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs): materials added to cementitious mixtures to partially replace Portland cement and contribute to strength through hydraulic or pozzolanic reactions.
Pozzolanic reaction: chemical reaction between amorphous silica or alumina in SCMs and calcium hydroxide liberated during cement hydration, forming additional C–S–H gel.
Calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H): the primary binding phase in hydrated cement paste responsible for strength and microstructural development.
Rapid, Relevant, Reliable (R3) test: a calorimetric method for assessing the chemical reactivity of SCMs through measurement of heat release or bound water.
References
- Natural zeolite as a supplementary cementitious material – A holistic review of main properties and applications. Construction and Building Materials (2023).
- Novel non-conventional raw materials as supplementary cementitious materials for low-carbon composite cement: Chemical reactivity, fresh and hardened state characterization. Environmental Research (2025).
- Comprehensive Review of Direct and Indirect Pozzolanic Reactivity Testing Methods. Buildings (2023).
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