This is because there is no real alternative to the material that underpins everything from Hadrian’s Wall to the Burj Khalifa. Concrete – and the cement that plays a critical role in its performance – is here to stay.
Long experience with cement and concrete, however, has led to constant improvement. This, coupled with a natural industry conservatism, makes technology advances hard to come by.
“Portland cement is an amazing material,” says Theo Hanein, a researcher in cement materials at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Sheffield University. “There’s no reason to move away from it, other than its effect on the planet.”
Cement’s lack of sustainability is well known. When producing clinker – a precursor to cement – the calcining process converts calcium carbonate to calcium oxide, releasing carbon dioxide. In addition, the reaction itself takes place at close to 1,400°C, which involves burning large quantities of fossil fuel.
The...