Cement Chemistry &

Mechanical Properties of LC3

1
 Chemical Composition: Oxides of cement

Mg rest Na2O
K
Too soluble
Na K2O
Ca
Fe Fe2O3
Al MgO Too low mobility in alkaline solutions
O

CaO
Si

SiO2 The most useful

Al2O3

Only 8 elements constitute > 98% of the earth’s crust

 What about different oxides we have available

CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 ternary diagram (wt%

based) of common cementitious materials

Y Liu et al. - Materials, 2022

 Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCM’s)

• Most Constructive solution – Use of SCM’s

• Reduces CO2 footprints – substituting Clinker
• SCM’s Availability – compared to OPC:

1. Slag – global production 330 Mt/year

Availability decreased from 17% to 8 %
2. Fly ash – global production 900 Mt/year
Variable quality – only 1/3rd is usable

• Suitable SCM – Calcined Clay

4
Structure of clays

Clay minerals can be classified as 1:1 or 2:1

• 1:1 clay - kaolinite

• 2:1 clay - illite, vermiculite and

montmorillonite.
 Structure of Kaolinite

• Alumina sheet combine with silica sheet.

• Chemical formula: Al2Si2O5(OH)4.

• Molecular weight: 258.16 g

• kaolin is a white, soft powder consisting principally of the mineral

kaolinite, which, under the electron microscope, is seen to consist
of roughly hexagonal, platy crystals ranging in size.

Image Source by – LC3. ch 6

Strength of LC3 Cement

• Dashed horizontal lines represent the OPC strength.

• No major affect on 1-day strength.

• Highest Strength gain from 7-28 days

• 40%-75% Kaolinite content (Ideal)

Calcined Kaolinite Content vs Strength

(Scrivener, Avet et al. 2018)
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 Calcination of Clay

• Calcination Parameters Muffle

Furnace
Equipment used = Muffle Furnace

Calcination Temperature = 800o C

Calcination Time = 1 hour

Particle size (in blend) = 595 microns (Mesh size 30)

Before and After of Calcination of Clay

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Mix design of OPC and LC3-50 concrete

• Laboratory Batch Mixer was used for concrete mixing (1: 2 : 2.9)

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Preparation of Concrete Mix

Fresh concrete after mixing

Concrete mixing in Laboratory batch mixer

Casted Samples
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 Compression Testing of Cube
–Conducted at NED UET
60
51.10
50
43.90
Strength in MPa

40 34.43
31.15
29.06
30 26.18
23.25
21.17
20 17.44
14.35

10

0
3 7 14 28 90
Days

OPC LC3-50
Compression Testing of
Initial strength of cube is lower than OPC but after 14 days of curing LC3 Concrete Cubic Sample
got more strength than OPC concrete. BS EN 12390
 Compression Testing of Cylinder
–Conducted at NED UET
60
53.60
50 46.40
Strength in MPa

40 37.82
34.66 34.72
32.38
30 25.91
19.43 21.17
20
13.56
10

0
3 7 14 28 90
Days

OPC LC3-50 Compression Testing of

Concrete Cylindrical Sample
The early strength of LC3 concrete specimen is lower than OPC concrete but ASTM C39
after 28 days, it surpasses OPC. 78
 Split Tensile Test on Cylinder–
Conducted at NED UET
5
Split Tensile Strength in MPa

3.955 4.056
4
3.431
3.164
3

0
7 Days 28 Days Split Tensile Test of Concrete
OPC LC3 Sample ASTM C496

Tests performed 7 and 28 days of curing periods in which LC3 Cement

Blend showed 8% & 3% more strength than OPC on 7 and 28 days,
respectively.
 Flexural Strength Test on Beam
–Conducted at NED UET
4
Flexural Strength in MPa

2.876 2.944
3
2.252 2.364

0
7 Days 28 Days Flexural Test on Concrete Beam
ASTM C78
OPC LC3

Tests performed at 7 and 28 days of curing, LC3 cement blend showed

better results and slightly more strength than OPC. 80
Pull-Out Test on Cylinder
– Conducted at NED UET
60
50.01
Pull Out Strength in KN

50
41.51
40

30

20
12.82 14.11
10

0
7 Days 28 Days
OPC LC3-50
The ASTM C90 was used to
Pull-out strength tests perform show 10% & 17% more strength conduct this test.
than OPC on 7 and 28 days of curing, respectively. Hence, pull-out
strength increasing as time passes.
How cement works

We mix the grey cement

powder with water.

To start with the grains are

just floating about in the
water and we can cast the
concrete into moulds.

Cement grain
water
How cement works

The cement grains

dissolve in the water
How cement works

The cement grains

dissolve in the water

And then precipitate Hydrates

– new solids which have
higher volume and hold the
grains together:
creating a rigid solid

hydrates pores
Mineral Composition: Real Cement
Alite (C3S):
(i) Hydrates rapidly.
(ii) Less Resistance to chemical
attack.
(iii) Early compressive strength.
Aluminate (C3A)
(i) Causes initial setting.
(ii) Not contribute to strength
development.
(iii) Generates large amount of
heat.
Belite (C₂S)
(i) Provides Ultimate strength.
(ii) More resistance to chemical
attack.
(iii) Hardens more slowly.
Ferrite (C4AF)
(i) Comparatively inactive
(ii) Act as a fluxing agent.
(iii) Lower heat of hydration.
Phase present- mature phase

C-S-H
48%

C3S
70%

C2S
CH
15%
14%
C3A anhyd
8%
ferrite
pores 3%
7%

ett (AFt) 16%

4%
AFm
11% other
4%
Hydrated cement paste
(i) C-S-H (Heart of Cement)
• Calcium silicate hydrate gel
• Contributes in strength C-S-H
(ii) Ca(OH)2 48%
• Portlandite
• Absorbed free water
• Vulnerable CH
(iii) Aft
14%
anhyd
• Ettrignite
pores 3%
• Lower density more volume AFt
• Less porous. (AFm) 11% 16%
(iv) AFm
4%
• Low contribution
other
• It converts from Aft due to sulphate and carbonate 4%
activity.
Hydrated cement paste

Calcium hydroxide

Unreacted cement
Anhydrous

Inner C-S-H
Outer hydrates
C-S-H
AFm
AFt
Effect of SCMs and Limestone
Role of Limestone
Mechanism