Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

Cementitious compositions and methods of synthesis are disclosed. By decreasing the Ca-rich raw material in a cement composition, the content of Alite (Ca₃SiO₅) per ton of produced cement can be mitigated. Alite is the most energy-intensive and most polluting component among cement ingredients. By decreasing this component, the process can potentially reduce the environmental footprint and energy consumption by as much as 12% per ton of cement. In one embodiment, the average Ca/Si ratio in hardened cement paste can be reduced from ˜1.7 to ˜1.5. This corresponds to about a 12% reduction in Alite content per ton of produced cement. The cement compositions can also be characterized as solid-state cement hydrates including a plurality of silicate chains, the plurality of silicate chains including a plurality of dimers constituting at least about 60% of the plurality of silicate chains present in the solid-state cement hydrate, the plurality of dimers enhancing the strength of the solid-state cement hydrate. Such solid-state cement hydrates can also exhibit a periodic molecular structure formed from the plurality of silicate chains, e.g., ring-like structures.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim