Supplementary Cementing Materials

Supplementary Cementing Materials

• SCMs are a class of mineral-based materials which
includes both pozzolans and latent hydraulic cementing materials.

• Used as partial replacement (generally by weight) for Portland cement

• Blended cements are also available, although are more

common in Europe and South America.

• Can improve strength, workability, and durability

• Generally are less expensive than cement

• Also called “mineral admixtures” and “supplementary cementitious materials

 Pozzolanic Materials
• A pozzolan is a siliceous or aluminosiliceous material that, in finely

divided form and in the presence of moisture, chemically reacts with the calcium
hydroxide released by the hydration of portland cement to form to calcium silicate
hydrate and other cementitious compounds.

• Traditionally, fly ash, slag, calcined clay, calcined shale,

and silica fume were used in concrete individually. Today,
due to improved access to these materials, concrete producers can combine two or
more of these materials to optimize concrete properties.
 SCMs are GREEN

■ Reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions when used as partial

replacement for cement
■ Productive use of industrial waste which may be landfilled
■ Can improve concrete durability
 Types of SCMs

Natural (ASTM C 618 Class N)

• Produced from natural mineral deposits (e.g., volcanic ash, diatomaceous earth,
pumicite)
• May require heat treatment (e.g., metakaolin

or calcined clay, rice hull ash, calcined shale)

Processed / Manufactured
• Silica fume (ASTM C 1240)
• Fly Ash (ASTM C 215)
• Slag (ASTM C 989)
 Fly Ash
• The most widely used SCM
• Has been used for > 50 years in concrete
• ASTM C 215 definition:
• The finely divided residue that results from the combustion of coal and that
is transported by flue gases from the combustion zone to the particle
removal system.

• Also called “pulverized fuel ash” or “PFA”

• Inorganic, noncombustible by-product of coal burning power plants
• Approximately ½ the cost (or less) of cement
• Can be used at up to ~50% replacement for cement
• Slower reacting than most SCMs
2 Classes of Fly Ash: C and F

• Range in Chemical Composition of Fly Ash