Engineers day Celebration

Sub Theme: Poster Presentation

The Role of Limestone and Calcined Clay in Sustainable Cement- A review
Kunal Jee Thakur1*, Dr. A. A. Jee2, Prof. A. K. Agnihotri3
1
Research Scholar, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar Punjab
2
Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar Punjab
3
Professor and Head, Civil Engineering, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar Punjab
ABSTRACT:Sustainability and eco-friendly materials are becoming key concerns in construction. This poster explores the preparation, properties, and applications of
Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3), emphasizing its role in reducing carbon emissions in the cement industry. It then discuss the raw material used in the
production of LC3 and advantage of LC3. The poster also evaluates LC3 impact on local communities, environment, and social acceptance. It concludes that LC 3 is a
promising, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative to traditional cement, with potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of the cement industry.

1.1 INTRODUCTION: 1.4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:

• The cement industry is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas LC3: LC3 can cut carbon emissions by 30-40% compared to Portland cement by
emissions, accounting for 5–8% of total emissions. Each tonne of cement reducing clinker use, which lowers CO2 output. Its production is more energy-
produced emits about the same amount of carbon dioxide, which has a harmful efficient due to lower-temperature calcination and supplementary materials.
impact on the environment [1]. Other alternative cements:
• Energy Agency (IEA), global cement production exceeds 4000 million tonnes Traditional Portland cement is a major
per year, and it is expected to grow by 12–23% by 2050. Therefore, there is an emitter of greenhouse gases due to
urgent need to take quick action to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate limestone calcination and fossil fuel
climate change [2]. use. It also causes air
• One approach that has gained attention is the use of Supplementary pollution, habitat destruction,
Cementitious Materials (SCMs), which are materials that can replace a portion and is resource-intensive, requiring
of the cement used in concrete. SCMs such as Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA), significant energy and water.
Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slags (GGBS), and Silica Fume (SF) have
been utilized often in concrete[3].
• As shown in Fig. 1, the global slag supply available a mere 5–10% of the
overall cement. Fig. 3 Illustration of LC3 and LC2 Cement Mixture

1.5 POTENTIAL IMPACT OF LC3 ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES

1.2 PREPARATION OF LC3: • Environmental Impact: LC3 reduces CO2 emissions by up to 40% compared to
• The process for developing LC3 (Limestone Calcined Clay Cement) involves traditional cement, lowers transportation emissions, and supports local
initially pulverizing clay to pass through a 90 μm mesh sieve. communities.
• The clays are then calcined at 800°C for two hours, cooled to room • Economic Impact: LC3 cuts production costs and can make construction more
temperature, and ground using a ball mill for 10 minutes to ensure uniform affordable, especially for low-income housing. It also creates local job
particle size [2]. opportunities.
• Limestone is also ground, and dry mixing is carried out using three • Social Impact: LC3 can improve housing quality and
components: ordinary Portland cement (OPC), calcined clay, and limestone. infrastructure in local communities, providing
• To create LC3-30, 30% of OPC is replaced by a mix of calcined clay and durable and affordable solutions.
limestone (20% calcined clay, 10% limestone). • Technical Impact: LC3 has similar properties to traditional
• Cement Mortar were prepared with water-binder ratio (w/b) at 0.45 (sand, cement but may need adjustments
being inert, was not included). For samples containing clays, 30% by wt. of in manufacturing and mixdesign. Further research is
cement was replaced with calcined clayand limestone in 2:1 ratio by wt. These required for optimization.
samples were compared with the reference sample to examine the changes in
the hydration peaks and the cumulative heat of hydration. Fig. 2 illustrates the
key experimental process [3]. Fig. 4 LC3 Production Flow

• Fig. 5 Percentage of key components of LC3

Fig. 1 Commonly available supplementary cementious material [1]

1.3 ADVANTAGE OF LC3 1.6 CONCLUSIONS:

• Reduced Carbon Footprint: Lowers CO₂ emissions by up to 40% compared to • LC3 is an eco-friendly alternative to Portland cement, reducing carbon
OPC due to less energy-intensive production processes. emissions and energy use, making it crucial for addressing climate change in
• Lower Energy Consumption: Requires less energy for production as calcined construction.
clay is processed at lower temperatures than clinker. • LC3 concrete matches Portland cement in strength, durability, and workability,
• Cost-Effective Raw Materials: Uses widely available and cheaper materials, making it suitable for various construction projects without compromising
making it economically accessible. safety.
• The main advantage of LC3 concrete is that it can be produced with a low • LC3 can reduce CO2 emissions by 40% due to its lower clinker content and use
clinker content (40-50%) without compromising mechanical performance. of calcined clay, helping mitigate the construction sector’s environmental
• While its 28-day compressive strength impact.
is comparable to ordinary Portland cement (OPC), References-
early strength at 3 days may be slightly lower, 

Antoni, M., Rossen, J., Martirena, F., Scrivener, K., 2012. Cement substitution by a combination of metakaolin and limestone. Cement Concr. Res. 42, 1579e1589.
Berodier, E.M.J., 2015. Impact of the supplementary cementitious materials on the kinetics aand microstructural development of cement hydration.
but it improves by 7 days.  Bishnoi, Shashank, Scrivener, Karen L., 2009. Studying nucleation and growth ki netics of alite hydration using mic. Cement Concr. Res 39 (10), 849e860. https://

• Studies show mixed results on strength 

doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2009.07.004. ISSN 0008-8846.
Dixit, A., Gupta, S., Pang, S.D., Kua, H.W., 2019. Waste Valorisation using biochar for cement replacement and internal curing in ultra-high performance concrete. J. Clean.
gains after 28 days, with some indicating 
Prod. 238, 117876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.117876.
Scrivener, K., Martirena, F., Bishnoi, S., Maity, S., 2018a. Calcined clay limestone cements (LC3). Cement Concr. Res. 114, 49e56. https://doi.org/10.1016/
minimal increase and others reporting growth. j.cemconres.2017.08.017.

Factors such as particle size, clinker Fig. 2 The key experimental process  Weerdt, K. De, Haha, M. Ben, Saout, G. Le, Kjellsen, K.O., Justnes, H., Lothenbach, B., 2011. Hydration mechanisms of ternary Portland cements containing
limestone powder and fly ash. Cement Concr. Res. 41, 279e291. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.cemconres.2010.11.014.
composition, temperature, and alkali content significantly impact strength  Zunino, F., Scrivener, K., 2019. The influence of the filler effect on the sulfate requirement of blended cements. Cement Concr. Res. 126, 105918. https://
development. doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2019.105918.

Thank You