Cement Related Minerals—in Memory of Herbert Pöllmann
A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Crystallography and Physical Chemistry of Minerals & Nanominerals".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (24 May 2023) | Viewed by 18687
Special Issue Editors
Interests: CSH phases; XRD; Raman and IR spectroscopy; synthesis; phase transformations
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Cement production is one of the most CO2- and energy-intensive industries. A great endeavor has been in progress to reduce its carbon footprint. Of particular interest are nonstandard solutions, including developing cementation materials out of calcium silicates (hydrates) with low Ca/Si ratios. In addition, the recycling of construction materials could rely on CSH minerals as intermediate products. In addition to the CSH phases, other hydrates such as AFm or AFT phases (Ettringite) can also play an important role in new cement types for CO2 reduction or immobilization technologies. The extraordinary variations of silicate structures observed in the large family of cement relevant minerals provide a solid basis for engineering and tailoring the properties of novel cementitious materials.
In the several decades since the first comprehensive work of H.F.W. Taylor, extensive studies have been published, not only filling gaps of missing data but also providing structures of newly discovered minerals. One of the greatest achievements, the deciphering of the structure of the nanocrystalline calcium silicate hydrates, the backbone of the hardened cement paste, was only made possible after solving the complex structures of various tobermorite minerals. Other hydration products also produce a new variety of interesting mineral structures. The range of analytical data used for characterization grows correspondingly, including increasing uses of synchrotron-based techniques. Nonetheless, a huge amount of work still needs to be done in this field, marked by a high grade of application relevance.
The Special Issue on “Cement-Related Minerals” aims to emphasize the importance of such compounds as possible resources for materials development with a reduced carbon footprint and to expand the knowledge of their fundamental properties.
Papers with a special focus on the synthesis, formation kinetics, structure, relations, modularity, and isomorphic substitutions of cement-relevant mineral phases are encouraged. Key aspects may include investigations of their behavior and resulting phase transformations at elevated pressure or temperature. Theoretical and experimental works of the fundamental properties of cement minerals are also welcome to this issue. Phases in alternative cement/binder systems, including but not limited to calcium (sulfo)aluminate, magnesium phosphate, and alkali-activated materials, are also welcome. This call includes the application of new approaches and analytical spectroscopic techniques based on the use of both conventional and synchrotron radiation.
We hope that this Special Issue will encourage mineralogists, chemists, and material scientists to share their research on this topic with a significant impact on our society.
This Special Issue is dedicated to Prof. Dr. Herbert Pöllmann on the occasion of his unexpected passing.
Dr. Krassimir Garbev
Dr. Jiaqi Li
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- clinker minerals
- calcium silicate hydrates
- AFm Aft minerals
- Structure
- phase transformations
- material properties
- alternative cement materials
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