The Influence of Low-Emission Mineral Additives as a Substitute for CEM II and CEM III Cement on the Properties of Cement Mortars
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Materials
2.2. Research Methods
3. Results
3.1. Marking the Consistency of Standard Mortar
3.2. Flexural Strength
3.3. Compressive Strength
3.4. Cost–Benefit Analysis
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
- It t is possible to replace CEM II B-V 32.5R HSR cement with mineral additives in the form of white and Mikrosil+ microsilica in the amount of 10 and 20% without the risk of losing strength parameters.
- It is possible to replace CEM II B-V 32.5R HSR cement with mineral additives in the form of limestone flour, glass flour, basalt flour and glass granulate in the amount of 20% without the risk of losing strength parameters.
- The analyzed mineral additives, such as microsill+, glass flour, and glass granulate, negatively affect the consistency of the cement mortar. However, the remaining tested mineral additives increase consistency.
- For both CEM II and CEM III cements, no effect of mineral additives on the flexural strength was observed compared to the standard mortar.
- The use of 20% microsill+ and white microsilica resulted in a 50% increase in compressive strength despite a 20% reduction in CEM II cement.
- In the case of CEM III cement, mineral additives significantly reduce compressive strength.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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| Property | Unit | CEM II | CEM III |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specific surface area | [cm2/g] | 4787 | 4690 |
| Start of setting time | [min] | 220 | 199 |
| End of setting time | [min] | 283 | 274 |
| Change in volume | [mm] | 1.3 | 0.5 |
| Compressive strength | |||
| After 2 days | [MPa] | 16.9 | 13.7 |
| After 28 days | [MPa] | 42.3 | 50.6 |
| Contents SO3 | [%] | 2.84 | 2.06 |
| Contents Cl | [%] | 0.056 | 0.063 |
| Share of silica fly ash | [%] | 28.64 | - |
| Loss of ignition | [%] | - | 0.89 |
| Component | Unit | MKb | MK+ | MW | MS | PB | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SiO2 | [%] | >80.0 | >85.0 | 3.5 | >65.0 | 38.2 | >65.0 |
| CaO | [%] | <3.5 | <1.0 | >8.0 | 15.2 | >8.0 | |
| CaCO3 | [%] | - | - | 93.0 | - | - | - |
| FeO3 | [%] | - | - | 0.3 | <0.2 | 15.9 | <0.2 |
| MgO | [%] | - | - | 0.7 | <0.4 | 7.7 | <0.4 |
| SO3 | [%] | <4.0 | <2.0 | - | - | 0.2 | - |
| Na2O | [%] | <8.0 | <0.5 | - | >14.0 | 2.9 | >14.0 |
| Al2O3 | [%] | - | - | - | 2.0 | 12.7 | 2.0 |
| Cl− | [%] | <1.8 | <0.3 | - | - | 0.07 | - |
| Research Stage | Aggregate Content [g] | Cement Content [g] | Contents of the Additive [g] | Water Content [g] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control mix | 1350 | 450 | 0 | 225 |
| Stage 1 10% additives | 1350 | 405 | 45 | 225 |
| Stage 2 20% additives | 1350 | 360 | 90 | 225 |
| Mineral Additives | Designation for CEM II | Designation for CEM III |
|---|---|---|
| White microsilica | CII_MKb | CIII_MKb |
| Mikrosill+ mikrosilica | CII_MK+ | CIII_MK+ |
| Limestone flour | CII_MW | CIII_MW |
| Glass flour | CII_MS | CIII_MS |
| Basalt flour | CII_PB | CIII_PB |
| Glass granulate | CII_GS | CIII_GS |
| Mineral Supplement | Flexural Strength After 7 Days/Standard Deviation [MPa] | Flexural Strength After 28 Days/Standard Deviation [MPa] | Flexural Strength After 56 Days/Standard Deviation [MPa] |
|---|---|---|---|
| CII_Z0 | 5.70/0.11 | 8.48/0.39 | 10.19/0.49 |
| CII_MKb1 | 5.23/0.15 | 7.38/0.38 | 9.57/0.19 |
| CII_MKb2 | 4.80/0.17 | 7.48/0.12 | 9.53/0.29 |
| CII_MK+1 | 5.27/0.10 | 7.05/0.57 | 9.74/0.55 |
| CII_MK+2 | 5.55/0.22 | 7.14/0.63 | 9.81/0.16 |
| CII_MW1 | 5.08/0.15 | 7.01/0.56 | 9.41/0.24 |
| CII_MW2 | 4.38/0.11 | 6.46/0.60 | 9.86/0.13 |
| CII_MS1 | 4.65/0.34 | 7.34/0.57 | 9.63/0.38 |
| CII_MS2 | 4.10/0.29 | 6.59/0.38 | 9.82/0.34 |
| CII_PB1 | 4.18/0.06 | 7.02/0.17 | 9.09/0.77 |
| CII_PB2 | 4.30/0.11 | 6.79/0.39 | 8.69/0.10 |
| CII_GS1 | 3.98/0.38 | 6.82/0.60 | 9.05/0.82 |
| CII_GS2 | 3.75/0.51 | 6.80/0.28 | 8.03/0.43 |
| Mineral Supplement | Flexural Strength After 7 Days/Standard Deviation [MPa] | Flexural Strength After 28 Days/Standard Deviation [MPa] | Flexural Strength After 56 Days/Standard Deviation [MPa] |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIII_Z0 | 6.45/0.43 | 8.99/0.77 | 11.13/0.39 |
| CIII_MKb1 | 5.95/0.38 | 9.66/0.48 | 11.45/0.39 |
| CIII_MKb2 | 6.09/0.58 | 10.96/0.16 | 11.79/0.35 |
| CIII_MK+1 | 5.78/0.09 | 9.59/0.45 | 11.01/0.49 |
| CIII_MK+2 | 6.76/0.46 | 9.51/0.12 | 10.80/0.35 |
| CIII_MW1 | 6.16/0.32 | 10.02/0.34 | 11.22/0.34 |
| CIII_MW2 | 6.99/0.52 | 10.95/0.31 | 11.80/0.86 |
| CIII_MS1 | 6.29/0.12 | 9.55/0.04 | 10.65/0.32 |
| CIII_MS2 | 6.00/0.69 | 8.66/0.41 | 10.13/0.10 |
| CIII_PB1 | 6.17/0.08 | 9.48/0.33 | 9.93/0.42 |
| CIII_PB2 | 6.05/0.23 | 8.70/0.41 | 9.44/0.36 |
| CIII_GS1 | 6.13/0.34 | 7.81/0.14 | 11.25/0.42 |
| CIII_GS2 | 5.50/0.06 | 8.02/0.21 | 9.72/0.35 |
| Material | Cost [Zł/t] | Cost [EUR/Ton] |
|---|---|---|
| Cement CEM II | 790 | 185.9 |
| Cement CEM III | 834 | 196.2 |
| White microsilica | 15,960 | 3755.3 |
| Mikrosill+ microsilica | 7960 | 1872.9 |
| Limestone flour | 380 | 89.4 |
| Glass flour | 5360 | 1261.2 |
| Basalt flour | 1100 | 258.8 |
| Glass granulate | 1200 | 282.4 |
| Samples | Price of Mortar Without Sand [Zł] | Price Increase | Increase in Compressive Strength After 56 Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| CII_Z0 | 0.36 | - | - |
| CII_MKb1 | 1.04 | 192% | 50% |
| CII_MZ+1 | 0.68 | 91% | 45% |
| CII_MW1 | 0.34 | −5% | −18% |
| CII_MS1 | 0.56 | 58% | −18% |
| CII_PB1 | 0.37 | 4% | −16% |
| CII_GS1 | 0.37 | 5% | −27% |
| CII_MKb2 | 1.72 | 384% | 51% |
| CII_MZ+2 | 1.00 | 182% | 52% |
| CII_MW2 | 0.32 | −10% | 18% |
| CII_MS2 | 0.77 | 116% | 10% |
| CII_PB2 | 0.38 | 8% | 14% |
| CII_GS2 | 0.39 | 10% | 5% |
| CIII_Z0 | 0.38 | - | - |
| CIII_MKb1 | 1.06 | 181% | −5% |
| CIII_MZ+1 | 0.70 | 85% | −10% |
| CIII_MW1 | 0.35 | −5% | −9% |
| CIII_MS1 | 0.58 | 54% | −12% |
| CIII_PB1 | 0.39 | 3% | −5% |
| CIII_GS1 | 0.39 | 4% | −10% |
| CIII_MKb2 | 1.74 | 363% | −6% |
| CIII_MZ+2 | 1.02 | 171% | −7% |
| CIII_MW2 | 0.33 | −11% | −20% |
| CIII_MS2 | 0.78 | 109% | −25% |
| CIII_PB2 | 0.40 | 6% | −17% |
| CIII_GS2 | 0.41 | 9% | −22% |
| Parameter | Unit | CEM I | CEM II | CEM III |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon footprint cement | [CO2/kg] | 0.703 | 0.559 | 0.377 |
| Cement transportation | [CO2/km/t] | 0.199 | 0.199 | 0.199 |
| Carbon footprint granite aggregate | [CO2/kg] | 0.007 | 0.007 | 0.007 |
| Aggregate transport | [CO2/km/t] | 0.166 | 0.166 | 0.166 |
| Fly ash mineral additive | [CO2/kg] | - | 0.140 | - |
| Granulated Blast Furnace Slag additive | [CO2/kg] | - | - | 0.140 |
| Mineral additive transport | [CO2/km/t] | 0.175 | 0.175 | 0.175 |
| Carbon footprint of mortar in cubic meters | [CO2/m3] | 316.35 | 251.55 | 169.65 |
| Carbon footprint of mortar in cubic meters with a 10% cement reduction | [CO2/m3] | 291.02 | 232.70 | 158.99 |
| Carbon footprint of mortar in cubic meters with a 20% cement reduction | [CO2/m3] | 265.68 | 213.84 | 148.32 |
| Carbon footprint reduction to CEM I thanks to 20% reduction in cement volume | [%] | −16.02 | −32.40 | −53.12 |
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Muzolf, P.; Rogojsz, G.; Rudnicki, T. The Influence of Low-Emission Mineral Additives as a Substitute for CEM II and CEM III Cement on the Properties of Cement Mortars. Materials 2025, 18, 5673. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18245673
Muzolf P, Rogojsz G, Rudnicki T. The Influence of Low-Emission Mineral Additives as a Substitute for CEM II and CEM III Cement on the Properties of Cement Mortars. Materials. 2025; 18(24):5673. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18245673
Chicago/Turabian StyleMuzolf, Paweł, Grzegorz Rogojsz, and Tomasz Rudnicki. 2025. "The Influence of Low-Emission Mineral Additives as a Substitute for CEM II and CEM III Cement on the Properties of Cement Mortars" Materials 18, no. 24: 5673. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18245673
APA StyleMuzolf, P., Rogojsz, G., & Rudnicki, T. (2025). The Influence of Low-Emission Mineral Additives as a Substitute for CEM II and CEM III Cement on the Properties of Cement Mortars. Materials, 18(24), 5673. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18245673

