Composite Portland cements: innovations and future directions in cement technology

This review investigates the cutting-edge innovations and future trajectories in composite Portland cements, emphasizing advancements in strength, durability, and sustainability. Innovations including high-performance admixtures, nanoengineered materials, fibre reinforcements, self-healing concrete, and ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC) have significantly enhanced cement performance. Advanced processing techniques such as mechanical and thermal activation, along with nanotechnology integration, have further optimized material properties and production efficiency. Sustainability remains central, with initiatives like carbon capture and utilization (CCU), low-carbon cements, supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), and recycling efforts aimed at minimizing environmental impact. Despite these advancements, several challenges persist, including high production costs, material compatibility issues, variability in the quality of additives, and complex processing requirements. Future research should address these limitations by exploring economically viable pathways, streamlining manufacturing processes, and enhancing material standardization. Additionally, further investigation into commercialization strategies for advanced nanotechnologies, scalability of smart concrete applications, and extensive durability assessments under real-world conditions is strongly recommended. These directions promise substantial improvements toward more sustainable, high-performance construction materials.