May 17, 2009
Claxton Bay, Trinidad:
Karthikeyan Obla (Ph.D., P.E) – Managing Director of Research and Materials Engineering at the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), USA publicly endorsed blended cement as a fundamental component for sustainable development. He was speaking at a recently concluded 2-day seminar hosted by Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) and the Engineering Institute of the University of the West Indies held at the St. Augustine Campus.
Blended cements are produced by inter-grinding or intimately blending portland cement with complementary cementitious materials such as pozzolan, burnt clay, burnt shale, limestone or fly ash to enhance the physical and chemical properties of the resulting concrete, mortar, stucco, etc.
Sustainability is an important consideration of infrastructural development, particularly in these times of dwindling resources and environmental degradation. Sustainable development is essential to protect our planet from further damage and at the same time, ensure that resources are available for future generations. The use of blended cements results in more durable structures, with higher long term strengths, lower permeability and are more environmentally friendly as less carbon dioxide is released during the manufacturing process. These attributes contribute to sustainable development.
In 2009, TCL introduced its own blended cement - TCL Premium Plus, the use of which results in construction advantages such as reduced heat of hydration, higher short and long term strengths, protection against alkali aggregate reaction, decreased permeability of concrete and increased durability.
TCL Premium Plus is also a more environmentally friendly product. With this blended cement, the company is able to reduce its carbon footprint by as much as 20%. One of the main processes in cement production is clinker manufacturing, in which Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a by-product. In TCL Premium Plus, a percentage of clinker has been replaced with pozzolan, resulting in blended cement. The manufacturing process for TCL Premium Plus, therefore, uses less clinker, which translates into less CO2 being released into the atmosphere. Hence, by producing blended cement, TCL can realize a 1% reduction in CO2, by mass, emitted for each 1% replacement of clinker by pozzolan. Additionally, as a result of the above, fuel consumption decreases, resulting in less CO2 emissions from the combustion of the fuel. This overall impact results in reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
The use of blended cements for sustainable and durable construction was also promoted by Mr. Danny Jairam – Concrete Technologist, Etercnoc Limited. He offered a user’s perspective of pozzolanic cement in the local and regional industries and related the “hands on” experience of the superior attributes of TCL Premium Plus as a blended cement that provides more long term benefits. Other facilitators were D.S. Prakash Rao (Ph.D.) – Professor of Structural Engineering and Abrahams Mwasha (Ph.D.) – Lecturer, Civil and Environmental Engineering, both of UWI, St. Augustine Campus while the interactive sessions included technical expertise from Wayne Benjamin, Chemist at Trinidad Cement Limited.
The seminar attracted professional engineers from both private and public institutions, project managers, construction companies and other technical professionals.
A cross section of participants at the TCL/UWI seminar on Blended Cements for Sustainable and Durable Construction.
(L-R): Ian Matthews – Planning and Development Manager, TCL presents Karthikeyan Obla – Managing Director of Research and Materials Engineering at the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), USA with a token of appreciation for his valuable and informative presentation.
