Chemistry as a knowledge base for the development of sustainable cementitious materials

Abstract

The globe is challenged with developing new materials that will guarantee resilience, sustainability, and performance of infrastructure. Of  the materials globally in dare need of, to bridge the gross deficit in infrastructure, cementitious materials top the list. Their premier  position is justified by the fact that they are required to build almost all forms of infrastructure needed to meet the sustainable  development goals. Cementitious material like concrete has witnessed great evolution since it was first discovered and is still witnessing  many innovations in its manufacturing processes. Despite this, cementitious material remains a major threat to climate change due to  high greenhouse gases emission that is attributed to its production. Therefore, developing new materials that are environmentally  friendly without compromising quality, is very important for the future development. In this article, overview of developmental stages of  cementitious materials is presented, and the inevitability of cementitious materials for future development is equally established. The  role of chemistry at every stage of development of cementitious materials is underscored. The paper further links the capacity to develop  new materials to the understanding of chemistry of the materials. Similarly, capacity to deploy the knowledge of chemistry to this important area is also emphasized. It is concluded that chemistry is a sine qua non for future material development.