en.Wedoany.com Reported - A study by Temple University has confirmed that Portland limestone cement (PLC, Type IL) and its combinations with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), when properly proportioned and finished, exhibit comparable abrasion resistance and carbonation tendency to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) controls. This finding is based on systematic comparisons of three concrete mixtures under BS 8204-2 standard abrasion tests (in both laboratory and field environments). Led by Dr. Mehdi Khanzadeh Moradllo, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Professional Engineer), the study provides empirical data supporting the use of low-carbon cement in large-scale industrial floors.
Dr. Moradllo and his team found that across multiple tested mixtures, PLC and PLC+SCM systems demonstrated abrasion resistance comparable to OPC systems. Detailed results are presented in the report "Examining the Abrasion and Carbonation Resistance of Portland Limestone Cement Systems for Industrial Floors," jointly published by the ACI Foundation, the American Cement Association (ACA), and the Concrete Advancement Foundation (CAF). This 46-page report provides specifiers, contractors, owners, and pavement engineers with a basis for evaluating PLC or PLC+SCM as low-carbon alternatives to OPC. Its release comes at a time of active construction of data centers, distribution or fulfillment facilities, which commonly feature large-area floors and face widespread scrutiny of embodied carbon metrics.
Dr. Moradllo stated that providing reliable, field-validated performance data for PLC enables the industry to confidently adopt low-carbon cement technologies. Dr. Paul Tennis, ACA Senior Director of Research and Product Standards, added that cement innovations, including blended cements, are key solutions for reducing the carbon footprint of concrete, and optimized PLC systems represent a practical and durable choice for industrial applications. CAF Chair Julie Garbini concluded that owners and contractors need actionable guidance when specifying and constructing industrial floor systems, and this study's lab-to-field comparison is an important step toward performance-based specifications and best practices that encourage successful projects.
The report authors also noted that project leaders should adopt standard industry practices when optimizing concrete mix designs for industrial floors, consider regional variability of PLC when developing mixes, and employ appropriate finishing and curing methods. The PDF of "Examining the Abrasion and Carbonation Resistance of Portland Limestone Cement Systems for Industrial Floors" is available at zenodo.org/records/19389662.
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