Sustainable concrete mixes with natural pozzolans: global perspective, South American scenarios, and cases in Ecuador
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37135/ns.01.17.09Keywords:
Calcined clay, Volcanic ash, Low-carbon concrete, LC3, SustainabilityAbstract
The purpose of this research is to determine whether low-carbon cement mixtures produced with natural pozzolans from Ecuador, such as volcanic ash and calcined clay, constitute a technically and ecologically efficient alternative compared to traditional Portland cement. The PRISMA 2020 methodology was applied, using databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar, along with a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer. A total of 43 publications were reviewed, covering global, South American, and Ecuadorian research from 2017 to 2025, considering aspects such as microstructure, mechanical properties, chloride transport, carbonation, rheology, and environmental impact. The findings showed that the limestone calcined clay cement system (LC3 50%) achieves compressive strengths exceeding 40 MPa, effectively reduces porosity by up to 28%, and decreases chloride diffusion by more than 50%. An increase in natural carbonation was observed, without compromising durability under humid conditions. At the environmental level, global studies reported CO₂ emission reductions between 30% and 45%, although Ecuador still lacks detailed local analyses. The study concludes that LC3-50 is a technically viable, sustainable alternative adapted to the country’s conditions. The most relevant finding is that, despite the lack of local data, international evidence supports the use of LC3 as a key tool for advancing more resilient, low-impact construction in Ecuador.
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