Center for

By-Products
Utilization
DRAFT REPORT

LIMESTONE POWDER USE IN CEMENT AND

CONCRETE

By Tarun R. Naik, Fethullah Canpolat, and Yoon-moon

Chun

Report No. CBU-2003-31

REP-525
July 2003

A CBU Report

Department of Civil Engineering and Mechanics

College of Engineering and Applied Science
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MILWAUKEE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1
LIMESTONE POWDER USE IN CEMENT AND CONCRETE ................................................. 2
LIMESTONE .................................................................................................................................. 2
Limestone Powder as a Filler in Cement and Concrete .............................................................. 2
Filler ........................................................................................................................................ 2
Limestone Powder as a Filler In Cement .................................................................................... 3
Performance of Limestone-Filled Cements ............................................................................ 4
Limestone Powder as a Filler in Mortar ................................................................................. 5
Limestone Powder as a Filler In Concrete .................................................................................. 5
Chemical Effects of The Use of Limestone Powder in Cement and Concrete ........................... 6
Chemical Effects of The Use of Limestone Powder in Mortar .............................................. 6
Chemical Effects of The Use of Limestone Powder in Concrete ............................................... 7
Durability of Concrete with Addition of Limestone Powder.................................................. 8
Autogenous Shrinkage of High-Flow Concrete with Limestone Powder .................................. 9
CONCLUDING REMARKS ........................................................................................................ 10
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 11

INTRODUCTION

A filler is a very finely-ground material, of about the same fineness as portland cement.
Owing to the physical properties of filler, there is a beneficial affect on some properties of
concrete, such as workability, density, permeability, and capillarity therefore structure bleeding,
and cracking tendency [1].

The use of filler in cement is a common practice in European countries, especially in

France. This type of cement can lead to technical, economic and ecological benefits. Among the
technical advantages are the control of bleeding in concrete with low cement content, an increase
of early strength, a reduced sensivity and poor curing [2].

The addition of limestone reduces the initial and final setting time, as well as porosity,
whereas free lime and combined water increase with increasing limestone content [3]. The
quality of the limestone filler affect the performance of the cement in concrete and the water
demand of the cement [5].

Limestone filler affects the crystallization nucleus for the precipitation of CH. These
effects produce an acceleration of the hydration of cement grains [6, 7].

LIMESTONE POWDER USE IN CEMENT AND CONCRETE

LIMESTONE
Limestones are sedimentary rocks primarily of calcium carbonate.

Limestones are

generally obtained from the calcareous remains of marine or fresh water organisms embedded in
calcareous mud. They change from the soft chalks to hard crystalline rocks [8].

According to Lea [8] the use of limestone as a concrete aggregate has sometimes been
suspect on account of the unsuitability of the poorer grade rocks, and also because of a
widespread fallacy that limestone concrete is less resistant to the action of fire than concrete
made from other aggregates. He suggested that the use of limestones might not be beneficial in
concrete products, which are to be cured in high-pressure steam.

Limestone Powder as a Filler in Cement and Concrete

Filler
Filler are usually chemically inert but there is no disadvantage if they have some
hydraulic properties or if they enter into detrimental reactions with the products of reactions in
the hydrated cement paste [1].

According to Neville [1] filler can be naturally occurring materials or processed inorganic
mineral materials. They have uniform properties and fineness. They must not increase the water
demand when used in concrete, unless used with a water-reducing admixture, or adversely affect

the resistance of concrete to weathering or the protection against corrosion which concrete
provides to the reinforcement. Clearly, they must not lead to a long-term retrogression of
strength of concrete, but such a problem has not been encountered.

Because the action of limestone fillers is physical, they have to be physically compatible
with the cement in which they are included. For example, at high filler contents, the cement
must have a much higher fineness than usual [1].

Limestone Powder as a Filler In Cement

According to Livesy [5] limestone-filled cements have been developed in Europe during
the last twenty years. They are now being standardized in Europe (CEN) and the UK (BSI). A
working party jointly set up by the British Cement Industry and the Building Research
Establishment has investigated the composition and performance of these cements.

The use of portland cement containing limestone filler is a common practice in European
countries, especially in France. This type of cement is formulated to achieve certain goals in the
technical, economic, and ecological fields. Among the technical benefits are the increase of
early strength, the control of bleeding in concrete with low cement content and the low
sensitibility to the lack of curing [2].

Although ENV 197-1: 1992 limits the filler content to 5 per cent, it allows the use of
limestone up to 35 per cent, provided the remaining cementitious material is portland cement
only. This cement is known as portland L limestone cement (Class II/B-L). As limestone is in
effect a type of filler, the limestone cement can be said to have a filler content of up to 35 per

cent. It can be expected that, for some purposes, blended cements with a filler content of 15, or
even 20, percent are likely to be popular in the future [1].

Experience in the development and use of filler cements has led to the identification of
the most suitable properties for the limestone filler. Limiting values for critical properties have
been set in the draft standards to ensure adequate performance. The purity of the limestone
should be greater than 75% by mass of Calcium Carbonate content [5].

Performance of Limestone-Filled Cements

Limestone filler improves the hydration rate and increases the strength of cement
compounds at early ages [9]. Limestone filler does not have pozzolanic properties, but it reacts
with the alumina phases of cement to form an Afm phase (calcium monocaboaluminate hydrate)
with no significant changes on the strength of blended cement [6].

According to Levisy [5] portland-filler cements can be manufactured to meet the

requirements of strength classes 32.5, 42.5, and 52.5 the higher early strength variants for this
classes. In order to achieve optimum results consideration has to be given to the suitability of the
limestone and the composition and fineness of the cement. In particular the effect of limestone
on the water demand of the cement affects its performance in concrete and this cannot always be
determined from standard cement tests at constant water: cement ratio.

Except for severely aggressive environments, the use of blends of portland cement (CEI
42.5) with limestone fillers offer, within specific limits of blending, and a reliable way to

perform rheologically. In order to perform at the same strength and durability as conventional
mixtures, the use of water-reducing admixtures is a must for these filler blended cement in
concrete [10].

Limestone Powder as a Filler in Mortar

Nehdi et al. [11] have reported that the effect of limestone microfiller replacement of
cement on the mechanical performance and cost effectiveness of low w/c ratio superplasticized
portland cement mortars was investigated. They also demonstrated that limestone microfiller
replacement of cement did not significantly affect the strength of mortars at early ages up to
about 10 to 15% by volume. Higher levels of limestone microfiller caused significant strength
losses, which were more significant in the silica fume mixes. At later ages, limestone microfiller
replacement of cement beyond 10 to 15% caused strength losses, which were more significant.

Limestone Powder as a Filler In Concrete

Nehdi et al. [12] presented Limestone powder was to improve the cost effectiveness of
cement, to substitute limestone for gypsum as a set regulator, to improve the workability and
stability of fresh concrete, and in some instances to improve durability.

Uchikawa et al. [13] studied the hydration reaction of cement, hardened structure and
pore structure in concrete prepared by substituting a large quantity of mineral powder including
fly ash, slag, limestone and silicious stone for part of fine aggregate in concrete and the
relationships between the substitution of those mineral powders and the physical properties of
concrete. They also observed increase in viscosity and decrease in fluidity of concrete by the

substitution of the mineral powder for part of fine aggregate are mainly caused by the increase of
fine particles non-existent in fine aggregate.

Shi et al. [14] carried out an investigation to determine the compounding effect of silica
fume (SF) with phosphorus slag (PS) or limestone powder (LS). The compound powders of PS
with SF lower plastic viscosity and yield stress of fresh concrete, but increase the slump and
promote continuous flowability of concrete greatly. However, the compounding of LS with SF
increases the yield stress, but decreases both slump and slump flow of concrete, although the
viscosity remains broadly unchanged compared with the concrete containing LS only. They
presented that rheological property can be highly correlated with the surface characteristic of
each component of the compound powders.

Chemical Effects of The Use of Limestone Powder in Cement and Concrete

Chemical Effects of The Use of Limestone Powder in Mortar
Menendez et al. [15] studied the benefits of limestone filler (LF) and granulated blastfurnace slag (BFS) as partial replacement of portland cement are well established. They reported
that LF addition to portland cement causes an increase of hydration at early ages inducing a high
early strength, but it can reduce the later strength due to the dilution effect. On the other hand,
BFS contributes to hydration after seven days improving the strength at medium and later ages.
Mortar prisms in which portland cement was replaced by up to 20% LF and 35% BFS were
tested at 1, 3, 7, 28 and 90 days. They also demonstrated that the use of ternary blended cements
(PC-LF-BFS) provides economic and environmental advantages by reducing portland cement
production and CO2 emission, whilst also improving the early and the later compressive strength.

Limestone fillers alter composite cements both physically and chemically. They increase
density and make the cement more reactive. The reactivity of limestone fillers determines the
consumption of calcite the formation of calcoaluminates, the accelerating effect on the hydration
of C3A, C3S or CA in the high alumina cements, the changes in the C-S-H, the birth of an
aurole de transition between the filler and the cement paste, are all facts specific of the
reactivity of limestone fillers. Finely ground quartz can be classified as on inert filler because it
does not effect these properties [10, 16, 17, 18].

Hornain et al. [19] reported the diffusion of chloride ions in mortars as influenced by the
use of limestone powder as a filler. All mixtures were prepared at a fixed water-ratio of 0.55.
Test results showed that the diffusion coefficient of chloride ions was reduced with the use of
limestone filler.

Chemical Effects of The Use of Limestone Powder in Concrete

Heikal et al. [3] studied the effect of substitution of limestone for Homra in pozzolanic
cement. They presented that the addition of limestone reduces the initial and final setting time,
as well as total porosity, whereas the free lime and combined water increase with limestone
content. Limestone fills the pores between cement particles due to formation of carboaluminate,
which may accelerate the setting of cement pastes. The addition of limestone filler to neat
cement pastes and mortars reduces the diffusion coefficient of chloride ions. They also reported
that the amount of limestone increases the heat of hydration, as well as the free lime and
compressive strength while the total porosity decreases at early ages.

Bonavetti et al [2] demonstrated that the effect of limestone filler (up to 20%) on the
degree of hydration, the volume of hydration products, and the optimal replacement of limestone
filler in cement pastes at different w/cm ratios (0.25-0.50). The results showed an increase in the
degree of hydration in very low w/cm ratio paste when the limestone filler content is increased.
Concrete mixtures (w/cm = 0.30 and 0.34) were made to determine the compressive strength.
They also presented that addition of limestone filler in concrete effects acceleration of hydration,
dilution, and increase of effective w/c ratio.

Finely divided mineral admixtures can also exert what is often called the filler effect,
This effect can also contribute to compressive strength in addition to that of its pozzolanic
reaction products. Some-what related to this, there has recently been a move in the U.S. to allow
the cement producer to intergrind up to 5% limestone (on weight of portland cement) because of
its strength enhancement when the cement is used in mortars and concrete. It was first thought
that the added finely divided limestone contributed strength strictly through the filler effect.
Now there is revealed that that it can react with the latter to form tricalcium carboaluminates
analogous to etringite and its monosulfate form which would account for the increase in sulfate
resistance of the cement [20, 21].

Durability of Concrete with Addition of Limestone Powder

Gonzales and Irassar [22] studied the addition of limestone filler affect the sulfate
performance of blended cements. Test was carried out in mortars containing one type II cement
and two type V portland cements with different C3S contents. Limestone filler was used as 0%,
10%, and 20% of replacement by cement weight. Test result showed the replacement of low

C3A portland cement with limestone microfiller can significantly affect the sulfate resistance of
composed cement.

Sawicz and Heng [23] studied the effect of powdered limestone and water-cement ratio
(w/c) on the durability of concrete immersed in a sulphate solution (5% Na2SO4). A beneficial
influence of powdered limestone on the sulphate resistance of concrete was observed for w/c <
0.60. For w/c > 60, the powdered limestone showed almost no effect on sulphate resistance of
concrete.

The transformation of ettringite to monosulphate and hemi-sulphate was prevented by

addition of limestone powder [23, 24, 25]

Sawicz and Heng [23] reported that the addition of limestone powder to cement changes
the phase composition of pastes in comparison with pastes without addition. Tests were carried
out investigations limestone powder prevents the transformation of ettringite to sulphoaluminates
(monosulphate, hemisulphate and solid solutions), instead of which carboaluminate phases more
resistant to sulphate attack (monocarbonate, hemicarbonate) are formed.

Autogenous Shrinkage of High-Flow Concrete with Limestone Powder

Kato et al [26] studied the influence of limestone powder content on setting, strength and
autogenous shrinkage of high-flow concrete were discussed. Ordinary portland cements were
used with additions of 0, 10, 20 and 30 wt % limestone powder. Test results showed setting of
concrete were accelerated by additions of limestone powder, strength decreased with the

additions of limestone powder, but a slight decrease of compressive strength was found with
addition of 10 wt % and compressive strength of concrete increased linearly with decreasing the
porosity with or without additions of limestone powder. They observed autogenous shrinkage
decreased with increasing the additions of limestone powder in the early stage, but kept
increasing for long time with limestone powder. They suggested that the increase of autogenous
shrinkage due to additions of limestone powder in the long stage related to Monocarbonate.

CONCLUDING REMARKS
In general limestone powder filler in cement and concrete effects acceleration of
hydration, dilution of cement paste, increase of effective w/c, ratio and increases the strength at
early ages [2]. The addition of limestone powder filler to fine cement pastes and mortars reduces
the diffusion coefficient of chloride ions [3].

Sawicz and Heng [23] have reported that the addition of limestone powder to cement
changes the phase composition of pastes in comparison with pastes without addition. They also
demonstrated limestone powder prevents the transformation of ettringite to sulphoaluminates
(monosulphate, hemisulphate and solid solutions), instead of which carboaluminate phases more
resistant to sulphate attack (monocarbonate, hemicarbonate) are formed.

The use of limestone powder in cement and concrete provides economic and
environmental advantages by reducing portland cement production and CO 2 emission, as well as
improving the early and the later age compressive strength [2, 15]

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REFERENCES

1. Neville, A. M., 1995, Properties of concrete, Longman Group Limited, London,

UK, pp. 88.
2. Bonavetti, V., Donza, H., Menendez, G., Cabrera, O., and Irassar, E. F., 2003,
Limestone filler cement in low w/c concrete: a rational use of energy, Cement and
Concrete Research, Vol. 33, No. 6, pp. 865-871.
3. Heikal, M., El-Didamony, H., and Morsy, M. S., 2000, Limestone-filled pozzolanic
4. Cement, Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 30, No. 11, pp. 1827-1834.
5. Livesy, P., 1991, Performance of limestone-filled cements, Blended Cements, Ed.:
Swamy, R. N., Elseiver Science, Essex, UK, pp. 1-15.
6. Soroka, I. and Stern, N., 1977, The effect of fillers on strength of cement mortars,
Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 7, No. 4. pp. 449-456.
7. Bonavetti, V., Donza, H., Rahhall, V., and Irrassar, E., 2000, Influence of initial
curing on properties of concrete containing limestone blended cement, Cement and
Concrete Research. Vol. 30, No. 5, pp. 703-708.
8. Lea, F. M., 1971, The chemistry of cement and concrete, Chemical Publishing
Company, Inc., New York, pp. 561.

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9. Ingram, K. and Daugherty, K., 1992, Limestone additions portland cement: uptake,
chemistry and effects, Proc. 9th International Congress The Chemistry of Cement.,
National Council for Cement and Building Materials, New Delhi, India, pp. 181-186.
10. Bertrandy, R.and Poitevin, P., 1991, Limestone filler for concrete, French Research
and Practice, Blended Cements, Ed.: Swamy, R. N., Elseiver Science, Essex, UK,
pp. 16-31.
11. Nehdi, M., Mindess, S., and Aitcin, P., 1996, Optimization of high strength
limestone filler cement mortars, Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 26, No. 6, pp.
883-893.
12. Nehdi, M., Mindess, S., and Aitcin, P. C., 1995, Use of ground limestone in
concrete: a new look, Building Research Journal, Institute of Construction and
Architecture, Vol. 43, No. 4., pp. 245-261.
13. Uchikawa, H., Hanehara, S., and Hirao, H., 1996, Influence of microstructure on the
physical properties of concrete prepared by substituting mineral powder for part of
fine aggregate, Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 101-111.
14. Shi, Y., Matsui, I., and Feng, N., 2002, Effect of compound mineral powders on
workability and rheological property of HPC, Cement and Concrete Research, Vol.
32, No. 1., pp. 71-78.
15. Menendez, G., Bonavetti, V., and Irassar, E. F., 2003, Strength development of
ternary blended cement with limestone filler and blast-furnace slag, Cement and
Concrete Composites, Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 61-67.

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16. Bonavetti, V. L., Rahhal, V. F., and Irrassar, E. F., 2001, Studies on the
carbolauminate formation in limestone filler blended cements, Cement and Concrete
Research, Vol. 31, No. 6, pp. 853-859
17. Bonavetti, V., 1998, Limestone filler cement: interaction mechanism and its
influence on mechanical properties, M. Sc. thesis, University of Center Buenos
Aires State, Argentina, pp. 242.
18. Opoczky, L., 1992, Progress of the particle size distribution during the intergrinding
of a clinker-limestone mixture, Zement-Kalk-Gips, International Ed. B., Vol. 45, No.
12, pp. 648-651.
19. Hornain, H., Marchand, J., Duhot, V., and Moranville-Regourd, M., 1995, Diffusion
of chloride ions in limestone filler blended cement pastes and mortars, Cement and
Concrete Research, Vol. 25, No. 8, pp. 1667-1678.
20. Dodson, V. H., 1990, Concrete admixtures, Ed.: Van Nostrand Reinhold, New
York, NY, pp. 199-200.
21. Soroka, I. and Stern N., 1976, Effect of calcareous fillers on sulfate resistance of
portland cement, Ceramic Bulletin, No. 55, pp. 594-595.
22. Gonzalez, M. A. and Irassar, E. F., 1998, Effect of limestone filler on the sulfate
resistance of low C3A portland cement, Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 28, No.
11, pp. 1655-1667.

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23. Sawicz, Z. and Heng, S. S., 1996, Durability of concrete with addition of limestone
powder, Magazine of Concrete Research, Thomas Telford Services Ltd., UK, Vol.
48, No. 175, pp. 131-137.
24. Kuzel, H. J. and Pelman, H., 1991, Hydration of C3A in presence of Ca(OH)2,
CaSO4. 2H2O and CaCO3, Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 21, No. 5, pp. 885895.
25. Winslow, D. N. and Cohen, M. D., 1994, Percolation and pore structure in mortars
and concrete, Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 24, No.1, pp. 25-37.
26. Kato, H., Nakamura, A., Doi, H., and Miyagawa, T., 2001, Strength development
and autogenous shrinkage of high-flow concrete with limestone powder, Journal of
the Society of Materials Science, Vol. 50, No. 5, Nihan Zairyo Gakkai, Japan, pp.
543-549.

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