Abstract
This article presents a systematic review on the effect of natural and industrial supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) --including ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS)-- silica fume, volcanic ash, natural zeolite, and diatomite, on the physical, mechanical, and durability properties of concrete. Based on the analysis of studies published between 2021 and 2025, consistent patterns of microstructural refinement, permeability reduction, and improved resistance to aggressive agents were identified. The results indicate that performance depends on the type of material, its fineness, replacement ratio, and curing conditions. The evidence suggests that durability enhancement is associated with the interaction between pozzolanic reaction and filler effect. This synthesis contributes to guiding the design of performance-based sustainable concretes and to strengthening technical criteria aligned with contemporary environmental challenges.
References
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[15] Z. Lv, C. Chen, Z. Tan, B. Hu, and J. Jin, “Establishment of strength evolution model and life prediction for diatomite-modified concrete under freeze-thaw conditions,” Construction and Building Materials, 2025, Art. no. 140049. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.140049.
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[18] M. Shekarchi, B. Ahmadi, F. Azarhomayun, B. Shafei, and M. Kioumarsi, “Natural zeolite as a supplementary cementitious material – A holistic review of main properties and applications,” Construction and Building Materials, 2023, Art. no. 133766. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.133766.
[19] J. Xi, J. Liu, K. Yang, S. Zhang, F. Han, J. Sha, and X. Zheng, “Role of silica fume on hydration and strength development of ultra-high performance concrete,” Construction and Building Materials, 2022, Art. no. 127600. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.127600.
[20] H. Zhang, B. He, B. Zhao, and P. Monteiro, “Using diatomite as a partial replacement of cement for improving the performance of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) – Effects and mechanism,” Construction and Building Materials, 2023, Art. no. 131518. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131518.
[2] S. Ahmad, O. Al-Amoudi, S. Khan, and M. Maslehuddin, “Effect of silica fume inclusion on the strength, shrinkage and durability characteristics of natural pozzolan-based cement concrete,” Case Studies in Construction Materials, 2022, Art. no. e01255. doi: 10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01255.
[3] A. Alqarni, “A comprehensive review on properties of sustainable concrete using volcanic pumice powder ash as a supplementary cementitious material,” Construction and Building Materials, 2022, Art. no. 126533. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.126533.
[4] T. Ayano and T. Fujii, “Improvement of concrete properties using granulated blast furnace slag sand,” Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology, vol. 19, 2021, pp. 118–129. doi: 10.3151/jact.19.118.
[5] M. Bameri, S. Rashidi, M. Mohammadhasani, M. Maghsoudi, H. Madani, and F. Rahmani, “Evaluation of mechanical and durability properties of eco-friendly concrete containing silica fume, waste glass powder, and ground granulated blast furnace slag,” Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, 2022, Art. no. 2730391. doi: 10.1155/2022/2730391.
[6] H. Hamada, F. Abed, S. Beddu, A. Humada, and A. Majdi, “Effect of volcanic ash and natural pozzolana on mechanical properties of sustainable cement concrete: A comprehensive review,” Case Studies in Construction Materials, 2023, Art. no. e02425. doi: 10.1016/j.cscm.2023.e02425.
[7] H. Hamada, F. Abed, H. Katman, A. Humada, M. Jawahery, A. Majdi, S. Yousif, and B. Thomas, “Effect of silica fume on the properties of sustainable cement concrete,” Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.jmrt.2023.05.147.
[8] H. Hu, Z. He, J. Shi, C. Liang, T. Shibro, B. Liu, and S. Yang, “Mechanical properties, drying shrinkage, and nano-scale characteristics of concrete prepared with zeolite powder pre-coated recycled aggregate,” Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 319, 2021, Art. no. 128710. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128710.
[9] S. Jagan and T. Neelakantan, “Effect of silica fume on the hardened and durability properties of concrete,” International Review of Applied Sciences and Engineering, 2021. doi: 10.1556/1848.2020.00129.
[10] G. Kaplan, O. Bayraktar, B. Bayrak, O. Çelebi, B. Bodur, A. Oz, and A. Aydın, “Physico-mechanical, thermal insulation and resistance characteristics of diatomite and attapulgite based geopolymer foam concrete: Effect of different curing regimes,” Construction and Building Materials, 2023, Art. no. 130850. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.130850.
[11] K. Khan, M. Johari, M. Amin, and M. Nasir, “Development and evaluation of basaltic volcanic ash based high performance concrete incorporating metakaolin, micro and nano-silica,” Developments in the Built Environment, 2024, Art. no. 100330. doi: 10.1016/j.dibe.2024.100330.
[12] D. Kriptavičius, G. Girskas, E. Ivanauskas, and A. Korjakins, “Complex effect of Portland cement modified with natural zeolite and ground glass mixture on durability properties of concrete,” Buildings, vol. 13, no. 10, 2023. doi: 10.3390/buildings13102576.
[13] C. Li, G. Li, D. Chen, K. Gao, Y. Cao, Y. Zhou, Y. Mao, S. Fan, L. Tang, and H. Jia, “The effects of diatomite as an additive on the macroscopic properties and microstructure of concrete,” Materials, vol. 16, no. 5, 2023. doi: 10.3390/ma16051833.
[14] J. Liu, M. Hossain, D. Xuan, H. Ali, S. Ng, and H. Ye, “Mechanical and durability performance of sustainable concretes containing conventional and emerging supplementary cementitious materials,” Developments in the Built Environment, 2023, Art. no. 100197. doi: 10.1016/j.dibe.2023.100197.
[15] Z. Lv, C. Chen, Z. Tan, B. Hu, and J. Jin, “Establishment of strength evolution model and life prediction for diatomite-modified concrete under freeze-thaw conditions,” Construction and Building Materials, 2025, Art. no. 140049. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.140049.
[16] O. Mohamed, O. Ghanam, A. Hamdan, M. Zuaiter, and T. Kim, “Mechanical properties and durability of concrete with recycled air-cooled blast furnace slag aggregates,” Scientific Reports, vol. 15, 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-09242-1.
[17] Z. Qu, Z. Liu, R. Si, and Y. Zhang, “Effect of various fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag content on concrete properties: Experiments and modelling,” Materials, vol. 15, no. 9, 2022. doi: 10.3390/ma15093016.
[18] M. Shekarchi, B. Ahmadi, F. Azarhomayun, B. Shafei, and M. Kioumarsi, “Natural zeolite as a supplementary cementitious material – A holistic review of main properties and applications,” Construction and Building Materials, 2023, Art. no. 133766. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.133766.
[19] J. Xi, J. Liu, K. Yang, S. Zhang, F. Han, J. Sha, and X. Zheng, “Role of silica fume on hydration and strength development of ultra-high performance concrete,” Construction and Building Materials, 2022, Art. no. 127600. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.127600.
[20] H. Zhang, B. He, B. Zhao, and P. Monteiro, “Using diatomite as a partial replacement of cement for improving the performance of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) – Effects and mechanism,” Construction and Building Materials, 2023, Art. no. 131518. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131518.
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