Editorial

This themed issue has as its focus calcium sulfolauminate cements (C$A). These cements have long evolutionary history but have recently attracted attention because their production emits less carbon dioxide than Portland cement. Of course a successful building material has to meet many criteria but the structural use of C$A cements in China has attracted much attention. The Chinese cements rely mainly on hydration of ye'elemite, ideally 4CaO.3Al 2 O 3 .SO 3 , for strength gain and thus differ in mineralogy from Portland cement. Despite their structural use in China C$A cements are used elsewhere mainly in special cement formulations, for example as adhesives and in repair materials, but the feeling has been that these cements have a bright future if only certain disadvantages can be overcome.