journal article·2025-12

Mapping the research landscape of calcined clay and LC3: A bibliometric perspective on emerging challenges and opportunities

Ariel Miranda de Souza, José Maria Franco de Carvalho, Gabriela Moreira Silva, Leonardo Gonçalves Pedroti, Guilherme Jorge Brigolini Silva, Ricardo André Fiorotti Peixoto

Publisher page

Abstract

To reduce carbon emissions in cement production and maintain productivity with an abundantly available supplementary cementitious material, research into limestone calcined clay cement (LC 3) has been gaining prominence. This study aims to understand the research gaps, emerging themes, and innovation perspectives by examining the data and metrics of published articles found in the SCOPUS database, using the VOSviewer, Bibliometrix and Pajek software tools. This bibliometric analysis, while focused on LC 3, intentionally includes studies on calcined clays due to their importance as a key component and the relevance of technological advancements in this area for LC 3 development. Keyword analysis highlighted a predominant focus on reactivity and mechanical performance, while revealing underexplored areas such as durability, sustainability and rheology. Emerging themes include LC 3 performance in harsh environments, circular economy applications, and post-fire scenarios. The findings point to future research directions emphasizing clay rheology and comprehensive life cycle assessments, contributing to the advancement of LC 3 as a sustainable cement alternative.
Source: expertdata · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Concrete and Cement Materials Research · Recycling and utilization of industrial and municipal waste in materials production · Clay minerals and soil interactions

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

References (100+)

Show source-provided references
1. The fourth age of research10.1038/497557a ↗
2. National research impact is driven by global collaboration, not rising performance10.1007/s11192-024-05010-6 ↗
3. Engineering low clinker Strain-Hardening cementitious composites (SHCC) using polyethylene and cost-effective polypropylene fibers: an experimental scale-linking analysis10.1016/j.matdes.2025.114051 ↗
4. Influence of steam curing on the optimum sulfate content in limestone calcined clay cement (LC3)10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.141542 ↗
5. A bibliometric analysis of the studies on self-healing concrete published between 1974 and 2021
6. Global CO2 emissions from cement production, 1928-201810.5194/essd-11-1675-2019 ↗
7. Cement substitution by a combination of metakaolin and limestone10.1016/j.cemconres.2012.09.006 ↗
8. Life cycle assessment to produce LC3 cements with kaolinitic waste from the Amazon region, Brazil
9. Investigation of the calcined kaolinite content on the hydration of Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3)10.1016/j.cemconres.2018.02.016 ↗
10. Development of a new rapid, relevant and reliable (R3) test method to evaluate the pozzolanic reactivity of calcined kaolinitic clays10.1016/j.cemconres.2016.02.015 ↗
11. Mechanical and Durability Properties of High-Strength Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) Concrete Containing Waste Glass Powder10.1007/s40996-023-01102-0 ↗
12. 3D-printed limestone calcined clay cement concrete incorporating recycled plastic waste (RESIN8)
13. Sustainability perspective of marble and granite residues as concrete fillers10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.03.032 ↗
14. Natural kenaf fiber and LC3 binder for sustainable fiber-reinforced cementitious composite: a review10.3390/app10010357 ↗
15. Sustainable perspective of ancillary construction materials in infrastructure industry: an overview
16. Contribution to low-carbon cement studies: Effects of silica fume, fly ash, sugarcane bagasse ash and acai stone ash incorporation in quaternary blended limestone-calcined clay cement concretes
17. The rheology of fresh cement and concrete—A review
18. Limestone-Calcined Clay (LC2) as a supplementary cementitious material for concrete10.21809/rilemtechlett.2023.172 ↗
19. Beigh · 2020 · 229
20. Characterization of supplementary cementitious materials by thermal analysis
21. Effect of silica fume and PCE-HPMC on LC3 mortar: Microstructure, statistical optimization and life cycle Assessment10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.133073 ↗
22. A method to increase the workability retention of concrete with limestone calcined clay based cementitious system using a dispersing agent containing sodium hexametaphosphate10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2022.104624 ↗
23. Developing 3D printable and buildable limestone calcined clay-based cement composites with higher aggregate content10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131058 ↗
24. Prioritization of low-grade kaolinite and mixed clays for performance evaluation of Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3): Multi-criteria assessment10.1016/j.clay.2023.107080 ↗
25. Predicting the rheology of limestone calcined clay cements (LC3): linking composition and hydration kinetics to yield stress through Machine Learning10.1016/j.cemconres.2022.106925 ↗
26. A comparative life cycle assessment for sustainable cement production in Turkey10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109362 ↗
27. Exploratory literature review and scientometric analysis of artificial intelligence applied to geopolymeric materials10.1016/j.engappai.2025.110210 ↗
28. Mechanisms of dispersion of metakaolin particles via adsorption of sodium naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde polymer10.1016/j.jcis.2022.07.166 ↗
29. Mechanical properties and durability performance of concretes with Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3)10.1016/j.cemconres.2018.02.005 ↗
30. Use of thermogravimetric and differential scanning technique for determining the quality of calcination of kaolinite clays for cement production10.1617/s11527-024-02516-6 ↗
31. Quaternary blended limestone-calcined clay cement concrete incorporating fly ash10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2021.104174 ↗
32. The uptake of radioisotopes onto clays and other natural materials10.1007/BF02345560 ↗
33. Durability assessment of LC3-based reinforced concrete under combined chloride-sulfate environment via the EIS technique10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.130194 ↗
34. A Fresh View on Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) Pastes10.3390/ma14113037 ↗
35. Influence of supplementary cementitious materials on factors controlling the fresh state of hydraulic binders10.1016/j.matpr.2022.01.307 ↗
36. Limestone powder, calcined clay and slag as quaternary blended cement used for green concrete production
37. The origin of the pozzolanic activity of calcined clay minerals: a comparison between kaolinite, illite and montmorillonite10.1016/j.cemconres.2010.09.013 ↗
38. An empirical analysis of individual and collective determinants of international research collaboration10.1007/s11192-024-04999-0 ↗
39. Cement and concrete as an engineering material: an historic appraisal and case study analysis10.1016/j.engfailanal.2014.02.004 ↗
40. Global Carbon Project · 2023
41. Multiscale Investigation on the Performance of Engineered Cementitious Composites Incorporating PE Fiber and Limstone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3)10.3390/polym14071291 ↗
42. Data-driven optimization tool for the functional, economic, and environmental properties of blended cement concrete using supplementary cementitious materials
43. Clay calcination technology: state-of-the-art review by the RILEM TC 282-CCL
44. Thermodynamics of calcined clays used in cementitious binders: origin to service life considerations10.1039/D3TA01896B ↗
45. Analysis of energy-efficiency opportunities for the cement industry in Shandong Province, China: a case study of 16 cement plants10.1016/j.energy.2010.04.046 ↗
46. Effects of water-to-binder ratios (w/b) and superplasticizer on physicochemical, microstructural, and mechanical evolution of limestone calcined clay cement (LC3)10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131529 ↗
47. Pozzolanic reactions of six principal clay minerals: Activation, reactivity assessments and technological effects10.1016/0008-8846(95)00165-4 ↗
48. A Scientometric Review on Mapping Research Knowledge for 3D Printing Concrete
49. Experimental studies on durability performances of ultra-lightweight low-carbon LC3 cement composites against chloride ingression and carbonation10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.132340 ↗
50. Carbon emissions mitigation methods for cement industry using a systems dynamics model10.1007/s10098-023-02683-0 ↗
51. Global insights into micro-macro mechanisms and environmental implications of limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) for sustainable construction applications10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167794 ↗
52. Thermal treatment of kaolin clay to obtain metakaolin10.2298/HEMIND100322014I ↗
53. Performance of Composite Portland Cements with Calcined Illite Clay and Limestone Filler Produced by Industrial Intergrinding10.3390/min13020240 ↗
54. Calcined clay as supplementary cementitious material10.3390/ma13214734 ↗
55. Coloured concrete produced from low-carbon cements: Mechanical properties, chromatic stability and sustainability
56. Influence of durability properties on life-cycle carbon reduction of low-carbon mortar with similar compressive strength
57. Techno-socio-economic aspects of Portland cement, Geopolymer, and Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) composite systems: A-State-of-Art-Review10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.132484 ↗
58. Lehne · 2018
59. Interaction between polycarboxylate superplasticizers and non-calcined clays and calcined clays: a review10.1016/j.cemconres.2022.106717 ↗
60. Impact of metakaolin content and fineness on the behavior of calcined clay blended cements admixed with HPEG PCE superplasticizer10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2022.104654 ↗
61. Influence of PCE superplasticizers on the fresh properties of low carbon cements containing calcined clays: a comparative study of calcined clays from three different sources10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2023.105072 ↗
62. Research trends on phosphorus removal from wastewater: a review and bibliometric analysis from 2000 to 202210.1016/j.jwpe.2023.104201 ↗
63. Mechanical and durability performance of sustainable concretes containing conventional and emerging supplementary cementitious materials
64. Printability and particle packing of 3D-printable limestone calcined clay cement composites10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.122647 ↗
65. Can Portland cement be replaced by low-carbon alternative materials? A study on the thermal properties and carbon emissions of innovative cements10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.138 ↗
66. Environmental and technical assessment to support sustainable strategies for limestone calcined clay cement production in Brazil
67. Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus: a systematic comparison of citations in 252 subject categories
68. Effect of superplasticizer addition time and metakaolin source on the early-age hydration of limestone calcined clay cement (LC3)
69. Rheological and stability analysis of cement pastes incorporating silica-based wastes10.1016/j.partic.2023.11.005 ↗
70. Formulation of blended cement by the combination of two pozzolans: Calcined clay and finely ground sand10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.10.021 ↗
71. Using Scopus's CiteScore for assessing the quality of computer science conferences
72. Mehta · 2013
73. Carbon dioxide reduction potential in the global cement industry by 205010.1016/j.cemconres.2017.08.026 ↗
74. Calcium-based Binders in Concrete or Soil Stabilization: challenges, Problems, and Calcined Clay as Partial Replacement to produce Low-Carbon Cement10.3390/ma16052020 ↗
75. The role of limestone and calcined clay on the rheological properties of LC310.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103516 ↗
76. A study on fresh properties of limestone calcined clay blended cementitious systems10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119326 ↗
77. A bibliometric analysis of recycled concrete research (1978–2019)10.1108/BEPAM-01-2020-0009 ↗
78. Reusing ceramic wastes in concrete10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2009.10.023 ↗
79. Compressive strength, water absorption and pulse velocity tests of calcined clay- limestone cement mortars10.1016/j.matpr.2022.05.526 ↗
80. Development of alternative cementitious binders for 3D printing applications: a critical review of progress, advantages and challenges10.1016/j.compositesb.2022.110492 ↗
81. Pérez · 2020 · 31
82. Service life and life cycle assessment of reinforced concrete systems with limestone calcined clay cement (LC3)10.1016/j.cemconres.2018.11.019 ↗
83. Methods for evaluating pozzolanic reactivity in calcined clays: a review10.3390/ma16134778 ↗
84. Suggested scripture for evaluation of a scientific article10.1016/j.rbce.2017.12.002 ↗
85. Does carbon footprint reduction impair mechanical properties and service life of concrete?
86. New ternary blend limestone calcined clay cement for solidification/stabilization of zinc contaminated soil10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.06.051 ↗
87. Influence of cement strength class on environmental impact of concrete10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105075 ↗
88. Assessment of the environmental performance of blended cements from a life cycle perspective: a systematic review10.1016/j.spc.2022.12.010 ↗
89. Assessing hydration kinetics and rheological properties of Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3): Influence of clay-mitigating and superplasticizer admixtures
90. Metakaolin and calcined clays as pozzolans for concrete: a review10.1016/S0958-9465(00)00092-5 ↗
91. Eco-efficient cements: potential economically viable solutions for a low-CO2 cement-based materials industry10.1016/j.cemconres.2018.03.015 ↗
92. Calcined clay limestone cements (LC3)10.1016/j.cemconres.2017.08.017 ↗
93. Limestone calcined clay cement and concrete: a state-of-the-art review10.1016/j.cemconres.2021.106564 ↗
95. Performance of limestone-calcined clay cement mortar incorporating high volume ferrochrome waste slag aggregate10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.128928 ↗
96. Bibliometric Analysis of Environmental, Social, and Governance Management Research from 2002 to 2021
97. Study of the use of LC3 cements containing different calcined clays and fillers
98. Reactivity of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in cement blends
99. Reactivity of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in cement blends10.1016/j.cemconres.2019.105799 ↗
100. Rheology, setting and hydration of calcined clay blended cements in interaction with PCE-based superplasticisers10.1680/jmacr.19.00488 ↗