Construction

Get to know: How is Zeolite used in construction? 

Zeolite powder is a naturally occurring aluminum silicate and can be used as a highly effective pozzolan as it consumes calcium hydroxide CH and creates a low-density C S H gel that fills void concrete pores left behind by evaporated water

Why zeolite?

Zeolite plays many role within the construction industry, since ancient times, zeolites have been a widely used additive in construction materials. In the cement industry, natural zeolite is a popular pozzolan that is used as a cement blending material. Additionally, zeolites contain small pores and channels with large internal and external surface areas, a feature that allows them to absorb up to 40  percent of their weight in water.


Together, these properties provide zeolite additives with the ability to increase the compressive strength of concrete and enhance durability by reducing concrete permeability. Several studies have examined how to reduce the required amount of cement in concrete production, both from an economic and environmental standpoint. Natural zeolite is one raw material that has proven effective.

Build greener with zeolite

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the major air pollutants that enters the atmosphere. There is a large release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as a result of burning fossil fuels in the cement manufacturing industries as well as many other industries, these omissions continue throughout the construction phase. This increase in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere leads to various ill effects and global warming. To reduce the CO2 level in the atmosphere, efforts need to be made to prepare concrete that can absorb CO2, the addition of zeolite can support this reduction owed to its large pore volume and large specific surface area allowing the material to absorb more CO2 emissions.

Stronger and lighter weight construction

There has been a growing interest in investigating the influence of zeolite on concrete’s microstructure. Specifically, when introduced into concrete mixtures, zeolite interacts with the cementitious matrix, leading to various microstructural changes. These changes may include alterations in the pore size distribution, the formation of new crystalline phases, and modifications to the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between the cement paste and aggregates.


Zeolite, with its pozzolanic properties, can contribute to refining the concrete’s pore structure. This refinement can lead to reduced porosity and improved resistance to permeability.



Incorporating natural zeolite into the concrete mixture resulted in a substantial enhancement of compressive strength over time, with increases of up to 30%.

Measurements taken at 28 and 180 days indicated a notable rise in compressive strength. Additionally, the overall durability of the concrete improved across all parameters, while the weight of the concrete was also decreased.

Benefits of Zeolite when used in concrete

  • Reduces the volume of Portland concrete needed which thereby reduces Co2 omissions resulting in greener construction.


  • Adding 2.5% to 10% zeolite in concrete mixtures can reduce water penetration by up to 57%
  • Zeolites have been studied in relation to their potential for enhancing the frost resistance of concrete during freeze-thaw cycles. Substituting 10% of the cement mass with natural zeolites increases the time of the cement strength loss by 150 freeze-thaw cycles.
  • Zeolite reduces the expansion rate when exposed to NaSO solutions; an experiment showed only a 0.68% expansion in zeolite-enhanced concrete versus 9.3% in normal concrete over 720 days.
  • Studies by Tuan et al. showed that incorporating 5%, 10%, and 12.5% natural zeolites in ultrahigh-performance concrete reduced autogenous shrinkage by 64%, 74%, and 77%, respectively, after 28 days.


  • Humidity Control: Zeolite helps maintain humidity within the concrete, preventing autogenous shrinkage effectively

Research Link

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950061823034840

Research Link

https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/1/18

Research Link

https://www.hilarispublisher.com/open-access/effect-of-zeolite-in-the-mechanical-properties-of-concrete-and-its-co2-absorption-characteristics-to-form-an-ecofriendly.pdf

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