The Dissemination of the Technology “LC³” in Latin America. Challenges and Opportunities

The technology for the manufacture of a ternary cement based on Portland cement, calcined clay and limestone has gained interest in the region Latin America. Several cement companies have embraced the technology, and many of them are moving toward industrial production within the next 2–3 years. The introduction process must overcome a series of challenges associated with: (i) the choice of clay deposits rich in kaolinitic clays that are accessible to cement plants. Depending on the geological origin, several accompanying mineral can come with the clay, and some of them can compromise the reactivity of the activated clay; (ii) the choice of technology for clay calcination. Since this is a CAPEX dependent issue, each company has its own strategy for implementing the technology. The main trends are refurbishing old clinker kilns to convert them into calciners; opting for rotary kilns for the calcination and alternatively for flash calciners; (iii) The grinding strategy, which can opt for separate grinding or co-grinding, each with benefits and setbacks. Issues like grinding aids can be crucial in terms of achieving the best particle size distribution and avoiding excess grinding of some components and (iv) The strategy for the use of the ternary cements in mortar and concrete. The high specific surface of the calcined clays poses a challenge to the manufacture of concrete, since water demand is high. The strategy for the use of plasticizers differs from ordinary practices with Portland cement, but good flowing concrete can be achieved with a relatively high amount of calcined clay in its cement. Most of the results discussed in this paper are produced through the interaction of the Cuban Technical Resource Center with clients in the region.