Management strategy in cement technology for the next century

We set out and explore three key areas that need to be addressed by the cement industry as the 21 st century approaches: (1) There is a need to create high performance multifunctional cements to meet the challenges of a more discerning and sophisticated market as well as modifying existing cements for better performance in areas like high strength, rapid-hardening, low heat, low basicity, shrinkage compensation and anti-washout. For this to take place, there must be commensurate improvements in cement characterisation, of techniques to evaluate properties and computer assistance. (2) For environmental reasons emissions of CO 2 , NO x and harmful materials must be minimised urgently and process modifications to address these problems need to be made. (3) The cement industry needs to be restructured for an environment-cleaning function to a less intensive energy and quarried raw material consumption