WEBSOST project, in which we have carried out research in collaboration with SAINT-GOBAIN WEBER CEMARKSA, has successfully created a new environmentally friendly mineral binder as an alternative to Portland cement.

Today’s society is facing new challenges such as climate change or the scarcity of natural resources such as water, which need to be solved under a globalised strategy. Thus, the United Nations created the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, aiming to protect the planet and ensure human prosperity.

To achieve these objectives, public-private collaboration and the creation of committed and environmentally friendly business alliances are necessary. Alliances such as that of SAINT-GOBAIN WEBER CEMARKSA (WEBER), a multinational company committed to innovation, R+D and sustainability, and CETIM Technological Centre, with extensive experience in innovation in sustainable building materials.

Under these premises, WEBSOST project was developed. Its general objective was to research and develop a new sustainable mineral binder based on waste fractions not used nowadays, completely replacing the need for Portland cement and creating new mortars with high added value and low carbon footprint.

WEBSOST, a WEBER project that has benefited from our scientific research, has recently been completed with very positive results. Two main lines of research have been followed. In a first approach, we have analyzed a mineral binder based on the chemistry of geopolymers with different residues of great presence and potential that, by means of their alkaline activation, completely. In a second line of research, we studied these same wastes as additions / fillers for the substitution of Portland cement, giving rise to more sustainable binders based on CSH chemistry (hydrated calcium silicate).

CETIM expertise

At CETIM we have been present throughout the WEBSOST development process, developing sustainable mortars formulation research and searching for new technologies applied to the production of these sustainable mortars.

In addition, we have developed and optimised different formulations proposed in the project based on geopolymers from three target wastes, we have provided support in the implementation of the optical demonstrators developed throughout the project and, finally, we have analysed the feasibility of the best sustainable mortars developed from a technical, economic and environmental point of view.

WEBSOST has managed to use the most innovative technologies to develop a new, more sustainable material that can be used in high added-value mortars and that serves as an alternative to Portland cement. All of this, using previously unused waste that reduces the carbon footprint of construction systems. In this way, the project contributes significantly to the adaptation of the new paradigms we face as a society, global warming and resources scarcity.