The Chemistry of Cement Group was created in 1986. It has a vast experience in the development and characterization of new and more sustainable construction materials (cements and concrete). Our research falls within the CSIC global area of MATERIA, although it also has a clear overlap with LIFE and SOCIETY Global areas.
The research of the group aims at developing new sustainable materials with a low carbon footprint while preserving optimal mechanical properties and durability.
Mission
The research of the Chemistry of Cement Group is focused on reaching a deeper scientific and technological understanding of construction materials, mainly cement and concrete. Furthermore, the Group aims at developing new materials with a low carbon footprint, sustainable and eco-efficient, while preserving their engineering properties and durability. The research done in our Group also aims at reaching a “Sustainable Construction” that will enable us to improve life quality in our society. The objectives of our research are closely associated with the framework of AGENDA 2030 of the European Commission, in particular, Objective 9 “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure” and Objective 11 “Cities and Sustainable Communities”. Our research is directly linked to a Circular Economy, to convert waste materials into raw materials that can be reused and taken advantage of in the production of construction materials, thus creating a sustainable and environmentally friendly life cycle.
Staff
Main Research Areas
The research of Chemistry of Cement Group is focused on:
- Development and characterization of eco-efficient cements and sustainable concrete. Study of their hydration process, properties and performance. In particular, the main cements studied are:
- Portland cement
- Alkali-activated cements (geopolymers)
- Hybrid cements
- Limestone calcined clay cements
- Sulfoaluminate cements
- Calcium aluminate cements,
- Use of industrial waste and by-products in the production of cement and concrete.
- Rheological behaviour of cements, mortars and concrete.
- Concrete Admixtures
- Environmental safety and radiological behaviour of cements and concrete. Natural radioactivity (NORM wastes)
- Design of cementitious materials to immobilize radioactive wastes.
- Preservation of the historical and cultural Heritage: damage mechanisms, products for its repair and preservation.
Our group develop this research in the framework of national, European and international competitive R+D projects. We also have a strong relationship with the industrial sector, that allow us to transfer the knowledge to the sector through R&D contracts with Spanish and international companies.




Books
Book: Alkali-Activated Materials in Environmental Technology Applications.
Chapter 2: Chemistry and materials science of alkali-activated materials
Cristina Leonelli and Angel Palomo
Woodhead Publishing Series in Civil and Structural Engineering, 2022
Edited by Tero Luukkonen
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-88438-9.00019-3
ISBN: 978-0-323-88438-9
Book: WASTES: Solutions, Treatments and Opportunities IV.
Mortars containing a hybrid alkaline cement and high contents of recycled aggregates
F Almeida, JR Carneiro, CS Vieira, N Cristelo, A Fernández-Jiménez…
Selected Papers from the 6th International Conference Wastes 2023, 6 – 8 September 2023, Coimbra, Portugal
https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003345084
ISBN: 9781003345084
Book: ¿Qué sabemos de CEMENTOS Y HORMIGONES?
Francisca Puertas Maroto
CSIC y Catarata
ISBN: 978-84-00-11241-7
Patents
Procedimiento para la fabricacion de cementos alcalinos a partir de residuos vitreos urbanos e industriales
Type of industrial property: Patent of invention
Inventors/authors: Francisca Puertas Maroto, Juan José Torres Castañon, Celia Varga Fernández (Titular: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas)
(Nº of patent: 2394979), Spanish Patent: Yes; EU patent: yes; Interntational Non-EU : Yes
Aditivo para mejorar la fluidez y el desarrollo mecánico en pastas de cemento, mortero y Hormigones
Type of industrial property: Patent of invention
Inventors/authors: S.A. SULQUISA; Olga Maltseva; Maria Ines Garcia Lodeiro; Ana Fernandez Jimenez; Angel Palomo
(Nº of patent: 300277491), Spanish Patent: Yes; EU patent: yes; Interntational Non-EU : Yes
Training
Supervising of doctoral thesis
Title: Élaboration et caractérisation de clinker portland à base des schistes bitumineux et gangue de charbon du maroc
Doctoral student: Salma Chhaiba
Directors: Abdeljebbar Diouri y María Teresa Blanco Varela
University: Mohamed V School: Ciencias
Year: 2019 Qualification: Sobresaliente cum laude
International: Si
Title: Comportamiento reologico de pastas y morteros activados alcalinamente. Influencia de las variables del proceso
Doctoral student: Sara Gismera Díez
Directors: Francisca Puertas, Marta Palacios y Mar Alonso
University: UCM. School: Ciencias Químicas
Year: 2019 Qualification: Sobresaliente “cum laude”
International: No
https://eprints.ucm.es/56785/
Title: Synthesis of alkali activated binders from carbonate rich clays: influence of activation processing and additions on mechanical and microstructural properties.
Doctoral student: Angela D`Elia
Directors: Prof. Rocco Laviano; Dott. Giacomo Eramo; Dott.ssa Ana Fernández-Jiménez
University: Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro”
School: Dipartimento Di Scienze Della Terra e Geoambientali
Year: 2018 Qualification: SOBRESALIENTE CUM LAUDEN
International: Si
Title: Valorization of secondary raw materials through alkali activation: study of binders based on sulfate-bearing clay and Pietra Serena sewage sludge
Doctoral student: Roberta Occhipinti
Directors: Prof. Serena Chiara Tarantino Dott. ssa Ana Fernández-Jiménez
University: Università degli Studi di Pavia
School / Escuela: Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell’Ambiente
Year: 2018 Qualification: SOBRESALIENTE CUM LAUDEN
International: Si
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=Valorization+of+secondary+raw+materials+through+alkali+activation%3A+study+of+binders+based+on+sulfate-bearing+clay+and+Pietra+Serena+sewage+sludge
Title: Temperature effect on performance of portland cement versus advanced hybrid cements and alkali-fly ash cement
Doctoral student: QU, BO
Directors: José Ygnacio Pastor CYear / Ana Fernández-Jiménez
University: University Politécnica de Madrid; E. T. S. de Caminos Canales y Puertos
School / Escuela: Departamento de Ciencias de Materiales.
Year: 2018 Qualification: SOBRESALIENTE CUM LAUDEN
http://oa.upm.es/49698/
Title: La activación alcalina como procedimiento para el desarrollo de nuevos cementos beliticos
Doctoral student María José Sánchez Herrero
Director: Ana María Fernández Jiménez
University: University Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED)
School / Escuela: Departamento de Química
Year: 2017 Qualification: SOBRESALIENTE CUM LAUDEN
International: No
https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/tesis?codigo=138828
Title: Conservación de esculturas de hormigón: efecto de consolidantes en pastas y morteros de cemento
Doctoral student: Alma Mª Barberena Fernández
Directors: Paula María Carmona Quiroga, Margarita San Andrés y María Teresa Blanco Varela
University: Complutense de Madrid School: Bellas Artes
Year: 2015 Qualification: Sobresaliente
International: No
https://eprints.ucm.es/38975/
Title: Reutilización de residuos vítreos urbanos e industriales en la fabricación de cementos alcalinos. Activación, comportamiento y durabilidad
Doctoral student: Manuel Torres Carrasco
Director: Francisca Puertas
University: UAM Universida Autónoma de Madrid. School: Ciencias
Year: 2015 Qualification: Sobresaliente “cum laude”
International: No
http://hdl.handle.net/10486/670399
Title: Cementos activados alcalinamente. Comportamiento reológico y durable en medio ácido
Doctoral student: Celia Varga Fernández
Directors: Francisca Puertas y Mar Alonso
University: UNED. School: Ciencias
Year: 2015 Qualification: Sobresaliente “cum laude”
International: No
https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/tesis?codigo=53881
Supervising of final year/master projects
Title: Uso de la halloysita en sistemas de escoria activadas alcalinamente
Student: Paula Díaz Fernández
Directors: Inés García Lodeiro
University: Universidad de Castilla La Mancha
School: Ciencias Ambientales
Year: 2019 Qualification: Sobresaliente (9.6)
Title: Hormigones con alta sustitución de ceniza volante
Student: David Viejo Mariño
Directors: Ana Fernández Jiménez/ Oscar Cabrera
Grado: Graduado en tecnología minera ingeniero de minas
University: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Minas y Energía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM).
Year: 2017 Qualification: Sobresaliente (9.5) premio: cemex 2018
Title: Estudio de nuevos hormigones ecoeficientes. Reología y comportamiento
Student: Ruth García
Directors: María del Mar Alonso
University: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
School: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales
Year: 2016 Qualification: Matrícula de honor- Nota 10
Title: Determinación de las isotermas de adsorción de aditivos superplastificantes en arenas utilizadas en la preparación de hormigones autocompactantes.
Student: Roberto Martínez Gaitero
Directors: Francisca Puertas y María del Mar Alonso
University: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
School: Escuela Superior de Ingenieros Industriales
Year: 2015 Qualification: Sobresaliente (9.0)
Title: Reología de pastas y morteros de cenizas volantes activadas alcalinamente. Efecto de la reutilización de residuos vítreos como activadores alternativos
Student: Sara López de Armentia
Directors: María del Mar Alonso
University: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
School: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales
Year: 2015 Qualification: Matrícula de honor- nota 10
Title: Estudio del comportamiento mecánico-resistente y microestructural de morteros de cementos alcalinos con áridos reciclados
Student: Andrea Rodríguez Yébenes
Directors: Francisca Puertas y María del Mar Alonso
University: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
School: Escuela Superior de Ingenieros Industriales
Year: 2015 Qualification: Sobresaliente (9.5)