Metakaolin and calcined clays as pozzolans for concrete: a review

The utilisation of calcined clay, in the form of metakaolin (MK), as a pozzolanic material for mortar and concrete has received considerable attention in recent years. This interest is part of the widely spread attention directed towards the utilisation of wastes and industrial by-products in order to minimise Portland cement (PC) consumption, the manufacture of which being environmentally damaging. Another reason is that mortar and concrete, which contain pozzolanic materials, exhibit considerable enhancement in durability properties. This paper reviews work carried out on the use of MK as a partial pozzolanic replacement for cement in mortar and concrete and in the containment of hazardous wastes. The literature demonstrates that MK is an effective pozzolan which causes great improvement in the pore structure and hence the resistance of the concrete to the action of harmful solutions.