Lafarge Whitehall tri-blend: High early strength, low CO2

Sources: LafargeHolcim, Chicago; CP staff

One of the oldest cement operations in the country proves the connection between innovation and longevity. Lafarge Whitehall, a fixture in western Pennsylvania dating to 1899, has developed a tri-blend binder with carbon dioxide emissions profile as low as one-third that of ordinary portland cement. TerCem imparts enhanced early strength performance beyond what concrete producers can attain with premium admixtures. That attribute will underly promotion of the material’s suitability to mixes specified for post tensioned structures in urban areas.

“We are leading a market transformation and taking a step towards a net-zero future,” says LafargeHolcim U.S. Cement Senior Vice President of Sales Patrick Cleary. “Our organization has invested heavily in broadening the industry’s range of superior sustainable products designed to lower our carbon footprint with no compromise in quality and long-term durability.”

TerCem joins ECOPlanet, a global portfolio of binders LafargeHolcim announced last year. Compared to conventional portland cements, ECOPlanet products exhibit a minimum 30 percent lower carbon footprint—a metric attained with the use of innovative and low-emission raw materials, plus alternative cement kiln fuels. Introduction of the series in the U.S., LafargeHolcim notes, is a critical step in “a national effort to improve physical infrastructure and support improvements that boost the economy and create jobs, while enabling greener cities. As the United States doubles down on its commitment to lowering the carbon footprint of the built environment, ECOPlanet cement products, along with TerCem will enable low-carbon construction at scale.”