Zeolitized tuff in environmental friendly production of cementitious material: Chemical and mechanical characterization

The feasibility of some widespread zeolite-rich tuffs to act as pozzolanic material for manufacturing blended cements was evaluated by chemical and mechanical characterization. Two different methods were used: (a) Fratini’s test, that allowed to evaluate the ability of the pozzolanic material to combine with Ca(OH)2 in a blended cement; (b) Saturated Lime Test, where the pozzolanic behaviour was directly evaluated in a lime saturated solution. Mechanical characterization was carried out by measuring compressive strength of blend mortars, after 28-day curing. The good pozzolanic behaviour proved by all the tuffs, coupled with their low cost, makes very promising the use of zeolitic tuffs for the production of eco-sustainable blended cements.