Author Identifier (ORCID)

Sajad Razzazan: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6832-479X

Nuha S. Mashaan: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0331-4254

Themelina Paraskeva: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5097-8523

Abstract

The global cement industry remains a significant contributor to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, prompting substantial research efforts toward sustainable construction materials. Lithium slag (LS), a by-product of lithium extraction, has attracted attention as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM). This review synthesizes experimental findings on LS replacement levels, fresh-state behavior, mechanical performance (compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths), time-dependent deformation (shrinkage and creep), and durability (sulfate, acid, abrasion, and thermal) of LS-modified concretes. Statistical analysis identifies an optimal LS dosage of 20–30% (average 24%) for maximizing compressive strength and long-term durability, with 40% as a practical upper limit for tensile and flexural performance. Fresh-state tests show that workability losses at high LS content can be mitigated via superplasticizers. Drying shrinkage and creep strains decrease in a dose-dependent manner with up to 30% LS. High-volume (40%) LS blends achieve up to an 18% gain in 180-day compressive strength and >30% reduction in permeability metrics. Under elevated temperatures, 20% LS mixes retain up to 50% more residual strength than controls. In advanced systems—autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), one-part geopolymers, and recycled aggregate composites—LS further enhances both microstructural densification and durability. In particular, LS emerges as a versatile SCM that optimizes mechanical and durability performance, supports material circularity, and reduces the carbon footprint.

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

8-1-2025

Volume

18

Issue

15

Publication Title

Materials

Publisher

MDPI

School

Mineral Recovery Research Centre / School of Engineering

RAS ID

82712

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Comments

Razzazan, S., Mashaan, N., & Paraskeva, T. (2025). Lithium slag as a supplementary cementitious material for sustainable concrete: A review. Materials, 18(15). https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18153641

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.3390/ma18153641