Exploring diatomite as a novel natural resource for ecofriendly-sustainable hybrid cements

The primary goals of the present study are to decrease CO2 emissions and minimize the excessive consumption of natural resources associated with cement production. The main natural resource was diatomite (DIO), a naturally abundant material found in several regions of Mexico. Four different hybrid cement (HC) mixtures were prepared using NaOH, while maintaining a consistent OPC percentage of 10 % across all the mixtures. The obtained results demonstrate the exceptional performance of one of these HC mixtures, surpassing OPC properties in terms of compressive strength at 1, 7 and 28 days, with values of 28.8, 47.16 and 62.9 MPa, respectively. The outstanding HC mixture underwent thorough confirmation through a range of analyses, such as TG, FTIR, SEM and EDX. This innovative HC composite offers several solutions to reduce CO2 emissions and conserve natural resources currently wasted in cement manufacturing, making it a compelling choice for various industrial and construction applications.