Cement Hydration Research Articles

Fluidity and hydration evolution of cement-LS binder in the function of Mg/Al-LDH-PCE

In order to improve the early properties of lithium slag (LS) blended binder, Mg/Al-LDH/polycarboxylate (PCE) nanocomposites as chemical admixture were adopted. In this research, effects of Mg/Al-LDH/PCE nanocomposites on the hydration behavior of Portland cement including LS powder (20 wt%) were evaluated. The rheological properties and compressive strengths were studied. And the micro-analysis, such as hydration heat, hydration products and micro-morphology were also analyzed to reveal the potential hydration mechanism of LS-cement binder in the function of LDH-PCE. Results showed that LDH-PCE was beneficial for improving the rheological and mechanical performances of the fresh binder. Adding 1 wt% LDH-PCE contributed to the highest compressive strength, leading to 14.66 %, 32.62 %, and 24.88 % enhancement at 3 d, 7 d, and 28 d, respectively. LDH-PCE acted as nucleation sites and promoted the hydration process of LS blended binder. With the addition of LDH-PCE, the second exothermic peak of hydration heat evolution and cumulative hydration heat elevated obviously. The amount of CH enhanced at the early stage (3 d) due to the enhanced hydration of cement clinker and decreased at a later time (28 d) because of enhanced pozzolanic reaction. Enhanced cement hydration and pozzolanic reaction of LS generated more hydration products in the matrix, resulting in denser microstructure as well as enhanced mechanical strength. The addition of LDH-PCE significantly improved the rheological properties of the LS blended binder, shortened the setting time, increased the compressive strength of the mortar, and promoted the hydration process.

Development and Evaluation of Insulation Materials for Deepwater Cementing.

Marine oil and gas resources are abundant in deepwater regions, where the shallow seabed harbors natural gas hydrate layers due to the cold temperature and high-pressure environment. Hydrates are prone to thermal decomposition, which can compromise the integrity of cement sealing and even lead to accidents like blowouts. While current low-hydrated heat cement systems mitigate hydrate decomposition from cement hydration heat during the waiting period for cementing, they do not address heat transfer from deep strata to shallow hydrate layers through fluid circulation in the tubing during deep oil and gas development. Rather than utilizing costly pipe insulation technology, adjusting the thermal conductivity of well cement emerges as a cost-effective approach to prevent heat loss in the wellbore to the hydrate layer and thus inhibit hydrate decomposition. The critical aspect lies in utilizing insulation functional materials. This study delves into the functional and structural design of insulation materials suitable for cement slurry systems in well cementing, outlining the preparation methods and processes for two insulation materials (SDBW and SDBW-II) tailored for deepwater well cementing. SDBW and SDBW-II are both nuclear shell structural materials. The core is made of high-strength hollow microspheres, produced by using a reverse suspension polymerization method to form spheres followed by high-temperature sintering. The shell consists of a wear-resistant BPA epoxy resin layer, with the surface of SDBW-II also containing highly reflective glass microspheres. Incorporating 20% of material SDBW into the cement reduces the thermal conductivity of the cement stone from 0.8 to 0.31 W·(m·K)-1 while achieving a compressive strength of 6 MPa after 24 h at 20 °C. Material SDBW-II offers both thermal resistance and reflection functions, increasing reflectivity (R) from 0.3 to 0.5. By adding 20% of this material to the cement, under the same conditions, although the compressive strength decreases to 4.2 MPa, the thermal conductivity can be reduced to 0.27 W·(m·K)-1. Furthermore, there is no significant change within 180 days, demonstrating long-term thermal insulation stability. These developed insulation materials can effectively improve the thermal insulation performance of the cement sheath, thereby maintaining the stability of the upper natural gas hydrate layer in the oil and gas production process of deepwater wells, providing an innovative solution for the long-term operation of deepwater oil and gas wells.

Radiation stability and durability of magnesium phosphate cement for radioactive reactive metals encapsulation

The encapsulation of Radioactive Reactive Metallic Waste (RRMW) in ordinary Portland cement poses significant challenges due to its incompatibility with the alkaline environment of the matrix. To address this issue, magnesium phosphate cements (MPC) emerge as potential solutions for the safe and effective immobilisation of RRMWs. The radiation stability and durability of an optimised formulation have been examined for samples irradiated up to 1000 kGy, in particular concerning the leaching behaviour of the three main constituents of the cement hydration products, and on four artificially added elements used to simulate radionuclides commonly found in radioactive waste (caesium, strontium, europium, and cobalt). The mortars exhibited excellent leaching behaviour and a high mechanical resistance, even after irradiation, freeze-thaw cycles, and water immersion. No significant radiation-induced effects were observed in the mineralogical and microstructural properties of the mortars, thus supporting their stability at the examined doses. Having verified the compliance with the main Italian waste acceptance criteria, the results of this research represent an encouraging step for the future implementation of MPCs for RRMWs conditioning.

Hydration and Mechanical Properties of High-Volume Fly Ash Cement under Different Curing Temperatures.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different curing temperatures on the hydration and mechanical properties of high-volume fly ash (HVFA) concrete. The key variables were curing temperature (13 °C, 23 °C, 43 °C) and fly ash (FA) content (0%, 35%, 55%). The hydration characteristics of HVFA cement were examined by evaluating the setting time and heat of hydration under different curing temperatures. The mechanical properties of HVFA concrete were analyzed by preparing concrete specimens at various curing temperatures and measuring the compressive strength at 7, 28, 56, and 91 days. The results indicated that concrete with high FA content was more sensitive to curing temperature compared to ordinary Portland cement.

Evaluate the effect of coarse aggregates on cement hydration heat and concrete temperature modelling using isothermal calorimetry

The early-age temperature rise in concrete, induced by cement hydration, poses a significant risk of thermal cracking. Accurate prediction of concrete hydration temperature is essential for thermal cracking prevention. Cement hydration heat obtained from isothermal calorimetry has been applied to concrete temperature modelling by previous studies. Isothermal calorimetry often excludes coarse aggregates due to the calorimeter capacity limitations, assuming mortar hydration heat can represent concrete, which may neglect the hydration delay effect of coarse aggregates. This study uses an isothermal calorimeter capable of accommodating coarse aggregates to measure the hydration heat of concrete and equivalent mortar, evaluating the validity of this assumption. Results show that the 3-day cumulative hydration heat of concrete exceeds that of mortar, especially at elevated curing temperatures. Significant differences were found in the activation energy and hydration parameters between concrete and mortar, indicating that the presence of coarse aggregates affects samples’ temperature sensitivity and hydration heat development. Concrete temperature finite element modelling, validated by semi-adiabatic calorimetry, demonstrates that models based on concrete isothermal calorimetry data provide higher accuracy than those based on mortars. This study demonstrates that the hydration heat development, activation energy, and hydration parameters differ significantly between mortar and concrete. Concrete temperature models based on mortar hydration heat data can result in prediction errors exceeding 5 %. This study recommended employing micro-concrete samples in isothermal calorimetry to replicate actual concrete mixes.

Time-dependent rheological behavior of hydrating cement paste containing calcium carbonate whiskers

In this research, the action mechanism of aragonite calcium carbonate whiskers (CW) on the time-dependent rheological performance during early cement paste hydration are examined by combining rheometer, calorimetry, thermogravimetry (TG/DTG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and free water content test. Regarding time-dependent rheological properties, it is found that CW can improve the rheological parameters of cement paste and converse the fluidity behavior by means of morphological and chemical effects. Free water content and FT-IR results indicate that CW can absorb free water to retard rheological properties loss. In terms of early hydration of cement paste, new hydration products are generated due to the chemical effects of CW, which can be verified by XRD, DTG and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). And the increase in content of ettringite, Ca(OH)2 and gel/space ratio induced by participation of CW can also be distinctly observed. After discussing the time-dependent rheological parameters and hydration characteristic parameters, it has been clarified that the primary factor contributing to the increase in time-dependent rheological parameters is the reduction in free water content. However, the incorporation of CW intensifies the cement hydration process, leading to the predominant influence of hydrated phase contents and particle size on the system.

Feasibility study on the preparation of ternary blended cements with low-kaolinite calcined coal gangue and limestone

This paper presents a feasibility study on the production of ternary blended cements with low-kaolinite calcined coal gangue (CCG) and limestone, considering kaolinite contents varying from 11.7 % to 40.6 % in coal gangue (CG). The ternary systems were designed with 15 %, 30 %, 45 % and 60 % by mass of cement replaced by CCG and limestone with a fixed mass ratio of 2:1. The fluidity and compressive strength of the mortars were measured, followed by the strength efficiency analysis combined with CO2 emission. The potential hydration mechanism was revealed by analysing the hydration kinetics, hydrates and microstructural evolution of these ternary pastes. The results showed that it is possible to use low-kaolinite CCG and limestone to prepare ternary blended cements with adequate mechanical strength that can fulfill the 28-day strength requirement of 32.5 or 42.5 grade cement. In addition, Increasing the kaolinite content in CG can increase the substitution of cement up to 60 %. Microstructural studies indicated that the compressive strength of these ternary mortars at 3 and 7 days was mainly dominated by cement hydration and the pozzolanic reaction between CCG and portlandite (CH), respectively. The precipitation of carboaluminates from the synergy of CCG and limestone significantly reduced critical pore size and increased the volume fraction of fine capillary pores from 7 days, well supporting the strength development of the ternary mortar. The findings of this work underscores the potential of using low-kaolinite CCG as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) to reduce carbon footprint in the field of construction, and also in contributing to a high-value green utilization of solid waste.

The Coordination of Aluminum Sulfate with a Water-Soluble Block Copolymer Containing Carboxyl, Amide, Sulfonic and Anhydride Groups Providing Both Accelerating and Hardening Effects in Cement Setting

Two water-soluble block copolymers composed of acrylic acid (AA), 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS), and optionally maleic anhydride (MAH) were synthesized through ammonium persulfate-catalyzed free radical polymerization in water. The introduction of aluminum sulfate (AS) into the resulting mixtures significantly reduced the setting times of the paste and enhanced the mechanical strength of the mortar compared to both the additive-free control and experiments facilitated solely by pure AS. This improvement was primarily attributed to the inhibition of rapid Al3+ hydrolysis, which was achieved through coordination of the synthesized block copolymers, along with the formation of newly identified hydrolytic intermediates. Notably, the ternary copolymer (AA–AMPS–MAH) exhibited superior performance compared to that of the binary copolymer (AA–AMPS). In the early stages of cement setting, clusters of ettringite (AFt) were found to be immobilized over newly detected linkage phases, including unusual calcium silicate hydrate and epistilbite. In contrast to the well-documented role of polymers in retarding cement hydration, this study presents a novel approach by providing both accelerating and hardening agents for cement setting, which has significant implications for the future design of cement additives.

Multiphysical testing of strength development of cemented paste backfill containing superplasticizer

Current laboratory procedures for curing and testing the mechanical strength of cemented paste backfill (CPB) do not take into account the complex Multiphysics (thermal, T; hydraulic, H; mechanical, M; chemical, C) processes that CPB structures are subjected to in the field. This oversight can lead to unreliable measurements and unsafe designs. In this study, a multiphysical curing and testing procedures for CPB with superplasticizer (CPB-PES) has been developed to evaluate its strength development under THMC curing conditions close to those encountered in the field. The obtained results demonstrated that the strength development of CPB-PES is greatly affected by the THMC factors and their interactions. The contributions of each one of the investigated THMC factors on the strength are not equally similar and greatly depend on the interaction between these factors and curing time. CPB samples with 0.125 % PES that underwent drainage during THMC curing showed a strength increase of up to 809 % after 28 days of curing, compared to the control samples. The strength of CPB-PES samples cured under THMC can be up to 57 % higher than that of samples cured under THC conditions. The results indicate a significant interaction between thermal (T; elevated field curing temperature) and chemical (C; superplasticizer and cement hydration) factors, between chemical (C) and mechanical (M; field curing stress) factors, as well as between thermal and mechanical factors. The influence of the mechanical factor on strength development was observed to be less pronounced compared to the impact of chemical and thermal factor, and is reduced at elevated curing temperatures. The findings underscore the critical importance of accounting for field-relevant THMC factors and their interactions in the determination of the CPB-PES strength development, which is essential for the design of safer and more economical CPB structures, ultimately enhancing mine productivity and safety.

Effect of Sodium Tripolyphosphate and Silica Fume on Hydration of High Alumina Cement

Effect of Sodium Tripolyphosphate and Silica Fume on Hydration of High Alumina Cement

Hydration behavior and thermodynamic modelling of ferroaluminate cement blended with steel slag

This study investigates the effect of steel slag (SS) content on hydration of ferroaluminate cement (FAC). The physical and mechanical properties, hydration properties and microstructure of the cement paste mixtures were also evaluated. The results reveal that the setting time initially shortens and then prolongs while the fluidity, electrical resistivity at 24 h, and chemical shrinkage at 3 days decrease with the increase of SS from 0 % to 30 %. In addition, the analysis of hydration products shows that the incorporation of SS promotes the growth of strätlingite in the SS-FAC paste, which is responsible for strength recovery of FAC at a late period. The compressive strength of the paste with 20 % SS at 90 days exceeded that of the control group. The addition of a small amount (≤20 %) of SS can improve the pore distribution of the SS-FAC paste and have a certain improvement effect on its microstructure in the late periods of hydration. Thermodynamic modelling shows that the growth of AFt and strätlingite (C2ASH8) in the SS-FAC paste is promoted, which is consistent with the experimental results.

Effects of Polymer-Curing Agent Ratio on Rheological, Mechanical Properties and Chemical Characterization of Epoxy-Modified Cement Composite Grouting Materials.

This study designs and uses water-borne epoxy resin (WBER) and curing agent (CA) to modify traditional cement-based grouting for tunnels. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the rheological and mechanical properties of composite grouting with different ratios of WBER and CA and analyze the modification mechanism by means of chemical characterization to explore the feasibility of WBER as a high-performance modifier for tunnel construction. The composite grouting is prepared by mixing cement paste with polymer emulsion. A series of experiments was carried out to investigate the effects of WBER and CA, including the slump test, viscosity, rheological curve, setting time, bleeding rate, grain size distribution, zeta potential, compressive and splitting tensile strength, X-ray diffraction(XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), on the composite grout. The results show that WBER improves grout fluidity, which decreases in combination with CA, while also reducing the average particle size of the composite grout for a more rational size distribution. Optimal uniaxial (38.9%) and splitting tensile strength (48.7%) of the grout are achieved with a WBER to CA mass ratio of 2:1. WBER accelerates cement hydration, with the modification centered on the reaction between free Ca2+ and polymer-OH, significantly enhancing the strength, fluidity, and stability of the polymer-modified composite grout compared to traditional cement-based grouting.

Pore-scale deformation characteristics of hydrate-bearing sediments with gas replacement

Gas replacement method enables the simultaneous exploitation of natural gas and the realization of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). Safe exploitation of hydrate-bearing sediments (HBS) has garnered significant attention, particularly concerning the engineering geological risks involved. Understanding deformation characteristics during shear after the replacement of HBS is crucial for safe and efficient exploitation. This study employs microfocus computer tomography and digital volume correlation (DVC) to investigate the deformation characteristics of HBS samples with varying replacement percentages. Key findings include: 1. An increase in failure strength of HBS is observed with higher replacement percentages due to improved hydrate cementation and consolidation under confining pressure. 2. DVC analysis shows that narrower radial displacement ranges are associated with increased pore compression, while wider ranges indicate greater particle repositioning. Frequent large axial displacements suggest significant pore compaction, whereas smaller axial displacements indicate particle movement and pore-filling phenomena. 3. The gas replacement process enhances the cementation structure of HBS without altering hydrate saturation, resulting in thinner shear bands and accelerated strain softening with higher replacement percentages. 4. The DVC approach effectively captures volumetric strain and deformation behaviors, offering valuable insights into sediment responses under shear. This study provides a theoretical reference for geological safety evaluation during gas replacement exploitation.

Research on humidity field and freezing resistance of green recycled ceramic internal cured concrete at early age

In cold and drought environment, concrete shrinkage cracking caused by water loss is serious, and thus the freezing resistance of concrete is deteriorated. The waste ceramic particles were used as internal curing materials to prepare concrete, based on this background. Then, the influence of internal curing with ceramic particles on humidity field and temperature of concrete is analyzed by using temperature and humidity sensor. Based on the change mechanism of the internal humidity of concrete, the relationship between the curvature radius of liquid surface and the relative humidity is revealed. Taking water loss and water loss rate as the index, the water transfer law of concrete surface under ceramic particle internal curing was defined. Through the drying shrinkage test, the mechanism of improving the drying shrinkage of concrete by internal curing in ceramic particles was mastered. Finally, the effects of ceramic internal curing on cement hydration, interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and freezing resistance of concrete were studied. The results show that the relative humidity, water loss and water loss rate of concrete increase with the increase of ceramic particle content, and the dry shrinkage value decreases with the increase of ceramic particle content. Compared with ordinary concrete, when the ceramic particle content is 10 %, 15 %, 20 %, 25 % and 30 %, and the test period is 10 days, the internal relative humidity of concrete increases by 0.52 %, 0.67 %, 1.55 %, 2.55 % and 3.05 %, respectively. The drying shrinkage values decreased by 3.42 %, 7.69 %, 10.26 %, 15.17 % and 30.13 %, respectively. When the test period was 1032 h, the water loss increased by 1.08 %, 5.15 %, 7.90 %, 12.69 % and 14.49 %, respectively. Furthermore, when the ceramic particle content is 20 %, the initial normalized heat flow of concrete increases by 2.74 mW/g, and the normalized heat flow minimum increases by 0.324 mW/g. The minimum ITZ microhardness increased by 2.64 MPa, the ITZ width decreased by 5 μm, and the maximum crack width at the contact between ITZ and aggregate decreased by 0.89 μm. At the same time, when the ceramic particle content is less than 20 %, the effect of internal curing on the freezing resistance of concrete increases with an increase in ceramic particle content.

The role of ettringite seeds in enhancing the ultra-early age strength of Portland cement containing aluminum sulfate accelerator

The ultra-early age strength of shotcrete with Portland cement-based materials in various supporting constructions is crucial for safety and engineering efficiency. However, concerns exist about the low strength and uncertain mechanism when using aluminum sulfate, the main component of most-used alkali-free accelerators. This study addresses these concerns by introducing ettringite seeds into the Portland cement system with aluminum sulfate. Significant improvement in ultra-early age compressive strength of mortar, i.e., 242 % at 6 h and 201 % at 8 h, was achieved by mere 1 % seed addition. Analyses of hydration heat, composition and microstructure demonstrate that the ettringite seeds mainly affect the mechanical performance by forming a more prolonged and coarser ettringite skeleton, rather than directly accelerating cement hydration. Such an enhanced skeleton was proved to establish stronger interactions between particles in the Monte Carlo simulations. Additionally, the synergistic effect of the ettringite skeleton and C–S–H gel on ultra-early age strength was also explored. These proposed strengthening mechanisms were verified by the C3S and equivalent CaCO3 systems.

Simultaneous enhanced phosphorus removal and hydration reaction: Utilisation of polyaluminium chloride and polyaluminium ferric chloride to modify phosphogypsum-based excess-sulphate slag cement

This study employed polyaluminium chloride (PAC) and polyaluminium ferric chloride (PAFC) for the phosphorus removal released during the hydration of phosphogypsum-based excess-sulphate slag cement (PESSC), as well as microstructure modification. The results indicated that the PESSC samples presented shorter setting times and bleeding rates with further modifier addition due to the effective phosphorus removal and rapid establishment of the flocculated structure. Compressive and flexural strengths were also significantly enhanced in modified samples at each age, where they exceeded 58 MPa and 13 MPa at 180 d, respectively, when PAC and PAFC supplements were within 1.0%. Furthermore, the distinctions in the effect mechanism of two functional compositions (Keggin-Al13 and iron phase) in modifiers have also been studied. In contrast to affecting the microstructure of C-(A)-S-H gel, the released Al(OH)4‐ and Fe(OH)4‐ during hydrolysis often acted with sulphate and portlandite, leading to a higher level of ettringite formation, as well as hydration degree. Comparatively, the introduction of the iron phase adversely impacted pH value development of pore solution and retarded the activation process of slag at early age, while also promoting continuous hydration at later age. The optimisation in the microstructure of PESSC also contributed to impurities solidification, presenting the lower leaching concentration in an acid environment. Overall observations suggested that adding 0.5%–1.0% PAC or PAFC in the PESSC are capable of enhancing not only its engineering properties but also promoting its sustainability.

Valorization of coffee cherry waste ash as a sustainable construction material

This study explores the potential of treated coffee cherry waste (T-CCW) as a partial replacement of cement in mortar. T-CCW was characterized and incorporated into pastes and mortars at 5 %–25 % cement replacement. The main objectives were to examine the fresh and hardened properties, hydration, and environmental assessment. Results showed that the high specific surface area and porous structure of T-CCW particles increased water demand and accelerated setting times. T-CCW incorporation of up to 15 % enhanced compressive strength at all curing ages due to improved hydration and limited pozzolanic reactions. Ultrasonic pulse velocity indicated good homogeneity and compactness in T-CCW blended mortars. Microstructural analysis revealed that T-CCW enhanced cement hydration, leading to a denser matrix. Environmental analysis showed a reduced embodied carbon and cement intensity index compared to the control mix. Overall, the optimal performance was observed at 15 % T-CCW replacement, significantly improving engineering properties and environmental impact. Further, the fishbone diagram addresses various factors to optimize the use of T-CCW as a cementitious composite. These findings demonstrate the potential of T-CCW as a sustainable construction material, offering a promising pathway towards environmentally friendly and resource-efficient building practices while addressing waste management in the coffee industry.

The Utilization of Carbonated Steel Slag as a Supplementary Cementitious Material in Cement.

Carbon emission reduction and steel slag (SS) treatment are challenges in the steel industry. The accelerated carbonation of SS and carbonated steel slag (CSS) as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in cement can achieve both large-scale utilization of SS and CO2 emission reduction, which is conducive to low-carbon sustainable development. This paper presents the utilization status of CSS. The accelerated carbonation route and its effects on the properties of CSS are described. The carbonation reaction of SS leads to a decrease in the average density, an increase in the specific surface area, a refinement of the pore structure, and the precipitation of different forms of calcium carbonate on the CSS surface. Carbonation can increase the specific surface area of CSS by about 24-80%. The literature review revealed that the CO2 uptake of CSS is 2-27 g/100 g SS. The effects of using CSS as an SCM in cement on the mechanical properties, workability, volume stability, durability, environmental performance, hydration kinetics, and microstructure of the materials are also analyzed and evaluated. Under certain conditions, CSS has a positive effect on cement hydration, which can improve the mechanical properties, workability, bulk stability, and sulfate resistance of SS cement mortar. Meanwhile, SS carbonation inhibits the leaching of heavy metal ions from the solid matrix. The application of CSS mainly focuses on material strength, with less attention being given to durability and environmental performance. The challenges and prospects for the large-scale utilization of CSS in the cement and concrete industry are described.

Improving the Concrete Compressive and Flexural Strength with a Low Fraction Addition of Carboxylated Nitro-oxidized Cellulose Nanofibrils from Banana Rachis

Conventionally, concrete strength depends on the bonding interface, especially in hydrated products such as calcium silicate hydrate (CSH). As a result, concrete is sensitive under tensile load. With its unique properties, a low fraction of carboxylated nitro-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (NOCNF) from the banana rachis is employed to improve the mechanical performance of the concrete nano structurally. Compressive and flexural strength using the NOCNF content at 0, 0.05, and 0.1 wt. % cured in 7 and 28 days were evaluated. Notably, the compressive strength increased by 16% and flexural strength by 13% at 0.1% NOCNF compared to plain concrete after the 28 curing days. A low NOCNF fraction achieved a good, albeit impossible, performance with the microscale fibers. The nanostructured effect was discussed twofold: an excellent interaction between the NOCNF and the hydrated products and the carboxylic groups on the NOCNF surface enhanced the cement hydration. These data are better than the literature based on the small-diameter cellulose nanofibrils without the carboxyl groups. As a sustainable nanocomponent, NOCNF could be a perfect candidate to improve concrete performance under mechanical load.

Study of the Effect of Cedar Sawdust Content on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Cement Boards.

The growing demand for sustainable building materials, amid escalating costs, has spurred interest in alternative solutions such as wood cement composites. This study explores the feasibility of producing wood cement boards (WCBs) using locally sourced cedar sawdust as a reinforcing agent. Boards with a thickness of 10 mm and a target density of 1200 kg/m3 were manufactured under pressures ranging from 2 to 6 MPa for 24 h. Cedar sawdust, used as raw and untreated material, was incorporated into the mixture as a partial substitute for cement in varying proportions, ranging from 10% to 25% (by weight). The WCBs were cured for 28 days under ambient conditions. Physical properties including density, water absorption (WA), and thickness swelling (TS) were assessed, along with mechanical properties through flexural tests. The results showed that increasing cedar sawdust content decreased both density and mechanical performance while increasing WA and TS. Microstructural analysis (SEM and EDS) revealed significant porosity at higher sawdust contents, while lower contents had better matrix-reinforcement cohesion. Additionally, substantial levels of calcium and silicon were detected on the sawdust surface, indicating stabilized cement hydration products. These findings, supported by thermal (TGA and DSC) and FTIR analyses, clearly demonstrate that cement boards with 10% cedar sawdust exhibit favorable properties for non-structural applications, such as wall and partition cladding.