Supplementary cementitious materials are finely divided material that replaces or supplements the use of Portland cement. Its use reduces the cost and /or improves one or more technical properties of concrete. These materials are generally by-product from other processes or natural materials. These materials include fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag, condensed silica fume, lime and natural pozzolan [1]. For use in mortar or concrete supplementary cementitious materials need to meet requirements of established standards [2]. Attempt has been made, here, to study the characteristics and behavior of supplementary cementitious materials, especially the lime and fly ash from Vidarbha Region of Central India, which are local resources.

1. Use of alternative cementitious materials. http:// www.engr.psu.edu
2. CIP 30- Supplementary cementitious materials. http:// www.nrmca.org
3. Pandian, N.S.,’Fly Ash characterization with reference to geotechnical applications’,Journal of Indian Institute of Science,Banglore,India,Nov-Dec.2004,84,189-216
4. Press Release of Ministry of Environment and Forests of Thursday,December 16,2004,PIB,Govt. of India,New Delhi.
5. Lea F.M.(1974),’The chemistry of cement and concrete’,3 rd Ed.,Edward Arnold,London
6. Intermediate Technology,’Alternatives to Portland Cement’,Building Advisary Service and Information Network(BASIN),Intermediate Technology Devlopement Group Ltd.
7. Pritchett,Ian (2003),’Lime Mortar vs. Cement’,Master Builder Magazine,The Federation of Master Builders : July 2003.
8. IS:3812-1981,’Specifications of Fly Ash for use as pozzolana’.
9. IS:5817-1992,’Preparation and use of Lime-Pozzolana mixture in Buildings and Roads-Code of practice BIS’.
10. IS:3466-1988,’Specifications for Masonry cement’,BIS,India.
11. IS:6508-1988,’Glossary of Terms relating to Building lime’,BIS.
12. IS:2250-1981,’Code of Practice for preparation and use of Masonry Morttar’,BIS,India.
13. ACI Committee 232,”Use of Fly Ash in Concrete”,ACI Document 232.2R,Farmington Hills,MI,1996.
14. ACI Committee 232,”Use of Natural Pozzolans in Concrete”, ACI Document 232 .1R, Farmington Hills,MI,1998.
15. Mehta, P.K.”Pozzolanic and Cementitious By-Products in Concrete. Another Look,”Fly Ash,Silica Fume,Slag, and Natural Pozzolans in Concrete,ACI SP-114-1,1989.
16. ASTM Standards C 618,C 989,C 1240,Volume 04.02,American Society of Testing and Materials,West Conshohocken,PA.
17. Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag as a Cementitious Constituent in Concrete,ACI 232R,American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills,MI.
18. Guide for the Use of Silica Fume in Concrete,ACI 234R, American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills,MI.

fly ash pozzolan lime ground granulated blast furnace slag condensed silica fume