A new kind of cement made of clinker, steel slag, fly ash, and certain admixtures has been developed. The total amount of steel slag and fly ash is 50%, and the grade of cement reaches 425 or even 525 according to Chinese national standard for composite Portland cement. The optimum formulation of such cement was studied. Besides setting time and strength, the drying shrinkage, sulfate resistance, carbonation, and restriction of expansion due to alkali-aggregate reaction were also determined. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.