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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction and Building Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2021) | Viewed by 30133

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Prof. Mangialardi Teresa

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Department of Chemical Engineering Materials Environment, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
Interests: physical and chemical characterization of materials; re-use of industrial wastes; pollutants immobilization within cementitious matrices; durability of cement-based materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ceramics, along with cement, concrete, and steel are the most important and widely used construction materials. Functional properties and durability of these materials are concerns of great importance for their use in modern buildings and structures. In recent years, owing to the huge amount of research developed worldwide, significant improvements of the characteristics of ceramics, as well as cement-based materials, to be used as construction materials, have been achieved. The development of smart materials, such as hydroceramics or self-healing concrete, and of new production technologies, such as molding of bricks and/or concrete by 3D-printing, is laying the groundwork for a major transformation of the construction industry. However, considering the high energy costs involved with the production of ceramics and cement, great attention is being focused on so-called green or eco-friendly processes, e.g., those employing wastes or residues for producing new materials.

This Special Issue invites original research contributions and reviews dealing with the recent advances in development, production, and characterization of ceramics and cement-based materials, including those obtained by eco-friendly processes, for use as construction materials with improved durability.

Prof. Mangialardi Teresa
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Cement
Concrete
Fiber-reinforced concrete
Ceramics
Eco-friendly materials
Smart-materials
Durability

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 185 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue: “Ceramics and Construction Materials”

by Teresa Mangialardi

Materials 2021, 14(15), 4204; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14154204 - 28 Jul 2021

Viewed by 1266

Abstract

The variety of material classes engaged for constructions is very wide, ranging from naturally occurring substances, such as stone materials and wood, to manufactured products such as inorganic binders, ceramic bricks, adhesives, metals, composites like concrete, bituminous or fibre-reinforced materials [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics and Construction Materials)

Research

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13 pages, 4545 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Experimental Study of Clogging Recovery Measures for Ceramic Permeable Bricks

by Zizeng Lin, Hai Yang and Huiming Chen

Materials 2021, 14(14), 3904; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14143904 - 13 Jul 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1972

Abstract

To explore the best clogging restoration measures for ceramic permeable bricks, ceramic permeable bricks were accurately clogged using a self-designed device by controlling the permeability, and different technical measures were adopted to restore the permeability. Then, the recovery effect, operating parameters and pore change inside the bricks using pressure washing were further discussed. The results showed that pressure washing was the best recovery measure, the joint methods was not recommended due to performance to price ratio. It was necessary to conduct pressure washing in relatively moist conditions, increase the cleaning frequency or prolong the cleaning time in the case of no serious blockage. Hydraulic cleaning can not only increase isolated pores but also remove the trapped solid particles, and increase the proportion of connected pores and dredges through water channels. This research offers some reference for the daily maintenance of permeable bricks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics and Construction Materials)

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17 pages, 37561 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Waste-Based One-Part Alkali Activated Materials

by Margarida Gonçalves, Inês Silveirinha Vilarinho, Marinélia Capela, Ana Caetano, Rui Miguel Novais, João António Labrincha and Maria Paula Seabra

Materials 2021, 14(11), 2911; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14112911 - 28 May 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3406

Abstract

Ordinary Portland Cement is the most widely used binder in the construction sector; however, a very high carbon footprint is associated with its production process. Consequently, more sustainable alternative construction materials are being investigated, namely, one-part alkali activated materials (AAMs). In this work, waste-based one-part AAMs binders were developed using only a blast furnace slag, as the solid precursor, and sodium metasilicate, as the solid activator. For the first time, mortars in which the commercial sand was replaced by two exhausted sands from biomass boilers (CA and CT) were developed. Firstly, the characterization of the slag and sands (aggregates) was performed. After, the AAMs fresh and hardened state properties were evaluated, being the characterization complemented by FTIR and microstructural analysis. The binder and the mortars prepared with commercial sand presented high compressive strength values after 28 days of curing-56 MPa and 79 MPa, respectively. The mortars developed with exhausted sands exhibit outstanding compressive strength values, 86 and 70 MPa for CT and CA, respectively, and the other material’s properties were not affected. Consequently, this work proved that high compressive strength waste-based one-part AAMs mortars can be produced and that it is feasible to use another waste as aggregate in the mortar’s formulations: the exhausted sands from biomass boilers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics and Construction Materials)

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15 pages, 5006 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical Strength and Hydration Characteristics of Cement Mixture with Highly Concentrated Hydrogen Nanobubble Water

by Won-Kyung Kim, Gigwon Hong, Young-Ho Kim, Jong-Min Kim, Jin Kim, Jung-Geun Han and Jong-Young Lee

Materials 2021, 14(11), 2735; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14112735 - 22 May 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2611

Abstract

In this study, highly concentrated hydrogen nanobubble water was utilized as the blending water for cement mortar to improve its compressive and flexural strengths. Highly concentrated nanobubbles can be obtained through osmosis. This concentration was maintained by sustaining the osmotic time. The mortar specimens were cured for 28 days, in which the nanobubble concentration was increased. This improved their flexural strength by 2.25–13.48% and compressive strength by 6.41–11.22%, as compared to those afforded by plain water. The nanobubbles were densified at high concentrations, which caused a decrease in their diameter. This increased the probability of collisions with the cement particles and accelerated the hydration and pozzolanic reactions, which facilitated an increase in the strength of cement. Thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy were used to confirm the development of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) and hydration products with an increase in the nanobubble concentration. Quantitative analysis of the hydration products and the degree of hydration were calculated by mineralogical analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics and Construction Materials)

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15 pages, 11917 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Properties of New Mullite Based Refractory Grog

by David Zemánek, Karel Lang, Lukáš Tvrdík, Dalibor Všianský, Lenka Nevřivová, Petr Štursa, Pavel Kovář, Lucie Keršnerová and Karel Dvořák

Materials 2021, 14(4), 779; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040779 - 7 Feb 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2477

Abstract

The presented study is focused on optimization and characterization of a high-alumina refractory aggregate based on natural raw materials—kaolins, claystone, and mullite dust by-product (used to increase the alumina and mullite contents, respectively). In total, four individual formulas with the Al₂O₃ contents between 45 and 50 wt.% were designed; the samples were subsequently fired, both in a laboratory oven and an industrial tunnel furnace. The effects of repeated firing were examined during industrial pilot tests. Mineral and chemical compositions and microstructures, of both the raw materials and designed aggregates, were thoroughly investigated by the means of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and optical and scanning electron microscopies. Porosity, mineral composition, and mullite crystal-size development during the firing process were also studied. Based on the acquired results, the formula with the perspective to be used as a new mullite grog, featuring similar properties as the available commercial products, however, with reduced production expenses, was selected. The quality of grog determines to a large extent the properties of the final product. Hence, optimization of aggregates for specific refractories is of a great importance. The production of engineered aggregates provides the opportunity to utilize industrial by-products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics and Construction Materials)

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23 pages, 9971 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Flexural Behavior of Composite Concrete Slabs Made with Steel and Polypropylene Fibers Reinforced Concrete in the Compression Zone

by Barbara Sadowska-Buraczewska, Małgorzata Szafraniec, Danuta Barnat-Hunek and Grzegorz Łagód

Materials 2020, 13(16), 3616; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13163616 - 15 Aug 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3019

Abstract

The paper presented aimed at examining the effect of a fiber-reinforced concrete layer in the compressed zone on the mechanical properties of composite fiber-reinforced concrete slabs. Steel fibers (SF) and polypropylene fibers (PP) in the amount of 1% in relation to the weight of the concrete mix were used as reinforcement fibers. The mixture compositions were developed for the reference concrete, steel fiber concrete and polypropylene fiber concrete. The mechanical properties of the concrete obtained from the designed mixes such as compressive strength, bending strength, modulus of elasticity and frost resistance were tested. The main research elements, i.e., slabs with a reinforced compression zone in the form of a 30 mm layer of concrete with PP or SF were made and tested. The results obtained were compared with a plate made without a strengthening layer. The bending resistance, load capacity and deflection tests were performed on the slabs. A scheme of crack development during the test and a numerical model for the slab element were also devised. The study showed that the composite slabs with fiber-reinforced concrete with PP in the upper layer achieved 12% higher load capacity, with respect to the reference slabs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics and Construction Materials)

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14 pages, 4598 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Glass Additions on Illitic Clay Ceramics

by Andrei Shishkin, Janis Baronins, Viktors Mironovs, František Lukáč, Igor Štubňa and Jurijs Ozolins

Materials 2020, 13(3), 596; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13030596 - 28 Jan 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2687

Abstract

A mixture of an illitic clay and waste glass was prepared and studied during the sintering process. The illitic clay, from the Liepa deposit (Latvia), and green glass waste (GW) were disintegrated to obtain a homogeneous mixture. The addition of disintegrated GW (5–15 wt% in the mixture) led to a reduction in the intensive sintering temperature, from 900 to 860 °C, due to a significant decrease in the glass viscosity. The addition of GW slightly decreased the intensities of the endo- and exothermic reactions in the temperature range from 20 to 1000 °C due to the reduced concentration of clay minerals. GW reduced the plasticity of the clay and reduced the risk of structural breakage. The increase in sintering temperature from 700 to 1000 °C decreased the apparent porosity and water uptake capacity of the ceramics from 35% and 22%, down to 24% and 13%, respectively. The apparent porosities of all the sintered mixtures showed a decrease of between 6% to 9% after the addition of GW with concentrations from 5 up to 15 wt% respectively, while the water uptake capacities decreased from between 4% and 10%. The addition of GW led to an increase in the apparent density of the ceramic materials, up to 2.2 g/cm³. Furthermore, the compressive strength increased by more than two times, reaching a highest value of 240 MPa after the sintering of the 15 wt% GW-containing mixture at 1000 °C. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics and Construction Materials)

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17 pages, 3732 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Using Hybrid Polypropylene and Glass Fibre on the Mechanical Properties and Permeability of Concrete

by Abubaker A. M. Ahmed and Yanmin Jia

Materials 2019, 12(22), 3786; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12223786 - 18 Nov 2019

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2562

Abstract

A comprehensive program of experiments consisting of compression, uniaxial compression, direct shear, flexural as well as splitting tensile and air permeability tests were performed to analyse the effect of the level of fibre dosage and the water–cement ratio on the physical properties of hybrid fibre-reinforced concrete (HFRC). Two types of fibres were studied in terms of their effect on the properties of HFRC. The results indicated that the mechanical properties of concrete were significantly improved by increasing the fibre content. However, increasing the percentage fibre content past a certain peak performance limit (0.9% glass fibre (GF) and 0.45% polypropylene fibre (PPF)) led to a decrease in strength compared to reference mixes. Additionally, the incorporation of hybrid fibres yielded an increase in air permeability in the tested specimens. The results showed that the strength-related properties of HFRC were superior to the properties of single fibre-reinforced concrete. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics and Construction Materials)

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7 pages, 5742 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In-situ Cu Coating on Steel Surface after Oxidizing at High Temperature

by Na Li, Ruizhi Jia, Hongmei Zhang, Wei Sha, Yan Li and Zhengyi Jiang

Materials 2019, 12(21), 3536; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12213536 - 29 Oct 2019

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2292

Abstract

Almost all copper in scrap steel is recovered, so research on copper-bearing steel has profound practical significance. The surface enrichment of copper occurs in all copper-bearing steels studied in this paper after being heated at high temperature. In-situ oxidation-induced copper coatings were discovered on the descaled copper-bearing steels after heating at around 1150 °C for 2 h in air. Scattered copper precipitates in or under rust after heating at a lower temperature. A new concept was created using in-situ composites prepared by direct oxidation of matrix, and there was no bonding problem found between the coating and the matrix. The enrichment form of copper in steel is related to the oxidation rate, oxidation time, heating temperature and copper content. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics and Construction Materials)

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16 pages, 2684 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of a High Amount of Micro-Fillers on the Long-Term Properties of Concrete

by Alena Sičáková and Matej Špak

Materials 2019, 12(20), 3421; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12203421 - 18 Oct 2019

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2295

Abstract

Concretes in which a large portion of fine natural aggregate is replaced with inert mineral powders would offer both economic and ecological benefits for the concrete industry, and they represent eco-friendly materials. Moreover, using the powders having potential pozzolanic effect could have positive extra effect on the properties of concrete. This paper analyses the impact of a high dosage of three kinds of micro-fillers (brick, concrete and glass powders) on the properties of concrete over a three-year period. Microfillers were applied as 40% replacement of 0/4 aggregate by volume. Samples having high dosage of micro-fillers and thus a higher binder volume achieved excellent values of both compressive (from 31 to 48 MPa in 28 days, and from 67 to 93 MPa in three years) and flexural strength (from 6.3 to 8.4 MPa in 28 days, and from 7.1 to 11.1 MPa in three years). Both samples with brick powder and concrete powder achieved the biggest strength values; however, due to better performance in durability parameters (capillary water absorption coefficient and density), sample prepared with glass powder can be identified as having the biggest potential for intended use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics and Construction Materials)

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11 pages, 1686 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Kinetic Study of the Pozzolanic Reaction of Fly Ash, CaO, and Na₂O in the Preparation of Fly Ash Belite Cement

by Yongfan Gong, Ben Yu, Yonghao Fang, Dingyi Yang, Shu-an Wu and Yurong Yan

Materials 2019, 12(20), 3303; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12203303 - 11 Oct 2019

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2077

Abstract

Fly ash belite cement is a kind of low-carbon cement prepared by a two-step process involving hydrothermal synthesis and low-temperature calcination. Pozzolanic reaction pastes, as the precursors of fly ash belite cement prepared by hydrothermal synthesis, are affected mainly by reaction temperature, time, ratios of the mass of fly ash/lime (FA/CA), and the dosage of Na₂O. The absorbance rate of CaO with reaction time was tested for all samples, and the reaction kinetic model and parameters of the granule-hydrothermal synthesis method were discussed. A kinetic model for the hydrothermal synthesis in the presence of Na₂O was proposed based on the Kondo’s modified Jander equation and Arrhenius equation. The activation energy (Ea) of the process was determined to be 67.76 kJ/mol. In addition, with an increasing dosage of Na₂O, the pre-exponential factor A of the Arrhenius equation increased. However, the hydrothermal reaction degree was accurately predicted using the kinetic model characterized by the absorption rate of CaO. The results indicated that Na₂O, as an alkali activator, facilitated the diffusion of Ca²⁺ firstly, then partly dissolved the amorphous phase in the mixtures and, finally, accelerated the formation of poorly crystallized hydrates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics and Construction Materials)

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15 pages, 3900 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Axial Impact Load of a Concrete-Filled Steel Tubular Member with Axial Compression Considering the Creep Effect

by Tao Lan, Guangchong Qin, Jinzhao Zhuang, Youdi Wang, Qian Zheng and Min Ding

Materials 2019, 12(19), 3134; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12193134 - 26 Sep 2019

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2026

Abstract

The dynamic loads acting on concrete-filled steel tubular members under axial impacts by rigid bodies were studied herein by FEM. The whole impact process was simulated and the time history of the impact load was obtained. The effects of eight factors on the axial impact load were studied; these factors were the impact speed, mass ratio, axial pressure ratio, steel ratio, slenderness ratio, concrete strength, impact position, and boundary conditions. Besides this, the effects of concrete creep on the impact load were also considered by changing the material parameters of the concrete. The results show that axial impact load changes with time as a triangle. The peak value of impact load increases and the impact resistance improves with the growth of the axial pressure ratio, steel ratio, slenderness ratio, and concrete strength after creep occurs. As the eccentricity of the axial impact acting on a concrete-filled steel tubular member increases, the peak value of the impact load decreases. The enhancement of constraints at both ends of the member can improve the impact resistance. The creep reduction coefficients for the peak axial impact load of a concrete-filled steel tubular member under axial compression and considering the creep effect over 6 months and 30 years are 0.60 and 0.55, respectively. A calculation formula for the peak value of impact load was suggested based on the existing formula, and its accuracy was proved by finite element calculation in this study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics and Construction Materials)

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