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Towards Sustainable Low-Carbon Concrete
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Towards Sustainable Low-Carbon Concrete

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 5057

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jiaxiang Lin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Interests: sustainable, high-performance and multifunctional cementitious composites; fiber-reinforced concrete materials and structures; experimental methods for civil engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Prabir K. Sarker

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
Interests: sustainable use of wastes and by-products in construction; geopolymer concrete; design of concrete structures; concrete durability and microstructures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, “Towards Sustainable Low-Carbon Concrete”, seeks to explore and highlight innovative research and advancements in the development of low-carbon concrete. As the construction industry faces increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, the quest for sustainable building materials has become more critical than ever. Concrete, being the most widely used construction material, plays a pivotal role in this endeavor. This issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research, novel formulations, and case studies that demonstrate significant reductions in carbon emissions associated with concrete production, use, and end-of-life stages. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, alternative cementitious materials, carbon capture and utilization in concrete, enhancements in concrete recycling processes, and lifecycle assessments of concrete structures. Through this compilation, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of current trends, challenges, and future directions in the pursuit of sustainable, low-carbon concrete. Contributions are invited from researchers, engineers, and practitioners who are working to make concrete more sustainable without compromising its performance, durability, or cost-effectiveness. Together, we can contribute to building a more sustainable future, one cubic meter of concrete at a time.

Dr. Jiaxiang Lin
Dr. Prabir K. Sarker
Guest Editors

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable concrete
  • low-carbon cement
  • alternative binders
  • carbon capture in concrete
  • concrete recycling
  • eco-friendly construction materials
  • lifecycle assessment of concrete
  • green building technologies
  • concrete durability and performance
  • innovative concrete mix designs

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 9706 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Axial Compressive and Tensile Properties of PE/PVA Hybrid Fiber Reinforced Strain-Hardening Geopolymer Composites
by Jingen Guo, Ji Shi, Liuhuo Wang, Chengyong Huang, Xiongwu Tao, Chaosen Li and Zhanbiao Chen
Materials 2024, 17(17), 4356; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17174356 - 3 Sep 2024
Viewed by 895
Abstract
The strain-hardening geopolymer composite (SHGC) is a new type of fiber concrete with excellent ductility and environmental friendliness. However, the high cost of fibers greatly limits its widespread application. This paper proposes the use of untreated low-cost polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers and polyethylene [...] Read more.
The strain-hardening geopolymer composite (SHGC) is a new type of fiber concrete with excellent ductility and environmental friendliness. However, the high cost of fibers greatly limits its widespread application. This paper proposes the use of untreated low-cost polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers and polyethylene (PE) fibers to develop a low-cost, high-performance SHGC. Axial compression and axial tension tests were conducted on the SHGC with different PE fiber volume fractions (1%, 1.5%, and 2%) and different PVA fiber replacement ratios (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) to investigate the hybrid effects of fibers with different surface properties and to reveal the mechanism of fiber hybridization on the mechanical behavior of SHGCs. The results show that increasing the PE fiber volume fraction improves the compressive and tensile ductility of the SHGC while increasing the PVA fiber replacement rate impacts the strength indicators positively due to the good interface effect formed between its hydrophilic surface and the matrix. When the PVA fiber replacement ratio is 100%, the compressive strength (93.4 MPa) of the SHGC is the highest, with a 21.1% increase compared to the control group. However, the tensile strength shows a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with the increase in the PVA fiber replacement ratio, reaching the highest at a 25% replacement ratio, with a 12.5% increase compared to the control group. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis of the economic and environmental performance of the SHGC indicates that a 25% PVA fiber replacement ratio results in the best overall economic benefits and relatively low actual costs, although the effect of fiber hybridization on carbon emission indicators is not significant. This paper provides new ideas and a theoretical basis for designing low-cost SHGCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Low-Carbon Concrete)
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21 pages, 29005 KiB  
Article
Study on High-Ductility Geopolymer Concrete: The Influence of Oven Heat Curing Conditions on Mechanical Properties and Microstructural Development
by Ruihao Luo, Runan Liu, Guang Qin, Minyang Jiang, Yixian Wu and Yongchang Guo
Materials 2024, 17(16), 4011; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17164011 - 12 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1498
Abstract
Low carbon and high performance have become key trends in the development of construction materials. Understanding the mechanism by which curing conditions affect the mechanical properties of high-ductility geopolymer concrete (HDGC) is of significant importance. This study investigated three sealing curing temperatures (room [...] Read more.
Low carbon and high performance have become key trends in the development of construction materials. Understanding the mechanism by which curing conditions affect the mechanical properties of high-ductility geopolymer concrete (HDGC) is of significant importance. This study investigated three sealing curing temperatures (room temperature, 45 °C, and 60 °C) and four curing durations (1 day, 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days), while considering two final curing ages (7 days and 28 days) to explore their effects on the axial tensile and compressive properties of HDGC. The results showed that both 45 °C and 60 °C could improve the brittle failure of HDGC under axial compressive loading. However, curing at 60 °C and for durations longer than 1 day in an oven would catalyze the formation of eight-faced zeolite crystals within the slag–fly ash geopolymer matrix, and it could weaken the matrix’s pore structure and subsequently affect the material’s later strength development. Nevertheless, oven heat curing enhanced the bridging effect between the fibers and the matrix, partially compensating for the reduction in the initial tensile strength of HDGC. This follows the pseudo-strain-hardening material’s saturation cracking criterion to enhance the strain-hardening behavior of HDGC and improve its tensile energy absorption capacity. A curing condition of 45 °C for 5 days is recommended to maximize the ductility of HDGC. This study provides important theoretical support for the design and promotion of green, low-carbon, high-ductility composite materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Low-Carbon Concrete)
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21 pages, 9652 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Bonding Behavior between Engineered Geopolymer Composites with Hybrid PE/PVA Fibers and Concrete Substrate
by Yu Ling, Xiafei Zhang, Yanwei Wu, Weiyu Zou, Chuang Wang, Chaosen Li and Wen Li
Materials 2024, 17(15), 3778; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17153778 - 1 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 998
Abstract
Engineered geopolymer composites (EGCs) exhibit excellent tensile ductility and crack control ability, making them promising for concrete structure repair. However, their widespread use is limited by high costs of reinforcement fiber and a lack of an EGC–concrete interface bonding mechanism. This study investigated [...] Read more.
Engineered geopolymer composites (EGCs) exhibit excellent tensile ductility and crack control ability, making them promising for concrete structure repair. However, their widespread use is limited by high costs of reinforcement fiber and a lack of an EGC–concrete interface bonding mechanism. This study investigated a hybrid PE/PVA fiber-reinforced EGC using domestically produced unoiled PVA fibers to replace commonly used PE fibers. The bond performance of the EGC–concrete interface was evaluated through direct tensile and slant shear tests, focusing on the effects of PE fiber content (1%, 2%, and 3%), fiber hybrid ratios (2.0:0.0, 1.5:0.5, 1.0:1.0, 0.5:1.5, and 0.0:2.0), concrete substrate strength (C30, C50, and C70), and the ratio of fly ash (FA) to ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) (6:4, 7:3, and 8:2) on interface bond strength. Results showed that the EGCs’ compressive strength ranged from 77.1 to 108.9 MPa, with increased GGBS content significantly enhancing the compressive strength and elastic modulus. Most of the specimens exhibited strain-hardening behavior after initial cracking. Interface bonding tests revealed that a PE/PVA ratio of 1.0 increased tensile bond strength by 8.5% compared with using 2.0% PE fiber alone. Increasing the PE fiber content, PVA/PE ratio, GGBS content, and concrete substrate strength all improved the shear bond strength. This improvement was attributed to the flexible fibers’ ability to restrict thermo–hydro damage and deflect and blunt microcracks, enhancing the interface’s failure resistance. Cost analysis showed that replacing 50% of the PE fiber in EGC with unoiled PVA fiber reduced costs by 44.2% compared with PE fiber alone, offering the best cost–performance ratio. In summary, hybrid PE/PVA fiber EGC has promising prospects for improving economic efficiency while maintaining tensile ductility and crack-control ability. Future optimization of fiber ratios and interface design could further enhance its potential for concrete repair applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Low-Carbon Concrete)
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17 pages, 5675 KiB  
Article
Study on the Compressive Strength and Reaction Mechanism of Alkali-Activated Geopolymer Materials Using Coal Gangue and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag
by Xiaoping Wang, Feng Liu, Lijuan Li, Weizhi Chen, Xinhe Cong, Ting Yu and Baifa Zhang
Materials 2024, 17(15), 3659; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17153659 - 24 Jul 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 813
Abstract
By reutilizing industrial byproducts, inorganic cementitious alkali-activated materials (AAMs) contribute to reduced energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In this study, coal gangue (CG) blended with ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) was used to prepare AAMs. The research focused [...] Read more.
By reutilizing industrial byproducts, inorganic cementitious alkali-activated materials (AAMs) contribute to reduced energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In this study, coal gangue (CG) blended with ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) was used to prepare AAMs. The research focused on analyzing the effects of the GGBFS content and alkali activator (i.e., Na2O mass ratio and alkali modulus [SiO2/Na2O]) on the mechanical properties and microstructures of the AAMs. Through a series of spectroscopic and microscopic tests, the results showed that the GGBFS content had a significant influence on AAM compressive strength and paste fluidity; the optimal replacement of CG by GGBFS was 40–50%, and the optimal Na2O mass ratio and alkali modulus were 7% and 1.3, respectively. AAMs with a 50% GGBFS content exhibited a compact microstructure with a 28 d compressive strength of 54.59 MPa. Increasing the Na2O mass ratio from 6% to 8% promoted the hardening process and facilitated the formation of AAM gels; however, a 9% Na2O mass ratio inhibited the condensation of SiO4 and AlO4 ions, which decreased the compressive strength. Increasing the alkali modulus facilitated geopolymerization, which increased the compressive strength. Microscopic analysis showed that pore size and volume increased due to lower Na2O concentrations or alkali modulus. The results provide an experimental and theoretical basis for the large-scale utilization of AAMs in construction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Low-Carbon Concrete)
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