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Environmentally Friendly Composites Incorporating Waste Materials

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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: 10 October 2024 | Viewed by 8580

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Edyta Pawluczuk

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Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A, 15–351 Białystok, Poland
Interests: building materials; concrete technology; recycling of concrete structures; lightweight concrete; geopolymer composites
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Dr. Katarzyna Kalinowska-Wichrowska

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
Interests: civil engineering; concrete technology, recycling of concrete methods, recycled materials and aggregates; waste additions, circular economy; eco-friendly building materials, construction and demolition waste; supplementary cementitious materials, geopolymers

Dr. Hwa Kian Chai

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Guest Editor

Institute for Infrastructure and Environment, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FG, UK
Interests: acoustic emission testing and evaluation; surface wave methods, Integrated elastic wave methodologies for structural assessment; database modelling and analysis for structural risk; low-carbon and smart concrete materials; repair and strengthening
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are initiating a new Special Issue on environmentally friendly composites that incorporate waste materials. We are particularly interested in cement and geopolymer composites in which waste materials are used, such as recycled concrete aggregates, recycled ceramic aggregates, recycled mortar, fly ash, blast furnace slag, plant waste and others. Articles can present both new products and the process of their production, as well as the waste processing technology used in forming the composite. It is recommended to indicate the ecological aspect, e.g., CO₂ reduction, waste management, limiting the consumption of natural resources, etc. Microstructure studies of composites using methods such as SEM images, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and others are acceptable. However, papers on other composites and wastes not mentioned above will also be considered.

The results of your latest research and your achievements will enrich our Special Issue thematically, so we invite you to share it with us and submit your manuscript.

Dr. Edyta Pawluczuk
Dr. Katarzyna Kalinowska-Wichrowska
Dr. Hwa Kian Chai
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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

cement composites
geopolymer concretes
recycled aggregate
ceramic waste
fly ash
microstructure
CO₂ reduction
X-ray diffraction
thermal analysis

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 9045 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Geothermal Nano-SiO₂ Waste as a Supplementary Cementitious Material for Concrete Exposed at High Critical Temperatures

by Jesús Fernando López-Perales, María Cruz Alonso-Alonso, Francisco Javier Vázquez-Rodríguez, Ana María Guzmán-Hernández, Lauren Yolanda Gómez-Zamorano, Edén Amaral Rodríguez-Castellanos and Rodrigo Puente-Ornelas

Materials 2024, 17(17), 4381; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17174381 - 5 Sep 2024

Viewed by 486

Abstract

The partial replacement effect of Portland cement by geothermal nano-SiO₂ waste (GNSW) for sustainable Portland-cement-based concrete was investigated to improve the properties of concrete exposed at high critical temperatures. Portland cement was partially replaced by 20 and 30 wt.% of GNSW. The partial replacement effect on Portland-cement-based concrete subjected to 350, 550, and 750 °C was evaluated by measuring the weight changes, ultrasonic pulse velocity, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, surface inspection, and scanning electron microscopy under residual conditions. The ultrasonic pulse velocity results showed that the GNSW specimens maintained suitable stability after being heated to 350 °C. The SEM analysis revealed a denser microstructure for the 20 wt.% of partial replacement of Portland cement by GNSW specimen compared to the reference concrete when exposed to temperatures up to 400 °C, maintaining stability in its microstructure. The weight losses were higher for the specimens with partial replacements of GNSW than the reference concrete at 550 °C, which can be attributed to the pozzolanic activity presented by the GNSW, which increases the amounts of CSH gel, leading to a much denser cementitious matrix, causing a higher weight loss compared to the reference concrete. GNSW is a viable supplementary cementitious material, enhancing thermal properties up to 400 °C due to its high pozzolanic activity and filler effect while offering environmental benefits by reducing industrial waste. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Composites Incorporating Waste Materials)

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16 pages, 5222 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Improving Moisture Resistance of Asphalt Mixture with Compounded Recycled Metallurgical Slag Powders

by Bo Gao, Haiqin Xu, Shaopeng Wu, Huan Wang, Xinkui Yang and Pengrui Chen

Materials 2024, 17(14), 3499; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17143499 - 15 Jul 2024

Viewed by 472

Abstract

The utilization of steel slag as an alternative material in asphalt mixtures is considered the solution to the problem of the shortage of natural aggregates. However, asphalt mixtures with steel slag show susceptibility to damage caused by moisture, especially in powder form. Therefore, blast furnace slag powders were used to compound with steel slag powders as fillers to improve the moisture resistance of asphalt mixtures. The characteristics of the steel slag powders and blast furnace slag powders were investigated initially. Subsequently, the adhesion properties of the asphalt mastics with the powders to the aggregates were evaluated. Finally, the moisture resistances of the asphalt mixtures were identified. The results indicate that the steel slag powder exhibited a notable prevalence of surface pores, which had a more uniform size distribution. In contrast, the blast furnace slag powder exhibited a greater average pore size. The larger specific surface area of the steel slag powder was over 30% larger than that of the blast furnace slag powder, and the superior gelling activity of the blast furnace powder enhanced the adhesion property. Both the steel slag powder and blast furnace slag powder were found to enhance the adhesion properties of the asphalt mastics, while the effect of the steel slag powder was more pronounced, the maximum force difference of which exceeded 200 N. The antagonistic effect of the steel slag powder and blast furnace slag powder on the resistance of the adhesive interface to moisture damage was confirmed by the contact angle test. The incorporation of the blast furnace slag powder markedly enhanced the moisture resistances of the asphalt mixtures. The phenomenon of dynamic moisture damage to the asphalt mixtures was more pronounced under the multicycle times, obviously severer than that in a stable water environment. As the dynamic moisture cycles increased, the degree of destruction gradually approached a steady state. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Composites Incorporating Waste Materials)

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18 pages, 9821 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Eco-Friendly 3D-Printed Concrete Made with Waste and Organic Artificial Aggregates

by Karolina Butkutė, Vitoldas Vaitkevičius and Fausta Adomaitytė

Materials 2024, 17(13), 3290; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17133290 - 3 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1266

Abstract

In this research, the results of an experimental study on the use of three alternative components for creating artificial aggregates (AAs) (granules) and their usage in 3D-printed concrete (3DPC) are examined. This study combines AAs made from organic components like hemp shives (HSs), pyrolyzed coal (charcoal), waste/municipal solid waste incinerator bottom slag (BS), and a mix of a reference 3DPC with the aforementioned AAs. Particularly, to enhance these properties to make low-carbon 3DPC, in this research, the potential of using AAs as lightweight aggregates was increased to 14% in terms of the mass of the concrete. Each mix was tested in terms of its printability via a preliminary test in a 3D printing laboratory. For an additional comparison with the aforementioned cases, 3DPC was mixed with unprocessed hemp shives, charcoal, and BS. Furthermore, their strength was measured at 28 days, and lastly, their durability parameters and shrinkage were experimentally investigated. Cross-sections of the fragments were studied under a scanning electron microscope. In this study, we achieved improvements in the mechanical properties of AAs for their development and implementation as an innovative way to reduce carbon in 3DPC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Composites Incorporating Waste Materials)

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25 pages, 3675 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of the Properties of Different Types of Recycled Aggregate on the Service Properties and Leaching of Paving Blocks Manufactured at Industrial Scale

by Miriam Hernández, Isidro Sánchez, Rosa Navarro, Marina Sánchez and Carlos Rodríguez

Materials 2024, 17(12), 2898; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17122898 - 13 Jun 2024

Viewed by 514

Abstract

The literature shows that a circular economy can benefit some sectors such as the construction industry. This sector demands huge amounts of raw materials and produces waste when buildings and structures are demolished. This paper explores the possibility of manufacturing at industrial scale paving blocks using different types of construction and demolition wastes as aggregates, without modifying the commonly used industrial conditions. A total of four different recycled aggregates were used in this research. Both natural and recycled aggregates have been characterized. The dosages were optimized (three different formulations). Prefabricated tests have been carried out on the products manufactured in industrial plants and the evolution of mechanical properties over time has been analysed. The results obtained were analysed statistically by applying the principal component analysis (PCA) method. To ensure the security of the elements manufactured, the ionic leaching of the materials used as recycled aggregate and of the elements produced has been tested. The main implications of this research on the construction industry show that the majority of recycled aggregates used could replace 25% of the natural aggregate in manufactured precast concrete, that the properties of the aggregates should be taken into account in the different standards and that all paving blocks manufactured in this study can be considered environmentally safe (no risk of leaching) according to the Netherland Soil Quality Decree. Therefore, it is evident that it is possible to manufacture on an industrial scale paving blocks with mixed recycled aggregates, concrete and ceramic in nature, both with the fine and coarse fractions that meet the requirements of its reference standard UNE-EN 1338 and the Netherland Soil Quality Decree that evaluates environmental risks due to leaching. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Composites Incorporating Waste Materials)

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19 pages, 8023 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microstructural Assessment of Pozzolanic Activity of Ilmenite Mud Waste Compared to Fly Ash in Cement Composites

by Filip Chyliński

Materials 2024, 17(11), 2483; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17112483 - 21 May 2024

Viewed by 632

Abstract

This paper presents the influence of adding rinsed ilmenite mud waste (R-MUD) on the microstructure of Portland cement composites, compared to similar composites containing fly ash (FA). The aim of the study is the assessment of the pozzolanic activity of ilmenite mud waste by its impact on the microstructure of the cement matrix in comparison to the undoubted pozzolanic activity of fly ash. The presented test results include pore size distribution, phase composition, pozzolanic activity using thermal analysis, R³ bound water test, and microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tests were performed on mortars cured for up to 360 days. The results presented in this paper have shown that R-MUD has a pozzolanic activity level similar to FA or better, which influences pore size distribution in the composite and its microstructure. During the curing process, the microstructure of composites containing R-MUD became more compact and sealed than those with FA, which might also increase their durability. The results of the R³ tests have proven the pozzolanic activity of R-MUD but its level was lower than FA. R-MUD might be a useful substitute for fly ash, especially given the lack of good-quality fly ash on the market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Composites Incorporating Waste Materials)

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21 pages, 3097 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Recycling Waste Agricultural Nets as Cement Composites

by Bartosz Zegardło, Chrysanthos Maraveas, Kamil Świeczka and Antoni Bombik

Materials 2024, 17(8), 1828; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17081828 - 16 Apr 2024

Viewed by 800

Abstract

The advancement of agricultural mesh technology has contributed to its improved properties. As a result, agricultural nets are widely adopted in large-scale farming applications, for example, in cereal crop farming. However, a consequence of this increased use of agricultural nets is the accumulation of large amounts of waste. The current paper focuses on the recycling of agricultural nets used in wrapping straw bales to develop additives and fillers in cement composites. The research details an analysis of the use of waste agricultural meshes as an ingredient in cement composites. Six test series of different mixtures were conducted. In the first four series, agricultural waste was utilised as an additive in a composite comprising aggregate and cement slurry (the amounts of wasted nets were 20, 40, 60, and 80 kg/m³). In the last test series, the recyclate utilised comprised a mixture of cement slurry and waste only. The composites were subjected to standard tests and thermal resistance tests. The results showcased that that the addition of a net worsened the workability of the concrete mixture, and with increasing amounts of addition, the consistency of the mixture could change from liquid to dense plastic. The flexural strength of the composite decreased with increasing amounts of recyclate. In subsequent test series, the flexural strength value was lower than that of the control (3.93 MPa), from 7.38% (3.64 MPa) for the composite with 20 kg/m³ of recyclate to 37.66% (2.45 MPa) for the composite with of 80 kg/m³ recyclate. The flexural strength value of the net-filled composite without aggregate was very high (10.44 MPa), where the value obtained for the control composite was 62.36% lower. The results of the compressive strength test showed a decrease in this parameter with increasing amounts of additive. The value assessed for the control composite was 27.99 MPa. As expected, the composite that had no aggregate and consisted of only recycled filler had the lowest compressive strength. The value of this parameter was 13.07 MPa, and it was 53.31% lower than that of the control composite. The results of the tests of resistance to temperatures were similar to those recorded for the composites with polypropylene fibres. All composites demonstrated a significant decrease in their compressive and flexural strength after annealing. SEM imaging showed that the net fibres were closely bonded to the cement stone. Finally, it was concluded that recyclates performed best as fillers in lightweight composites with a low density, low absorption, high flexural strength, and satisfactory compressive strength. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Composites Incorporating Waste Materials)

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17 pages, 6289 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Properties of Geopolymer Mixtures Incorporating Recycled Ceramic Fines

by Katarzyna Kalinowska-Wichrowska, Edyta Pawluczuk, Filip Chyliński, Hwa Kian Chai, Magdalena Joka Yildiz, Aleksandra Chuczun and Stanisław Łuniewski

Materials 2024, 17(8), 1740; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17081740 - 10 Apr 2024

Viewed by 831

Abstract

This research aimed to optimize the production conditions for geopolymer matrices by investigating the combination of heat curing conditions and the incorporation of recycled ceramic fines (CFs) as a partial replacement material for fly ash (FA). The obtained physical and mechanical properties of the composites confirmed the positive impact resulting from increasing the curing temperature from 65 °C to 85 °C and using CFs in the amount of 37.5% as a replacement for FA. The results were from laboratory tests performed to evaluate compressive strength, bending strength, bulk density, and water absorption of the geopolymer mixes. In addition, microscopic observations and porosity assessment were also performed, which confirmed that a further increase in the replacement of FA by CFs causes an increase in the porosity of the mixes and, thus, a decrease in all the assessed properties that are relevant to their practical use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Composites Incorporating Waste Materials)

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10 pages, 3022 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Thermal Properties of Gypsum Plaster with Plastic Waste Aggregates

by Alejandra Vidales-Barriguete, Eva Barreira and Susana Gomes Dias

Materials 2024, 17(7), 1663; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17071663 - 4 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 696

Abstract

Building material manufacturers must support new production models that encourage the manufacture of more efficient and sustainable products. This includes thinking about savings in the use of raw materials, a contribution to the energy efficiency of buildings during their useful life, and a reduction in the generation and deposit of waste in landfills. In this research, an analysis of the thermal properties of gypsum composites added with plastic waste is carried out using the most common methods, the steady state method and the transient plane source method, and the effect of water saturation on these composites is tested. The results show an improvement in the thermal performance of the composites (values reduced with respect to the reference by 4–7%), despite their heterogeneity, as well as a variation in the measurements carried out, depending on the method used for the measurements (variation up to 10%). It is also found that the degree of humidity negatively affects the thermal conductivity coefficient but, on the contrary, this coefficient is not altered in the composites with plastic waste, due to their lower hygroscopicity. Therefore, it is considered that the proposed eco-plasters are a good alternative to traditional plasters, with which to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the current European directives on waste and circular economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Composites Incorporating Waste Materials)

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17 pages, 14641 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Testing the Influence of Metakaolinite and Zeolite on the Adhesion of BFRP and GFRP Bars to Concrete

by Julita Krassowska, Paweł Wolka, Kostiantyn Protchenko and Alejandra Vidales-Barriguete

Materials 2023, 16(23), 7435; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16237435 - 29 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 921

Abstract

Today’s sustainable development policy in Europe, which is driven by concerns about the greenhouse effect and environmental protection, mandates a reduction in CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere. The cement industry and steel mills that produce reinforcing bars are among the largest and most emissions-intensive sectors emitting CO₂ into the atmosphere. This article analyzes the possibility of achieving significant reductions in CO₂ emissions by using basalt bars (BFRP) and glass bars (GFRP) in concrete structures, and—in the case of concrete—by using cement with the addition of metakaolinite and zeolite. There is a lack of literature reports on whether modifying concrete with the additions of metakaolinite and zeolite as substitutes for part of the cement affects the adhesion of FRP bars to concrete. It can be assumed, however, that improving the microstructure of concrete also improves the contact zone between the bar and the concrete. The aim of this research is to fill the aforementioned gap in the literature data by determining how the presence of metakaolinite and zeolite affects the adhesion of reinforcing bars to concrete and testing selected properties of hardened concrete. The test samples were prepared following the appropriate beam test procedure. The obtained results made it possible to perform a comparative analysis of reference samples and those with metakaolinite and zeolite additions. The research showed that introducing active pozzolanic additives in the form of metakaolinite and zeolite into concrete improved adhesion stress values by approximately 20% for glass GFRP bars and 15% for basalt BFRP bars, especially in the destruction phase. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Composites Incorporating Waste Materials)

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18 pages, 4059 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Chemicals Exposure on the Durability of Geopolymer Concrete Incorporated with Silica Fumes and Nano-Sized Silica at Varying Curing Temperatures

by Sagar Paruthi, Ibadur Rahman, Asif Husain, Mohd Abul Hasan and Afzal Husain Khan

Materials 2023, 16(18), 6332; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16186332 - 21 Sep 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1056

Abstract

Durable concrete significantly reduces the spalling caused by chemical damage. The objective of current research is to substitute cement with supplementary such as fly ash (FA), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), and alccofine (AF). Additionally, the impact of nano-silica (NS) and silica fumes (SF) on the GPC durability when cured at various temperatures has been attempted. In order to perform this, GPC samples were produced by combining NS and SF at proportions of 0.5% NS + 5% SF, 1% NS + 10% SF, and 1.5% NS + 15% SF, and then cured at temperatures of 27 °C, 60 °C, 90 °C, and 120 °C, respectively. In this research, all concrete specimens were continuously immersed for twelve weeks under four different chemicals, i.e., HCl (2%), H₂SO₄ (2%), NaCl (6%), and Na₂SO₄ (6%). The influence of chemical attack on the qualities of concrete was examined by evaluating the water absorption, sorptivity, loss of mass, and loss of GPC strength. The durability aspect is also studied by visual appearance and mass loss under harmful chemical attack. The combination of GPC with integrated NS and SF affords great resistance against chemical attacks. The percentages of these two components are 1.5% and 15%. For GPC specimens, when cured at 90 °C, the resultant strength is found at its maximum. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Composites Incorporating Waste Materials)

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