New Cementitious Materials for Sustainable Construction

Laboratory Test to Evaluate the Resistance of Cementitious Materials to Biodeterioration in Sewer Network Conditions

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14030686 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 686

Author(s):

Amr Aboulela ◽

Matthieu Peyre Lavigne ◽

Amaury Buvignier ◽

Marlène Fourré ◽

Maud Schiettekatte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Calcium Aluminate ◽

Standardized Test ◽

Performance Indicator ◽

Cementitious Materials ◽

Test Method ◽

Sustainable Construction ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Sulfur Source ◽

Test Protocol ◽

Wide Range

The biodeterioration of cementitious materials in sewer networks has become a major economic, ecological, and public health issue. Establishing a suitable standardized test is essential if sustainable construction materials are to be developed and qualified for sewerage environments. Since purely chemical tests are proven to not be representative of the actual deterioration phenomena in real sewer conditions, a biological test–named the Biogenic Acid Concrete (BAC) test–was developed at the University of Toulouse to reproduce the biological reactions involved in the process of concrete biodeterioration in sewers. The test consists in trickling a solution containing a safe reduced sulfur source onto the surface of cementitious substrates previously covered with a high diversity microbial consortium. In these conditions, a sulfur-oxidizing metabolism naturally develops in the biofilm and leads to the production of biogenic sulfuric acid on the surface of the material. The representativeness of the test in terms of deterioration mechanisms has been validated in previous studies. A wide range of cementitious materials have been exposed to the biodeterioration test during half a decade. On the basis of this large database and the expertise gained, the purpose of this paper is (i) to propose a simple and robust performance criterion for the test (standardized leached calcium as a function of sulfate produced by the biofilm), and (ii) to demonstrate the repeatability, reproducibility, and discriminability of the test method. In only a 3-month period, the test was able to highlight the differences in the performances of common cement-based materials (CEM I, CEM III, and CEM V) and special calcium aluminate cement (CAC) binders with different nature of aggregates (natural silica and synthetic calcium aluminate). The proposed performance indicator (relative standardized leached calcium) allowed the materials to be classified according to their resistance to biogenic acid attack in sewer conditions. The repeatability of the test was confirmed using three different specimens of the same material within the same experiment and the reproducibility of the results was demonstrated by standardizing the results using a reference material from 5 different test campaigns. Furthermore, developing post-testing processing and calculation methods constituted a first step toward a standardized test protocol.

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Innovation potentials for construction materials with specific focus on the challenges in Africa

RILEM Technical Letters ◽

10.21809/rilemtechlett.2020.112 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 63-74

Author(s):

Wolfram Schmidt ◽

Mike Otieno ◽

Kolawole Olonade ◽

Nonkululeko Radebe ◽

Henri Van-Damme ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Construction Materials ◽

Cementitious Materials ◽

Sustainable Construction ◽

African Continent ◽

Concrete Technology ◽

Rich Diversity ◽

The Rich ◽

Basic Infrastructure ◽

Industrialised Countries

Africa is urgently in need of adequate basic infrastructure and housing, and it is one of the continents where massive construction activities are on the rise. There is a vast variety of potentially viable resources for sustainable construction on the continents, and consequently, the continent can bring innovative, greener technologies based on local sources effectively into practice. However, unlike established concrete constituents from industrialised countries in the global North, most of the innovation potentials from the African continent have not yet been the focus of intensive fundamental and applied research. This clearly limits the implementation of more sustainable local technologies. This paper presents a case for the need to first appreciate the rich diversity and versatility of the African continent which is often not realistically perceived and appreciated. It discusses specific innovation potentials and challenges for cementitious materials and concrete technology based on local materials derived from sources on the African continent. The unique African materials solutions are presented and discussed, from mineral binders over chemical admixtures and fibres to reinforcement and aggregates. Due to the pressing challenges faced by Africa, with regards to population growth and urbanisation, the focus is not only put on the technological (durability, robustness and safety) and environmental sustainability, but also strongly on socio-economic applicability, adaptability and scalability. This includes a review of alternative, traditional and vernacular construction technologies such as materials-saving structures that help reducing cementitious materials. Eventually, a strategic research roadmap is hypothesised that points out the most relevant potentials and research needs for quick implementation of more localised construction materials.

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State of the art on geopolymer concrete

International Journal of Structural Integrity ◽

10.1108/ijsi-05-2020-0050 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Zoi G. Ralli ◽

Stavroula J. Pantazopoulou

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Performance ◽

State Of The Art ◽

Construction Materials ◽

Cementitious Materials ◽

Sustainable Construction ◽

Geopolymer Concrete ◽

Critical Material ◽

Content Type ◽

Critical Requirement

PurposeImportant differentiating attributes in the procedures used, the characteristic mineral composition of the binders, and the implications these have on the final long term stability and physico-mechanical performance of the concretes produced are identified and discussed, with the intent to improve transparency and clarity in the field of geopolymer concrete technologies.Design/methodology/approachThis state-of-the-art review covers the area of geopolymer concrete, a class of sustainable construction materials that use a variety of alternative powders in lieu of cement for composing concrete, most being a combination of industrial by-products and natural resources rich in specific required minerals. It explores extensively the available essential materials for geopolymer concrete and provides a deeper understanding of its underlying chemical mechanisms.FindingsThis is a state-of-the-art review introducing the essential characteristics of alternative powders used in geopolymer binders and the effectiveness these have on material performance.Practical implicationsWith the increase of need for alternative cementitious materials, identifying and understanding the critical material components and the effect they may have on the performance of the resulting mixes in fresh as well as hardened state become a critical requirement to for short- and long-term quality control (e.g. flash setting, efflorescence, etc.).Originality/valueThe topic explored is significant in the field of sustainable concrete technologies where there are several parallel but distinct material technologies being developed, such as geopolymer concrete and alkali-activated concrete. Behavioral aspects and results are not directly transferable between the two fields of cementitious materials development, and these differences are explored and detailed in the present study.

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Utilization of By-Products and Wastes as Supplementary Cementitious Materials in Structural Mortar for Sustainable Construction

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12093888 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 3888 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Shamir Sakir ◽

Sudharshan N. Raman ◽

Md. Safiuddin ◽

A. B. M. Amrul Kaish ◽

Azrul A. Mutalib

Keyword(s):

Industrial Development ◽

Cementitious Materials ◽

Supplementary Cementitious Materials ◽

Sustainable Construction ◽

Clear Understanding ◽

Climate Change Effects ◽

Treatment Techniques ◽

Experimental Findings ◽

Strength And Durability ◽

By Products

Rapid growth in industrial development has raised the concern of proper disposal of the by-products generated in industries. Many of them may cause serious pollution to the air, land, and water if dumped in open landfills. Agricultural and municipal wastes also cause environmental issues if not managed properly. Besides, minimizing the carbon footprint has become a priority in every industry to slow down global warming and climate change effects. The use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) obtained from agricultural, industrial, municipal, and natural sources can decrease a significant amount of fossil fuel burning by reducing cement production and contribute to proper waste management. Also, SCMs can enhance desirable material properties like flowability, strength, and durability. Such materials may play a big role to meet the need of modern time for resilient construction. The effective application of SCMs in cement-based materials requires a clear understanding of their physical and chemical characteristics. Researchers studied how the flowability, strength, and durability properties of structural mortar change with the replacement of cement with different SCMs. Various experiments were conducted to examine the behavior of structural mortar in extreme conditions (e.g., high temperature). Many scholars have attempted to improve its performance with various treatment techniques. This article is an attempt to bring all the major findings of the recent relevant studies together, identify research gaps in the current state of knowledge on the utilization of SCMs in structural mortar, and give several recommendations for further study. The available results from recent studies have been reviewed, analyzed, and summarized in this article. A collection of the updated experimental findings will encourage and ease the use of various by-products and wastes as SCMs in structural mortar for sustainable construction.

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Sustainability Aspects of New Admixtures and Supplementary Cementitious Materials for Durable Concrete

Proceedings ◽

10.3390/proceedings2019034014 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 14

Author(s):

Katarina Malaga ◽

Nadia Al-Ayish ◽

Urs Mueller

Keyword(s):

Service Life ◽

Large City ◽

Cementitious Materials ◽

Supplementary Cementitious Materials ◽

Sustainable Construction ◽

Acidic Environment ◽

Design Codes ◽

Repair Work ◽

Safety Issues ◽

Global Population

s the global population is growing and changing the globalization direction towards large city areas the needs for the development of infrastructure and housing will increase. In order to have a safe and sustainable construction the infrastructure needs to be not only sustainable but also durable. In some cases, the concrete is subjected to severe environments, e.g., elevated or high temperatures, de-icing salts, seawater exposure or acidic environment, which means increased demand to extend the service life beyond what is prescribed in the design codes. The sustainability of concrete infrastructures is highly dependent on the durability. A longer service life with low repair work reduces the greenhouse gas emissions. Various admixtures and cement supplementary materials may increase the durability of the concrete. However, it is also important to consider the embodied impact and safety issues concerning innovative nanomaterials as well as application of slag and fly-ash in concrete and their future availability on the market. Here we present an overview on the latest developments on the durability and sustainability of climate-optimized concrete.

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3D Concrete Printing for Sustainable Construction

Energies ◽

10.3390/en13236351 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (23) ◽

pp. 6351

Author(s):

Maria Kaszyńska ◽

Szymon Skibicki ◽

Marcin Hoffmann

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Environmental Impact ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Rapid Development ◽

Cementitious Materials ◽

Sustainable Construction ◽

Standard Samples ◽

Negative Environmental Impact ◽

Extrusion Printing ◽

Mineral Additives

Despite the rapid development of 3D printing technology for cement composites, there are still a number of unsolved issues related to extrusion printing. One of them is proper mix design that allows for meeting criteria related to the printing of cementitious materials, such as pumpability, buildability, consistency on the materials, flowability and workability, simultaneously incorporating sustainable development ideas. In the case of mixes for 3D printing, the modification of the composition which increases the overall performance does not always go hand in hand with the reduction of negative environmental impact. The article presents the results of tests of eight mixtures modified with reactive and inert mineral additives designed for 3D printing. The mixes were evaluated in terms of their rheological and mechanical properties as well as environmental impact. Initial test results were verified by printing hollow columns up until collapse. Later, the differences between the compressive strength of standard samples and printed columns were determined. In order to summarize the results, a multi-faceted analysis of the properties of the mixes was carried out, introducing assessment indicators for its individual parameters. The article proves that appropriate material modification of mixes for 3D printing can significantly reduce the negative impact on the environment without hindering required 3D printing properties.

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Potential use of recycled plastic and rubber aggregate in cementitious materials for sustainable construction: A review

Journal of Cleaner Production ◽

10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129736 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 129736

Author(s):

Rayed Alyousef ◽

Waqas Ahmad ◽

Ayaz Ahmad ◽

Fahid Aslam ◽

Panuwat Joyklad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cementitious Materials ◽

Sustainable Construction ◽

Potential Use

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Phase-Change Materials in Concrete: Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainable Construction and Building Materials

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma15010335 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 335

Author(s):

Raju Sharma ◽

Jeong-Gook Jang ◽

Jong-Wan Hu

Keyword(s):

Phase Change ◽

Large Scale ◽

Building Materials ◽

Phase Change Materials ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Concrete Strength ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Cementitious Materials ◽

Supplementary Cementitious Materials ◽

Sustainable Construction

The use of phase-change materials (PCM) in concrete has revealed promising results in terms of clean energy storage. However, the negative impact of the interaction between PCM and concrete on the mechanical and durability properties limits field applications, leading to a shift of the research to incorporate PCM into concrete using different techniques to overcome these issues. The storage of clean energy via PCM significantly supports the UN SDG 7 target of affordable and clean energy. Therefore, the present study focuses on three aspects: PCM type, the effect of PCM on concrete properties, and connecting the outcome of PCM concrete composite to the United Nations sustainable development goals (UN SDGs). The compensation of reduction in strength of PCM-contained concrete is possible up to some extent with the use of nanomaterials and supplementary cementitious materials. As PCM-incorporated concrete is categorized a type of building material, the large-scale use of this material will affect the different stages associated with building lifetimes. Therefore, in the present study, the possible amendments of the different associated stages of building lifetimes after the use of PCM-incorporated concrete are discussed and mapped in consideration of the UN SDGs 7, 11, and 12. The current challenges in the widespread use of PCM are lower thermal conductivity, the trade-off between concrete strength and PCM, and absence of the link between the outcome of PCM-concrete composite and UN SDGs. The global prospects of PCM-incorporated concrete as part of the effort to attain the UN SDGs as studied here will motivate architects, designers, practicing engineers, and researchers to accelerate their efforts to promote the consideration of PCM-containing concrete ultimately to attain net zero carbon emissions from building infrastructure for a sustainable future.

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Experimental Analysis of Changes in Cement Mortar Containing Oil Palm Boiler Clinker Waste at Elevated Temperatures in Different Cooling Conditions

Crystals ◽

10.3390/cryst11080988 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 988

Author(s):

Muhammad Firdaus Anuar ◽

Payam Shafigh ◽

Azman Ma’amor ◽

Sumra Yousuf ◽

Farid Wajdi Akashah

Keyword(s):

Compressive Strength ◽

Electric Furnace ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Elevated Temperatures ◽

Cement Mortar ◽

Cementitious Materials ◽

Engineering Properties ◽

Sustainable Construction ◽

Air Cooling ◽

Cement Based Materials

Changes in cement-based materials containing waste after exposure to elevated temperatures are an important aspect that should be studied in developing sustainable construction materials. Modified cement-based materials obtained using the industrial waste present robust engineering properties can lead to sustainable development. This work evaluated the capacity of oil palm boiler clinker (OPBC) waste that had been produced during the palm oil extraction process as partial and full substitutions for natural sand to produce cement mortar. The mortar materials were cured under three different curing conditions and were then tested at a room temperature of approximately 27 °C and elevated temperatures of 200 °C to 1000 °C using an electric furnace. The specimens were maintained in the electric furnace under maximum temperatures for 2 h and were then cooled down with water or under ambient temperature. The changes in the forms of colour, weight, compressive strength, microstructure, mineralogical composition, and thermal conductivity were investigated. Test results showed that the compressive strength of OPBC mortars was generally higher than the strength of the control mortar after heat exposure. Water cooling exerted less damage to samples compared to air cooling. The results from field emission scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy demonstrated that the mineral composition varied at different temperatures. In conclusion, this work provides an extensive report and can be used as a guide in utilising OPBC as cementitious materials for future cement-based applications.

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Inorganic polymers of ground waste concrete and industrial waste slags as a low-cost sorbent of heavy metals

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-14828 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Aikaterini Vavouraki

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Aqueous Solutions ◽

Environmental Remediation ◽

Low Cost ◽

Cementitious Materials ◽

Added Value ◽

Sustainable Construction ◽

Alkali Activation ◽

Inorganic Polymers ◽

Waste Concrete

Inorganic polymers (IPs) are alkali activated aluminosilicate materials. Research on the synthesis of alternative cementitious materials such as IPs receives substantial attention not only for their physico-chemical properties that they acquire but for being cost-effective components of the future toolkit of sustainable construction materials (Provis, 2018; Vavouraki, 2020). In addition to potential uses of alkali activation materials for the disposal of industrial solid wastes and by-products, there is a great scientific interest in deploying IPs for environmental remediation purposes (Rasaki et al., 2019). In particular IPs can possess application value in pollution treatment of immobilization of toxic (and/ or nuclear) wastes, both inorganics and organics (Ji & Pei, 2019). Green sustainable aluminosilicate-based adsorbents may facilitate the elimination of toxic metal and organic pollutants from water and/ or wastewater (Tan et al., 2020). IPs are considered low-cost sorbents not only for successful recycling of waste materials but also considering added-value materials for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. However limited number of studies examines waste-slag-based IPs for the removal capacity of heavy metals.The aim of this study is to synthesize IPs from ground waste concrete and industrial slags and investigate their uptake capacity for heavy metals from aqueous solutions. The calcite-bearing and industrial-slags IPs as sorbent materials were examined for the uptake of solely Cu(II), Zn(II) and, Pb(II) and also or along with competitive aqueous solutions. Kinetics and equilibrium experiments were performed and analytical techniques involving XRF, XRD, FTIR, SEM/ EDS and XPS were used for the characterization and morphology analysis of the produced IPs.References:&#160;Ji & Pei, 2019. J. Environ. Manage. 231, 256&#8211;267; Provis, 2018. Cem. Concr. Res. 114, 40&#8211;48; Rasaki et al., 2019. J. Clean. Prod. 213, 42&#8211;58; Tan et al., 2020. Environ. Technol. Innov. 18, 100684; Vavouraki, 2020. J. Sustain. Metall. 6, 383&#8211;399.

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