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Ceramics
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Ceramics in the Circular Economy for a Sustainable World, 2nd...
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Ceramics in the Circular Economy for a Sustainable World, 2nd Edition

A Special Issue of Ceramics (ISSN 2571-6131).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 2201

Editors

Dr. Francesco Baino

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Guest Editor
Institute of Materials Physics and Engineering, Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy
Interests: ceramics; glasses; porous materials; additive manufacturing; bioactive glasses; bioceramics; composites; tissue engineering; multifunctional biomaterials; biomedical scaffolds; advanced ceramics; sustainable materials; waste management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Dilshat Tulyaganov

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Natural-mathematical Sciences, Turin Polytechnic University in Tashkent, 17, Small Ring Street, 100095 Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Interests: ceramics; glasses; glass-ceramics; sealants for SOFC; bioactive glasses; tissue engineering; porous materials; composites; waste mangment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Hamada Elsayed

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Guest Editor
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
Interests: additive manufacturing of ceramics; sustainable ceramic processing; recycling of industrial waste; functional porous materials; porous bioactive ceramics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the success of the first edition of the Special Issue “Ceramics in the Circular Economy for a Sustainable World”, we are pleased to launch a second edition of this Special Issue on the same topics, which are actually key in modern society. The criticalities related to the overexploitation of natural resources and the generation of huge amounts of waste, pollution, and greenhouse emissions pose great challenges to scientists, companies, and the overall production system of goods, which can be tackled by adopting circular economy approaches. Novel strategies for product design and manufacturing, as well as for preserving natural resources and recycling waste into new (secondary) resources, are the technological pillars of this change in paradigm, in which ceramics play an important role. In fact, environmental and sustainable issues have attracted increasing attention in the ceramics industry, pushing researchers to develop strategies for reducing the processing temperatures and power supply needed (e.g., crystalline ceramics and glass are conventionally produced by high-temperature sintering and melting, respectively). In addition, ceramics researchers are dedicating great attention to reducing pollution (e.g., minimizing the use of non-eco-friendly solvents), greenhouse gas emissions, and the overall generation of waste and its disposal in landfills. Indeed, all of these achievements are expected to yield economic benefits for companies as well as overall society and to reduce the impact of the use of materials on the built environment.

This Special Issue focuses on several areas related to ceramics, glasses and composites in the frame of sustainability and circularity, including, but not limited to, the following: industrial materials, construction and finishing materials, natural materials, waste management, recycling and reuse, the optimization of resources and raw materials, more sustainable synthesis and processing routes, life cycle assessment, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, renewable energy sources, testing and characterization and regulatory aspects.

This Special Issue aims to build a platform for discussion among various stakeholders involved in the ceramics community and sustainable growth, including researchers from academia, industry, and government. This valuable exchange of ideas, methods, and results will be key in meeting the needs of a world that has infinite desires but finite resources.

Dr. Francesco Baino
Prof. Dr. Dilshat Tulyaganov
Dr. Hamada Elsayed
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Ceramics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 1600 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

  • ceramics
  • glass
  • composites
  • waste management
  • cement
  • concrete
  • mortar
  • aggregate
  • clay
  • oxides
  • natural materials
  • geopolymers
  • 3D printing
  • energy consumption
  • sustainability
  • circular economy
  • recycling
  • upcycling
  • carbon neutrality
  • recycled fibers

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 11158 KB  
Article
Durability Assessment of Self-Compacting Sand Concrete Incorporating Windshield Glass Aggregate Under Extreme Environmental Conditions: High Temperature and Freeze–Thaw Cycling
by Zahra Beladzar, Djamila Boukhelkhal, Mohamed Guendouz, Seyed Mostafa Nouri, Ilario Biblioteca and Marco Valente
Ceramics 2026, 9(6), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics9060059 - 1 Jun 2026
Viewed by 900
Abstract
This study evaluates the durability of Self-Compacting Sand Concrete (SCSC) incorporating Windshield Glass Aggregate (WGA) as a sustainable replacement for natural sand, utilizing Blast Furnace Slag (BFS) as a constant filler component. Eleven mixtures were investigated: a control mix and ten variants with [...] Read more.
This study evaluates the durability of Self-Compacting Sand Concrete (SCSC) incorporating Windshield Glass Aggregate (WGA) as a sustainable replacement for natural sand, utilizing Blast Furnace Slag (BFS) as a constant filler component. Eleven mixtures were investigated: a control mix and ten variants with WGA substitution levels ranging from 10% to 100% in 10% increments. The specimens were exposed to elevated temperatures of 200–800 °C and to 240 freeze–thaw cycles between −18 °C and +9 °C. Under heating, mass loss increased with temperature, but WGA-rich mixtures generally showed lower mass loss and higher residual mechanical performance than the control. At 400 °C, WGA100 reached about 96 MPa in compressive strength and 15 MPa in flexural strength, corresponding to residual values of approximately 110.34% and 166.7%, respectively. After freeze–thaw cycling, all mixtures showed limited surface deterioration and mass loss below 1%, decreasing from about 0.76% for the control mixture to about 0.05% for WGA100. The improved durability is mainly attributed to the physical effect of WGA replacement and the baseline matrix refinement associated with BFS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics in the Circular Economy for a Sustainable World, 2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 3209 KB  
Article
Sustainable Solar-Reflective Ceramic Engobes Based on Secondary Raw Materials
by Davide Casotti, Erika Iveth Cedillo-González and Cristina Siligardi
Ceramics 2026, 9(6), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics9060053 - 26 May 2026
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Abstract
The ceramic tile industry is increasingly required to reduce its environmental impact while maintaining high technological and aesthetic standards. In this context, the use of secondary raw materials (SRMs) represents a promising strategy to decrease the consumption of virgin resources and the energy [...] Read more.
The ceramic tile industry is increasingly required to reduce its environmental impact while maintaining high technological and aesthetic standards. In this context, the use of secondary raw materials (SRMs) represents a promising strategy to decrease the consumption of virgin resources and the energy demand associated with conventional frit production. At the same time, solar-reflective engobes can contribute to passive cooling by limiting solar heat absorption and mitigating the urban heat island effect. In this study, white solar-reflective engobes were developed by incorporating at least 8 wt.% of SRMs, including various recycled glass streams, ceramic wastes, and yttria-stabilized zirconia residues. The results demonstrate that optimized formulations achieve high solar reflectance values (up to 0.79) while maintaining the technological and aesthetic requirements of industrial ceramic tiles. Recycled glasses act as effective fluxing agents, whereas waste zirconia enhances optical performance due to its strong light-scattering capability. The most promising formulations were validated at the industrial scale, confirming their applicability under real production conditions. Overall, the developed engobes represent a scalable alternative to traditional frit-based systems, enabling reduced resource consumption and supporting the development of energy-efficient ceramic surfaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics in the Circular Economy for a Sustainable World, 2nd Edition)
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Other

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37 pages, 3773 KB  
Systematic Review
Durability of Natural Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer and Alkali-Activated Composites: A Systematic Review of Degradation Mechanisms and Design Controlling Factors
by Rafael Gonçalves Hammes, Thamires Alves da Silveira, Rafaella dos Passos Nörnberg, Rafael Beltrame and Rafael de Avila Delucis
Ceramics 2026, 9(9), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics9090094 - 3 Sep 2026
Viewed by 162
Abstract
Natural fiber-reinforced geopolymer and alkali-activated composites have emerged as promising alternatives for reducing the environmental impact of cement-based materials; however, their long-term durability remains insufficiently understood. This systematic review evaluates the durability behaviour of natural fiber-reinforced geopolymer and alkali-activated composites based on 42 [...] Read more.
Natural fiber-reinforced geopolymer and alkali-activated composites have emerged as promising alternatives for reducing the environmental impact of cement-based materials; however, their long-term durability remains insufficiently understood. This systematic review evaluates the durability behaviour of natural fiber-reinforced geopolymer and alkali-activated composites based on 42 studies published between 2017 and 2025, identified from 356 records retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science following the PRISMA methodology. The literature analysis reveals a significant increase in research activity in recent years, with 12 studies published in 2025 alone, indicating a growing transition from mechanical-performance evaluation toward durability-oriented design. The reviewed studies investigated multiple degradation environments, including moisture cycling, freeze–thaw exposure, chemical attack, carbonation, and thermal ageing. Across the evidence base, durability performance was mainly governed by the interaction among binder chemistry, pore structure, curing conditions, fiber characteristics, surface treatments, and exposure severity. Notably, the intrinsic surface properties of different natural fibers, including hydrophilic character, surface chemistry, and surface roughness, were found to strongly influence moisture absorption, fiber–matrix adhesion, and susceptibility to alkaline degradation, thereby contributing to distinct durability outcomes among fiber types. Fiber modification strategies and optimized matrix designs were frequently associated with improved interfacial stability and mechanical retention after ageing, whereas excessive fiber contents and poorly controlled moisture transport were recurrent factors contributing to degradation. Despite these advances, the review identified significant methodological limitations, particularly the lack of standardized durability protocols and long-term exposure assessments. Future research should prioritize harmonized testing approaches and integrated durability-based design frameworks to enable reliable prediction of service performance in natural fiber-reinforced alkali-activated composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics in the Circular Economy for a Sustainable World, 2nd Edition)
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