Recent Applications of Low-Carbon Cementitious Materials and Coatings
A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Architectural and Infrastructure Coatings".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2027 | Viewed by 1038
Editors
Interests: low-carbon cementitious materials; calcium sulfoaluminate cement; ferroaluminate cement; utilization of solid waste
Interests: low-carbon cementitious materials; geopolymer; utilization of solid waste
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The production of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is responsible for nearly 8% of global CO2 emissions, driven by limestone calcination and high-temperature combustion. In response, low-carbon cementitious materials (LCCMs)—including alkali-activated materials (geopolymers), limestone calcined clay cements (LC3), CO2-solidified carbonate materials (CSCMs), calcium sulfoaluminate cement (CSA), and supersulfated cements (SSCs)—have emerged as promising alternatives. These systems drastically reduce or eliminate clinker by leveraging industrial by-products (e.g., fly ash, slag, metakaolin) or CO2-curing reactions. From a materials science perspective, LCCMs exhibit fundamentally different phase assemblages (e.g., N-A-S-H vs. C-S-H gels), pore structures, surface chemistries, and ion transport mechanisms compared to OPC. These differences profoundly influence not only bulk durability but also interfacial properties critical to coating performance.
While extensive research has focused on the mechanical and durability characteristics of LCCMs, their surface and near-surface behavior—which governs coating adhesion, barrier effectiveness, and long-term protection—remains significantly underexplored. This knowledge gap is the primary motivation for this Special Issue.
This Special Issue aims to bridge cement chemistry, surface science, and coating technology. By highlighting recent applications of LCCMs and their interactions with protective and functional coatings, we aim to advance durable, sustainable, and fit-for-purpose construction solutions. Contributions addressing interfacial characterization, novel coating formulations, long-term performance, and life-cycle assessment are particularly welcome.
The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:
- Alkali-activated materials (geopolymers);
- Limestone calcined clay cements (LC3);
- CO2-solidified carbonate materials (CSCM);
- Calcium sulfoaluminate cement (CSA);
- Supersulfated cements (SSC);
- Other low-carbon cementitious materials (LCCMs).
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Yishun Liao
Prof. Dr. Yifeng Ling
Dr. Yibing Zuo
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. Coatings 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 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
- low-carbon cementitious materials for coatings
- rapid-setting cementitious materials for coatings
- ultra-high-strength cementitious materials for coatings
- 3D printing of cementitious materials for coatings
- coating materials under extreme environments
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
