Sustainable Utilization of Recycled Construction and Demolition Materials in Cementitious Composites

Dear Colleagues,

The transition toward resource-efficient and low-impact construction materials represents one of the major challenges in contemporary materials science and engineering. The construction sector consumes vast quantities of raw materials and generates significant volumes of construction and demolition waste, industrial by-products, and end-of-life composite materials. In response to increasing pressure on natural resources and the growing demand for high-performance and durable infrastructure, research efforts are increasingly being focused on the material valorization of secondary raw materials in cementitious systems. Recent advances in processing technologies, microstructural characterization, and performance-based design enable recycled and industrial by-products to be effectively incorporated into cement-based composites while maintaining or even enhancing mechanical performance and durability. A thorough understanding of the relationships between composition, processing, microstructure, and long-term performance is therefore essential for the development of next-generation cementitious materials.

This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the most recent advances in the material processing, characterization, and performance evaluation of recycled construction materials and industrial by-products in cementitious composites. We welcome contributions addressing both fundamental and applied aspects of cement-based systems incorporating recycled aggregates, metallurgical slags, industrial residues, and other secondary materials. Emphasis is placed on materials science perspectives, including hydration mechanisms, phase evolution, interfacial transition zone (ITZ) behavior, mechanical performance, durability, and advanced microstructural characterization. Both experimental and modeling studies that contribute to a deeper understanding of structure–property relationships are encouraged.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The use of recycled concrete and recycled brick aggregates as partial or full replacements of natural aggregates in cementitious composites: effects on microstructure, mechanical performance, and durability.
• The valorization of fine recycled fractions as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs): reactivity, hydration kinetics, phase evolution, and performance assessment.
• Solidification and stabilization mechanisms in cement-based systems incorporating secondary materials: hydration product formation, immobilization efficiency, and long-term stability.
• The leaching behavior and durability of cementitious composites containing recycled constituents, with emphasis on microstructural factors governing transport processes.
• The mechanical performance, fracture behavior, shrinkage, and durability of cement-based materials incorporating recycled aggregates and industrial by-products.
• Hydration kinetics, interfacial transition zone (ITZ) characterization, and pore structure evolution in blended cementitious systems.
• Innovative processing and treatment technologies for recycled construction materials that aim to enhance compatibility and performance in cement matrices.
• The utilization of metallurgical slags and industrial residues in cementitious composites: structure–property relationships and long-term performance.
• Advanced experimental and modeling approaches for predicting the performance of cement-based materials containing secondary raw materials.
• The integration of durability assessment and life cycle-based evaluation in cementitious composites containing recycled constituents, with emphasis on structure–property relationships and long-term material stability.

Prof. Dr. Vojtěch Václavík
Guest Editor

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-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.

• cementitious composites
• recycled aggregates
• supplementary cementitious materials
• industrial by-products
• hydration mechanisms
• microstructure characterization
• durability performance
• structure–property relationships