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Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality in the Cement-Based Materials (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction and Building Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 5996

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Architectural Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon-si 24341, Republic of Korea
Interests: cement and concrete; sustainable materials; cement chemistry; low CO2 concrete
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cement is mainly used as a binder for concrete and is the basic material of reinforced concrete structures. In 2020, the global cement content was approximately 4.1 billion tons. The carbon dioxide emissions of the cement industry account for about 7% of the total global carbon dioxide emissions. The low-carbon development of the cement and concrete industries is of great significance for achieving carbon peaks and carbon neutrality. The purpose of this Special Issue is to provide an exchange platform on carbon peaking and carbon neutrality in the cement and concrete industries. Through the exchange of theory, experiments, and engineering applications, we can find practical solutions for carbon peaking and carbon neutralization in the cement and concrete industry. This Special Issue welcomes research papers and review papers. Possible research topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Low-carbon cement and concrete;
  • Magnesia-based cement;
  • Alkali-activated cement and concrete;
  • Mineral admixtures;
  • Carbonation curing of concrete;
  • Carbon capture;
  • Carbon sequestration;
  • Energy-saving and emission reduction in cement production;
  • Material design considering CO2 emission;
  • Recycled aggregate concrete;
  • Durability and sustainability.

Prof. Dr. Xiaoyong Wang
Dr. Run-Sheng Lin
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • blended concrete
  • carbon neutrality
  • CO2 emission
  • sustainability
  • durability
  • geopolymer
  • supplementary cementitious materials

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 11878 KiB  
Article
Effect of Coffee Grounds/Coffee Ground Biochar on Cement Hydration and Adsorption Properties
by Yang Chen, Rongxin Guo, Feiyue Ma, Haoxue Zhou, Miao Zhang and Qianmin Ma
Materials 2024, 17(4), 907; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17040907 - 15 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1345
Abstract
Taking advantage of the strong adsorption characteristics of coffee grounds (CGs) and coffee ground biochar (CGB), this research employed equal amounts of 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% CGs and CGB to replace cement. This study thereby examined the impacts of CGs and CGB [...] Read more.
Taking advantage of the strong adsorption characteristics of coffee grounds (CGs) and coffee ground biochar (CGB), this research employed equal amounts of 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% CGs and CGB to replace cement. This study thereby examined the impacts of CGs and CGB on cement compressive strength, as well as their abilities to adsorb chloride ions and formaldehyde. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG−DTG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X−ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to investigate the hydration mechanism and characterize the microscopic structure. The results show the following: (1) The presence of a substantial quantity of organic compounds in CGs is found to have an adverse effect on both the compressive strength and hydration degree of the sample. The use of CGB after high-temperature pyrolysis of phosphoric acid can effectively improve the negative impact of organic compounds on the sample. (2) The addition of CGs reduces the adsorption of chloride ions by cement, primarily due to the presence of fewer hydration products. However, when CGB was incorporated into cement, it enhanced the ability to adsorb chloride ions. (3) Cement containing 8% CGB content can slightly enhance the adsorption of formaldehyde. However, the cement sample with 8% CGB content exhibited the most significant ability to adsorb formaldehyde. Full article
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25 pages, 6870 KiB  
Article
Low-CO2 Optimization Design of Quaternary Binder Containing Calcined Clay, Slag, and Limestone
by Run-Sheng Lin, Yongpang Liao, Yi Han, Seokhoon Oh, Ki-Bong Park, Hyun-Min Yang, Xiao-Yong Wang, Bo Yang and Li-Yi Meng
Materials 2023, 16(19), 6385; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16196385 - 24 Sep 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 994
Abstract
Blended cement is commonly used for producing sustainable concretes. This paper presents an experimental study and an optimization design of a low-CO2 quaternary binder containing calcined clay, slag, and limestone using the response surface method. First, a Box–Behnken design with three influencing [...] Read more.
Blended cement is commonly used for producing sustainable concretes. This paper presents an experimental study and an optimization design of a low-CO2 quaternary binder containing calcined clay, slag, and limestone using the response surface method. First, a Box–Behnken design with three influencing factors and three levels was used for the combination design of the quaternary composite cement. The lower limit of the mineral admixtures was 0%. The upper limits of slag, calcined clay, and limestone powder were 30%, 20%, and 10%, respectively. The water-to-binder ratio (water/binder) was 0.5. Experimental works to examine workability and strength (at 3 and 28 days) were performed for the composite cement. The CO2 emissions were calculated considering binder compositions. A second-order polynomial regression was used to evaluate the experimental results. In addition, a low-CO2 optimization design was conducted for the composite cement using a composite desirability function. The objectives of the optimization design were the target 28-day strength (30, 35, 40, and 45 MPa), target workability (160 mm flow), and low CO2 emissions. The trends of the properties of optimal combinations were consistent with those in the test results. In summary, the proposed optimization design can be used for designing composite cement considering strength, workability, and ecological aspects. Full article
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18 pages, 7819 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Crystalline Admixture on the Self-Healing Performance and Mechanical Properties of Mortar with Internally Added Superabsorbent Polymer
by Guang-Zhu Zhang, Cen Liu, Xiang Ma and Xiao-Kun Yu
Materials 2023, 16(14), 5052; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16145052 - 17 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1333
Abstract
Crystalline admixture (CA) can be incorporated into concrete to achieve self-healing of concrete cracks. In this study, both CA and superabsorbent polymer (SAP) were used as self-healing agents to investigate the effects of CA on the self-healing performance and mechanical properties of mortar [...] Read more.
Crystalline admixture (CA) can be incorporated into concrete to achieve self-healing of concrete cracks. In this study, both CA and superabsorbent polymer (SAP) were used as self-healing agents to investigate the effects of CA on the self-healing performance and mechanical properties of mortar with internally added SAP at different self-healing ages. The healing effect of cracks in mortar is assessed by crack observation and impermeability. The structure and composition of the filler in the cracks were analyzed by microscopic experiment. The experimental results indicate that CA enhances the healing of cracks in mortar specimens. The chemical reactions of CA primarily contribute to significantly improving the early-age crack-healing ability of the specimens, and the water absorption and expansion ability as well as the internal curing effect of SAP also facilitate the crack-healing process. Increasing the CA content leads to an increase in the Ca/Si ratio of C-S-H, causing a transition from a layered structure to a more compact needle-like structure. When 4% CA was added to the mortar, it resulted in an adequate formation of needle-like C-S-H structures, which eventually penetrate and fill the pits formed by SAP, compensating for the strength loss caused by SAP. Full article
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Review

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27 pages, 5283 KiB  
Review
Application of Calcium Sulfate Whiskers to Cement-Based Materials: A Review
by Guoqiang Liu, Yongpang Liao, Xun Sha, Guangmin Liu, Yingjie Zhang, Rongxin Guo and Yao Yue
Materials 2024, 17(5), 1138; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17051138 - 29 Feb 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1286
Abstract
In recent years, significant attention has been paid to the use of calcium sulfate whiskers (CSWs) to enhance the performance of cement-based materials (CBM). This technology has attracted widespread interest from researchers because it enhances the performance and sustainability of CBM by modifying [...] Read more.
In recent years, significant attention has been paid to the use of calcium sulfate whiskers (CSWs) to enhance the performance of cement-based materials (CBM). This technology has attracted widespread interest from researchers because it enhances the performance and sustainability of CBM by modifying the crystal structure of calcium sulfate. This article summarizes the fundamental properties and preparation methods of calcium sulfate whisker materials as well as their applications in cement, potential advantages and disadvantages, and practical applications and prospects. The introduction of CSWs has been demonstrated to enhance the strength, durability, and crack resistance of CBM while also addressing concerns related to permeability and shrinkage. The application of this technology is expected to improve the quality and lifespan of buildings, reduce maintenance costs, and positively impact the environment. The use of CSWs in CBM represents a promising material innovation that offers lasting and sustainable advancement in the construction industry. Full article
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