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Microstructure and Properties of Sustainable Cement and Concrete
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Microstructure and Properties of Sustainable Cement and Concrete

A Special Issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944) belonging to the section "Construction and Building Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2026 | Viewed by 2190

Editor

Dr. Weiting Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
Interests: high-performance cement-based materials; shrinkage reduction and toughening mechanism of concrete; prevention and control of concrete cracks; recycling of solid waste; organic-inorganic composite cementitious materials; molecular dynamics simulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cement and concrete are the most widely used construction materials worldwide, yet their production is associated with significant carbon emissions and environmental impact. In response to the global demand for sustainable development, there is an urgent need to develop eco-friendly cementitious materials with reduced environmental footprint while maintaining or enhancing their mechanical performance and durability. The microstructure of sustainable cement and concrete, which incorporates alternative binders, recycled aggregates, supplementary cementitious materials, and innovative additives, plays a critical role in determining their macroscopic properties and long-term behavior.

This Special Issue aims to collate high-quality research on the relationship between the microstructure and properties of sustainable cement and concrete. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: the reaction mechanisms and hydration evolution of low-carbon binders such as alkali-activated materials, geopolymers, limestone calcined clay cement, and carbonatable calcium silicate-based cements; the influence of industrial by-products (e.g., fly ash, slag, silica fume) and recycled aggregates on microstructural development, pore structure, and interfacial transition zone; the role of nano- and micro-scale additives (e.g., nanoclay, graphene, bio-based materials) in modifying the microstructure and enhancing mechanical and durability properties; the coupling effects of multi-scale reinforcement systems on toughness, shrinkage, and cracking resistance; and the impact of curing conditions and environmental exposure on the microstructural stability and performance of sustainable concrete.

We welcome the submission of original research papers, review articles, and short communications that address microstructure–property relationships in sustainable cement and concrete and contribute to our understanding and design of green construction materials.

Dr. Weiting Xu
Guest Editor

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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. 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.

Keywords

  • sustainable cement and concrete
  • low-carbon binders
  • microstructure–property relationship
  • alternative cementitious materials
  • recycled aggregates
  • geopolymer and alkali-activated materials
  • hydration and reaction mechanism
  • durability and long-term performance
  • nano- and micro-scale modification
  • eco-friendly construction materials
  • carbonation and chloride ingress
  • lifecycle assessment of concrete

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 3560 KB  
Article
Mechanical Properties and Microstructural Characterization of Concrete with Recycled Aggregates from 20-Year Marine-Exposed Structures
by Gustavo Adolfo Mendoza-Martínez, Fausto A. Canales and Heidis Cano
Materials 2026, 19(17), 3714; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19173714 - 31 Aug 2026
Viewed by 314
Abstract
This study evaluated the mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of concrete made with recycled concrete aggregates (RCAs) derived from a pier exposed to a tropical marine environment for more than 20 years. The RCA was characterized physically, chemically, and mechanically to assess porosity, [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of concrete made with recycled concrete aggregates (RCAs) derived from a pier exposed to a tropical marine environment for more than 20 years. The RCA was characterized physically, chemically, and mechanically to assess porosity, inherited chemical contamination, and potential degradation mechanisms associated with prolonged marine exposure. New concretes were produced with 50% replacement of natural coarse aggregates by RCA and water–cement (W/C) ratios of 0.67, 0.61, and 0.47. Compressive strength was measured at 3, 7, and 28 days. The mixture with 50% RCA and W/C = 0.47 achieved a 28-day compressive strength of ≈22.8 MPa, exceeding the design strength of 21 MPa. The source concrete and derived RCA exhibited a thin-section air-void content of 3.3%, acid-soluble chloride content of 0.074% by mass of concrete, and SO3 content of 1.15%. Petrographic examination identified no evidence of harmful alkali–silica reactivity in the examined material. Statistical analysis of the experimental results indicated increasing compressive strength with decreasing W/C ratio and increasing curing age. These findings demonstrate that, under the investigated mixture proportions and curing conditions, 50% RCA replacement can achieve the specified compressive strength. They also indicate an association between the source concrete’s inherited microstructural characteristics and the strength development of the recycled aggregate mixes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microstructure and Properties of Sustainable Cement and Concrete)
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23 pages, 5710 KB  
Article
The Impact of Curing Conditions on the Microstructure and Resultant Macro-Performance of Manufactured Sand Concrete
by Hongmei Chen, Juan Zhou, Ronggui Liu, Jialei Wang and Yu Xiang
Materials 2026, 19(13), 2698; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19132698 - 23 Jun 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 367
Abstract
This study comprehensively evaluates the mechanical properties, shrinkage behavior, and durability of concrete prepared with limestone- and granite-manufactured sands under standard-curing and steam-curing conditions. The results indicate that limestone-manufactured sand concrete consistently exhibits superior compressive strength and splitting tensile strength across all curing [...] Read more.
This study comprehensively evaluates the mechanical properties, shrinkage behavior, and durability of concrete prepared with limestone- and granite-manufactured sands under standard-curing and steam-curing conditions. The results indicate that limestone-manufactured sand concrete consistently exhibits superior compressive strength and splitting tensile strength across all curing ages, outperforming granite-modified counterparts. The introduction of granite-manufactured sand significantly degrades these mechanical properties, with deterioration intensifying as granite content increases. Dynamic elastic modulus and damping ratio analyses reveal that limestone-based concrete maintains the highest dynamic stiffness and lowest energy dissipation under both curing regimes, suggesting fewer internal defects. In contrast, granite incorporation reduces the dynamic elastic modulus and increases the damping ratio, reflecting structural deterioration and enhanced energy loss. Drying shrinkage tests demonstrate that limestone concrete achieves the lowest shrinkage deformation throughout the testing period, even under steam-curing conditions. Conversely, granite addition markedly elevates shrinkage, particularly under steam-curing conditions, leading to compromised volumetric stability. Durability assessments highlight that manufactured sand concrete exhibits higher capillary absorption, electrical flux, and porosity, attributed to inherent material defects and the surface characteristics of manufactured sand. Granite-modified concrete further weakens interfacial shear strength between aggregates and cement paste, indicating poor interfacial bonding. Steam curing exacerbates microstructural defects, emphasizing the need to optimize curing protocols. The findings propose strategies for enhancing manufactured sand concrete performance: improving interfacial adhesion between aggregates and cement paste, rationalizing supplementary material dosages, and refining steam curing regimes. These measures offer potential pathways to develop high-performance manufactured sand concrete with balanced mechanical and durability properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microstructure and Properties of Sustainable Cement and Concrete)
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19 pages, 5576 KB  
Article
The Effect of Pyrite Content in Aggregates on Concrete Deformation and Failure Prediction
by Kai Zhang, Wei Li, Shaoping Wang, Conglin Wang, Xiaojun Huang, Min Zhu, Zhixin Wang and Min Deng
Materials 2026, 19(10), 1969; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19101969 - 10 May 2026
Viewed by 502
Abstract
Iron ore mining requires the surrounding rock to be excavated, and the beneficiation process generates tailings. When used as construction aggregates, these materials can cause concrete to crack due to the presence of pyrite. Currently, there are no established technical methods to prevent [...] Read more.
Iron ore mining requires the surrounding rock to be excavated, and the beneficiation process generates tailings. When used as construction aggregates, these materials can cause concrete to crack due to the presence of pyrite. Currently, there are no established technical methods to prevent damage caused by pyrite, which limits the resource recovery of such solid waste. In this study, we selected the surrounding rock and tailings to serve as coarse or fine aggregates for C50 concrete based on standard engineering mix proportions. We found that surface-exposed pyrite on aggregates oxidizes first to form ettringite, triggering expansion, with the expansion rate positively correlated with the surface-exposed pyrite content. The deformation process was quantitatively characterized using the Arrhenius equation and by analyzing the acceleration effect of temperature on expansion, yielding an apparent activation energy of 8.28–9.47 kJ/mol. Using a 0.04% expansion value as the failure criterion, the results indicate that at an annual average temperature of 20 °C, C50 concrete with surface-exposed pyrite introduced by concrete aggregates exceeding 20 kg/m3 will fail within its service life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microstructure and Properties of Sustainable Cement and Concrete)
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Review

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18 pages, 5632 KB  
Review
Performance Evolution and Balance in the Curing Mechanism of Inorganic Thermal Insulation Mortar: A Review
by Miaorui Fu, Pinghua Zhu, Feifei Jiang, Jialei Wang, Ronggui Liu and Jiangpei Zhu
Materials 2026, 19(14), 3068; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19143068 - 16 Jul 2026
Viewed by 375
Abstract
Inorganic thermal-insulation mortars can effectively reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions of both existing and new buildings while maintaining the thermal stability of building envelopes. Compared with conventional mortars, these materials exhibit more pronounced multiscale coupling during curing, and their microstructural evolution [...] Read more.
Inorganic thermal-insulation mortars can effectively reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions of both existing and new buildings while maintaining the thermal stability of building envelopes. Compared with conventional mortars, these materials exhibit more pronounced multiscale coupling during curing, and their microstructural evolution and macroscopic properties are highly sensitive to environmental variables, particularly temperature, humidity, and ionic concentration. This review systematically summarizes the effects of high-temperature curing, high-humidity curing, artificially introduced ions, and special curing regimes on the mechanical properties, durability, thermal conductivity, and fire resistance of inorganic thermal-insulation mortars. The reviewed studies indicate that hydration, geopolymerization, and CO2-curing reactions can all promote microstructural densification and thus enhance mechanical performance and durability. Elevated temperature and humidity generally accelerate reaction kinetics, intensify internal hydration, and facilitate the generation and deposition of gel products, thereby refining the pore structure and improving strength development. However, the same densification process may also increase the continuity of the solid phase and form more effective heat-transfer pathways, which is unfavorable for thermal-insulation performance. Mildly alkaline curing environments can further stimulate binder reactions and improve matrix compactness, although excessive ionic activity may negatively affect pore stability and long-term performance. Among the coupled curing conditions, wet–dry cycling appears to provide a more favorable balance between mechanical-property development and pore-structure preservation, because periodic humidity gradients can enhance strength formation, stabilize the interfacial transition zone, and reduce cracking sensitivity. Overall, the effect of curing on inorganic thermal-insulation mortars is governed by the competition and balance between reaction enhancement, pore-structure evolution, and interfacial stabilization. Future curing design should therefore focus on system-dependent optimization to achieve a rational balance among mechanical performance, thermal insulation, and fire resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microstructure and Properties of Sustainable Cement and Concrete)
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