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Low-Carbon Cementitious Composites
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Low-Carbon Cementitious Composites

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2026 | Viewed by 3270

Editors

Dr. Yuan Gao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
2. School of Transportation and Civil Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
Interests: sustainable construction engineering; low-carbon cementitious composites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Junlin Lin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
Interests: low-carbon cementitious composites; nano engineering and characterization of cementitious composites; machine learning and intelligent design of composites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Weiqiang Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
Interests: nanoscale characterization and simulation of cementitious materials; sustainable and durable civil and environmental engineering materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Building materials, as the fundamental components of architectural structures, directly influence the structural safety, functionality, and long-term durability of buildings. With the growing concerns about global climate change, the sustainability of building materials has become a critical research topic. Low-carbon cementitious composites, a crucial focus in construction materials research, aim to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions during cement production and utilization by optimizing material composition and innovating production processes.

This Special Issue covers developing new production processes to reduce energy consumption or using alternative raw materials to reduce the proportion of carbon-emitting components, such as limestone. This issue also covers research concerning the property investigation of low-carbon cementitious composites, such as compressive strength, impermeability, and durability. We expect the publication of this issue to promote the development of such materials, which will help the green transformation and sustainable development of the building materials industry.

Dr. Yuan Gao
Dr. Junlin Lin
Dr. Weiqiang Chen
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. 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

  • low-carbon cement
  • sustainable construction
  • building materials
  • construction waste recycling
  • recycled concrete
  • environmentally friendly cementitious materials

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 30250 KB  
Article
Synergistic Regulation Mechanism of Anti-Dispersion and Flowability of Alkali-Activated Slag Underwater Non-Dispersible Slurry
by Shengnan Xu, Fumin Li, Li Zhang, Yangmei Zhou, Yanpeng Zhao and Yongsheng Ji
Materials 2026, 19(17), 3633; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19173633 - 26 Aug 2026
Viewed by 183
Abstract
The trade-off between flowability and anti-dispersion properties of alkali-activated slag slurry in underwater environments represents a key technical bottleneck limiting their application in marine underwater engineering. In this study, granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) was used as the raw material, with the modulus [...] Read more.
The trade-off between flowability and anti-dispersion properties of alkali-activated slag slurry in underwater environments represents a key technical bottleneck limiting their application in marine underwater engineering. In this study, granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) was used as the raw material, with the modulus of liquid sodium silicate adjusted by NaOH serving as the alkali activator, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and polyacrylamide (PAM) selected as anti-dispersion agents. This study systematically investigates the synergistic regulation mechanisms of the anti-dispersion agents’ type, dosage, and activator on the anti-dispersion properties and rheological behavior of alkali-activated slag slurry, and revealed the evolution mechanisms of the microstructure of the hardened slurry through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) analysis. The results indicate that the activator is the key factor in regulating the various properties of the slurry, and the combination of PAM and HPMC produces a significant synergistic effect. At the optimal formulation (modulus of 1.0, total blended anti-dispersion agent content of 1%, and a mass ratio of PAM to HPMC of 1:1), the slurry exhibited a wet loss rate of 38.45%, a solid retention rate of 89.98%, a flow value of 195 mm, and a 28-day compressive strength of 41.62 MPa, achieving an optimal balance between anti-dispersion performance and workability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Carbon Cementitious Composites)
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21 pages, 7541 KB  
Article
Wood-Waste-Based Artificial Aggregates for Extrusion 3D-Printed Cementitious Composites: Hydration, Printability, and Mechanical Performance
by Fausta Kavaliauskienė, Vitoldas Vaitkevičius, Karolina Butkutė, Maris Sinka and Aleksandrs Korjakins
Materials 2026, 19(10), 2013; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19102013 - 12 May 2026
Viewed by 481
Abstract
This study investigates the feasibility of incorporating wood-based waste in cementitious composites for extrusion-based three-dimensional (3D) printing through the production of artificial aggregates. Because lignocellulosic residues can retard cement hydration, wood dust was chemically modified with a calcium nitrate-based accelerator and granulated into [...] Read more.
This study investigates the feasibility of incorporating wood-based waste in cementitious composites for extrusion-based three-dimensional (3D) printing through the production of artificial aggregates. Because lignocellulosic residues can retard cement hydration, wood dust was chemically modified with a calcium nitrate-based accelerator and granulated into aggregates using disc granulation. The resulting aggregates were characterized for mechanical robustness, and their influence on cement hydration and microstructural development was evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC). The modified aggregates were then incorporated into 3D printable cementitious mixtures to assess fresh-state properties, printability, and mechanical performance. The accelerator affected hydration by increasing bound water content and altering the development of hydration products. The produced aggregates exhibited sufficient crushing resistance for practical handling. The incorporation of artificial aggregates resulted in reduced compressive and flexural strengths compared to the reference mixture. However, the differences between mechanical properties measured in different loading directions were reduced, indicating a more uniform structural response in printed elements. The findings demonstrate that chemically treated wood-based aggregates can be successfully integrated into 3D printable cementitious systems, offering a promising pathway toward more sustainable construction materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Carbon Cementitious Composites)
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19 pages, 13234 KB  
Article
Cracking-Resistance Mechanism of Fiber-Reinforced Coal-Based Solid-Waste Grouting Materials
by Shuai Guo, Weifeng Liang, Xiangru Wu, Chenyang Li, Hongzeng Li, Yahui Liu, Shenyang Ouyang, Yachao Guo and Junmeng Li
Materials 2026, 19(2), 389; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19020389 - 18 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 636
Abstract
Grouting technology can be employed to repair cracks in an aquifer to maintain its stability; however, existing grouting materials tend to come with problems such as low flexural strength, poor cracking resistance, and the coupled effects of fiber reinforcement and sulfoaluminate cement (SAC) [...] Read more.
Grouting technology can be employed to repair cracks in an aquifer to maintain its stability; however, existing grouting materials tend to come with problems such as low flexural strength, poor cracking resistance, and the coupled effects of fiber reinforcement and sulfoaluminate cement (SAC) addition on hydrate evolution, and pore-refinement and crack-resistance mechanisms in coal-based solid-waste cementitious grouts remain insufficiently understood. In this paper, fiber-modified coal-based solid-waste grouting (F-CWG) materials were prepared by mixing different contents of sulfoaluminate cement (SAC) and different fibers. The mechanical strength, microstructure, hydration products, and pore evolution characteristics were analyzed by means of mechanical property tests, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results show that the mechanical strength decreases at first due to insufficient early-stage hydration products. Specifically, the 28 d compressive and flexural strengths decrease from 15.34 MPa and 4.55 MPa at 0% SAC to 8.18 MPa and 2.99 MPa at 40% SAC but increase again to 13.36 MPa and 3.79 MPa at 60% SAC as the formation of ettringite (AFt) and C–S–H is promoted with higher SAC content. Among the tested fibers, a dosage of 0.6% generally improves mechanical strength and refines pore structure, with PVA and steel fibers showing the most pronounced effects. Our results reveal the mechanism behind the enhancement of cracking resistance in F-CWG materials, providing a scientific basis for grouting and water-preservation mining, and are of great significance in improving the utilization rate of coal-based solid waste. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Carbon Cementitious Composites)
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23 pages, 5163 KB  
Article
Performance Evolution of High-Slump Concrete Under Vibration: Influence of Vibration Timing on Mechanical, Durability, and Interfacial Properties
by Shiwei Sun, Junmin Shen, Haoqin Guo, Xinxin Zheng and Rui He
Materials 2025, 18(23), 5389; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18235389 - 29 Nov 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1088
Abstract
High-slump concrete is highly sensitive to vibration due to its low viscosity and weak cohesion, factors that critically influence its performance development and long-term durability. In practice, vehicle–bridge coupled vibrations during half-width bridge construction represent a typical condition that intensifies these effects. This [...] Read more.
High-slump concrete is highly sensitive to vibration due to its low viscosity and weak cohesion, factors that critically influence its performance development and long-term durability. In practice, vehicle–bridge coupled vibrations during half-width bridge construction represent a typical condition that intensifies these effects. This study investigates performance deterioration of high-slump concrete subjected to simulated vibration modes reflecting construction scenarios. Mechanical and durability properties were evaluated, and microstructural changes were analyzed using SEM. Results show that early vibration enhances compressive strength at early ages, but this benefit diminishes with curing. The bonding performance at the new–old concrete interface is highly sensitive to vibration timing, casting-to-final setting vibration greatly reduces bond strength, while initial-to-final setting vibration causes minor damage or slight improvement. Vibration modes also differently affect durability: initial-to-final setting weakens frost and abrasion resistance, whereas casting-to-final setting enhances pore structure and chloride resistance. SEM analysis reveals vibration-induced dispersion of hydration products, reduced C-S-H gel formation, and increased microcracks at the fresh–old interface. Both vibration modes further promote microcracks and porosity after freeze–thaw cycles, damaging the gel structure. Overall, this study clarifies the mechanisms by which vibration timing governs the performance evolution of high-slump concrete and provides a scientific basis for optimizing vibration procedures to ensure durability and interfacial reliability in engineering applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Carbon Cementitious Composites)
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