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Advances in the Design and Properties of New Ecoconcrete Formulations...
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Advances in the Design and Properties of New Ecoconcrete Formulations (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: 10 December 2025 | Viewed by 635

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Francisco Agrela

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Area of Construction Engineering, University of Cordoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
Interests: sustainable construction; recycled materials; life cycle assessment; waste and byproduct application; recycled aggregate cement-based materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Julia Rosales

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Area of Construction Engineering, University of Cordoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
Interests: cathode ray tube glass; recycled aggregates; civil infrastructures; cement-treated materials; stainless steel slag; treatment; self-compacting concrete; mechanical and durability properties; seaport loading platform; structural granular layers; construction and demolition waste; soil stabilization; nanomaterial; real-scale application; mechanical behavior; life cycle assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Manuel Cabrera Montenegro

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Area of Construction Engineering, University of Cordoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
Interests: cathode ray tube glass; recycled aggregates; civil infrastructures; cement-treated materials; stainless steel slag; treatment; self-compacting concrete; mechanical and durability properties; seaport loading platform; structural granular layers; construction and demolition waste; soil stabilization; nanomaterial; real-scale application; mechanical behavior; life cycle assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, entitled “Advances in the Design and Properties of New Ecoconcrete Formulations (2nd Edition)”, aims to address the latest research in the study of recycled concrete with different types of waste and by-products. Currently, the construction sector continues to have some of the highest levels of the consumption of natural resources and production of waste, which is then transferred to landfills, leading to negative effects. The application of different waste and by-products, such as recycled concrete aggregates, mixed recycled aggregates, steel slag, biomass bottom ash, or calcined urban solid waste, is a very important field of research and application for the manufacture of new concrete.

This Special Issue aims to explore advances in the study of the properties of recycled concrete aggregates and recycled mixed aggregates, considering factors such as the influence of the place of origin, plant treatment, different processes, etc. Another important aspect that is considered is the application of these two types of aggregates in new alternative construction materials.

The main topics included in this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Advances in the study of the characterization of recycled concrete and recycled mixed aggregates;
  • New classification of recycled aggregates according to their properties;
  • Improvement of properties through different treatments;
  • Use of recycled concrete and recycled mixed aggregates in new construction materials;
  • New techniques for the study of the mechanical properties and durability of different types of recycled construction materials;
  • Leaching properties of recycled mixed aggregates and concrete;
  • Evaluation of the analysis of the life cycle of the production and use of recycled aggregates.

Prof. Dr. Francisco Agrela
Dr. Julia Rosales
Dr. Manuel Cabrera Montenegro
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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.

Keywords

  • recycled concrete
  • recycled aggregates
  • recycled construction materials
  • life cycle
  • characterization

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 6650 KiB  
Article
Ecofriendly Mortar with Paint Sludge Ash
by Solomon Asrat Endale, Mitiku Damtie Yehualaw, Woubishet Zewdu Taffese and Duy-Hai Vo
Materials 2025, 18(9), 2080; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18092080 - 1 May 2025
Abstract
This research aims to address the environmental and economic challenges associated with conventional concrete by partially replacing cement—the most polluting, expensive, and energy-intensive ingredient—with industrial paint sludge ash (PSA), a highly contaminated industrial waste that is typically landfilled. Mortar mixtures were prepared with [...] Read more.
This research aims to address the environmental and economic challenges associated with conventional concrete by partially replacing cement—the most polluting, expensive, and energy-intensive ingredient—with industrial paint sludge ash (PSA), a highly contaminated industrial waste that is typically landfilled. Mortar mixtures were prepared with PSA replacement levels ranging from 0% to 20% in 5% increments while maintaining a constant water-to-binder ratio of 0.48. This study comprehensively evaluated the fresh, mechanical, durability, and microstructural properties of the PSA-modified mortar to assess its potential as an ecofriendly construction material. Results showed that as PSA content increased, the fresh properties, such as workability/slump flow and setting time, decreased, while the water demand for attaining normal consistency increased. Soundness tests indicated expansion up to 15% PSA replacement, beyond which expansion became more pronounced. Compressive strength improved significantly with PSA replacements of 5% to 15% compared to the control sample, with a slight decline at 15% relative to 5% and 10%. This trend was consistent with bulk density and ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements. Furthermore, the incorporation of PSA enhanced key durability properties, including water absorption, sulfate resistance, and porosity reduction, up to 15% PSA replacement. Microstructural analysis using SEM, XRD, TGA/DTA, and FTIR confirmed that PSA inclusion led to increased mortar densification, with the 10% PSA mix exhibiting thermal stability and minimal mass loss at elevated temperatures. FTIR spectra further indicated improved composition with higher PSA content. Overall, PSA proved to be a viable partial cement replacement, offering enhanced mortar properties without compromising performance. Its use contributes to sustainability by reducing reliance on cement, lowering construction costs, and eliminating the environmental and logistical burdens of paint sludge disposal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Design and Properties of New Ecoconcrete Formulations (2nd Edition))
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13 pages, 1553 KiB  
Article
Utilization of a PFA-GGBS-Based Precursor in Geopolymer Concrete Production as a Sustainable Substitute for Conventional Concrete
by Jonathan Oti, Blessing O. Adeleke, Lito R. Casabuena, John M. Kinuthia and Samuel Sule
Materials 2025, 18(6), 1309; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18061309 - 16 Mar 2025
Viewed by 416
Abstract
Awareness of environmental sustainability is driving the shift from conventional Portland cement, a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions, to more sustainable alternatives. This study focuses on developing a geopolymer concrete by optimizing geopolymer concrete mixtures with various ratios of Ground Granulated Blast [...] Read more.
Awareness of environmental sustainability is driving the shift from conventional Portland cement, a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions, to more sustainable alternatives. This study focuses on developing a geopolymer concrete by optimizing geopolymer concrete mixtures with various ratios of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) and pulverized fly ash (PFA) as precursors, aiming to find a mix that maximizes strength while minimizing environmental impacts. The precursor was activated using a laboratory-synthesized silica fume (SF)-derived sodium silicate solution in combination with NaOH at a molarity of 10M. This study aims to find the optimal geopolymer concrete mix with a 0.55 water-to-binder ratio, a 0.40 alkali-to-precursor ratio, and a 1:1 sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide ratio. Ordinary Portland cement was used as the control mix binder (C), while the geopolymer mixes included varying GGBS-PFA compositions [CL0 (50% GGBS—50% PFA), CL1 (60% GGBS—40% PFA), CL2 (70% GGBS—30% PFA), CL3 (80% GGBS—20% PFA), and CL4 (90% GGBS—10% PFA)]. The engineering performance of the mixtures was assessed using slump, unconfined compressive strength, split tensile, and flexural strength tests in accordance with their relevant standards. Observations showed that GPC specimens exhibited similar or slightly higher strength values than conventional concrete using PC. In addition to strength, geopolymers have a smaller environmental footprint, consuming less energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These qualities make geopolymer concrete a sustainable construction option that aligns with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and conserve resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Design and Properties of New Ecoconcrete Formulations (2nd Edition))
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