Durability of Cement-Based Material Composites

Dear colleagues,

Against the backdrop of a global push toward sustainable development in the construction industry, the production of traditional cement-based materials is facing mounting challenges such as resource depletion, the accumulation of construction and demolition waste, and increasing carbon emissions. This Special Issue, "Durability of Cement-Based Material Composites," aims to present recent scientific and technological advancements in the development, evaluation, and application of sustainable cement-based composites incorporating recycled solid aggregates, including construction waste, industrial by-products, and other alternative materials.

Focusing on the principles of the circular economy, this issue will encourage innovation in resource efficiency enhancement, material reuse, and low-carbon cementitious technologies. We particularly welcome the submission of studies on integrating recycled solid aggregates into cement-based systems and their effects on mechanical behaviour, durability, thermal performance, and long-term sustainability. Applications in complex environments—such as marine, coastal, and underground infrastructures—are of special interest.

The topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

• Methods for the characterization and pre-treatment of recycled aggregates and their impact on concrete performance;
• The durability, permeability, and mechanical behaviour of recycled aggregate concrete;
• The thermal and energy performance of concrete incorporating recycled materials;
• The synergistic use of recycled aggregates and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs);
• The development of multifunctional green concrete incorporating phase change materials (PCMs);
• Life cycle assessments (LCAs) and carbon footprint analyses of sustainable concrete;
• Innovative mix design strategies for both structural and non-structural applications;
• The performance of recycled aggregate concrete under aggressive or harsh environmental conditions.

This Special Issue aligns with the journal’s mission to promote sustainable materials, circularity, and innovation in civil and environmental engineering. We look forward to receiving your high-quality contributions supporting the advancement of green construction materials and eco-efficient building practices.

Dr. José Aguiar
Dr. Sandra Cunha
Dr. Zhiyou Jia
Dr. Nannan Li
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-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.