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Advanced Green Building Materials: Synthesis, Characterization and Sustainable Development Technologies

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 1216

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 50, 60-627 Poznan, Poland
Interests: green building materials; cement; biological waste; convolutional neural network model; spectral analysis; technology of construction works

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Guest Editor
Department of Building Materials Technology, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, The AGH University, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Cracow, Poland
Interests: building materials; self-healing concretes; cement chemistry; special cements; low-energy cements; calcium aluminate cement; expansive cements; non-shrinking cements; emission-free cements; smart building materials; biocorrosion of building materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 50, 60-627 Poznan, Poland
Interests: molecular interactions; cementitious materials; biological material-construction material interactions; spectroscopy; structural studies; smart building materials; artificial neural networks

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland
Interests: technology of construction works; construction management; construction cost management; applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning in construction management; building information modelling (BIM)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The construction industry is under increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices that reduce its environmental footprint. As a part of this shift, the use of sustainable technologies in green building materials plays a critical role in addressing both environmental and economic challenges. The impact of adopting such materials extends beyond just building performance; it offers solutions for energy efficiency, carbon footprint reduction, and resource conservation.

The environmental benefits of green building materials are multifaceted. First, the use of renewable and low-impact materials, such as certified wood, hemp-based insulation, and low-carbon concrete, significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. These innovations help conserve natural resources and limit the energy required in production. The development of low-emission cements, for example, including those with reduced synthesis temperatures and optimized mineral compositions, minimizes energy consumption and decreases carbon dioxide emissions at multiple stages of the construction process.

Incorporating sustainable materials also drive advancements in recycling, which is essential in reducing waste in the construction industry. This includes the reuse of building materials like bricks and glass, as well as the innovative integration of components from other industries. For instance, wind turbine blades, once discarded, are being repurposed into new construction materials, contributing to the circular economy and reducing the volume of industrial waste.

Beyond the environmental aspect, the economic benefits of these innovations are substantial. Sustainable building practices stimulate industries related to waste management, recycling, and renewable energy, creating new economic opportunities. Additionally, by focusing on durable, long-lasting materials, the overall lifecycle cost of buildings is reduced. These materials not only meet immediate construction needs but also contribute to the longevity and sustainability of the built environment, ensuring long-term economic feasibility.

Energy efficiency is a key focus in green construction. Technologies such as photovoltaic panels, along with advanced insulation materials like mineral wool and hemp, are at the forefront of improving building performance. These innovations lead to energy savings, reducing the overall carbon footprint of buildings while improving their operational efficiency. Moreover, the use of materials with low volatile organic compound (VOC) content ensures better indoor air quality, which is vital for occupant health and well-being.

This Special Issue calls for contributions that explore both theoretical and practical approaches to sustainable building materials and technologies. We invite research that delves into the development and application of green materials, showcasing case studies, experimental work, and new technologies that advance sustainability in construction. Of particular interest are studies that focus on material innovations, carbon footprint reduction, energy-efficient building practices, and the recycling of industrial by-products for use in construction.

Key topics of this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Innovative uses of renewable materials in construction, such as certified timber and hemp insulation;
  • Development and application of low-carbon cement and concrete technologies;
  • Integration of recycled industrial materials (e.g., wind turbine blades, etc.) into new building components;
  • Energy-efficient building materials and technologies (e.g., photovoltaic panels, advanced insulation, etc.);
  • Reduction in CO2 emissions through sustainable material use;
  • Health-focused construction materials, including low-VOC options;
  • Case studies demonstrating the economic viability of sustainable building technologies.

By aligning with sustainable building practices, the construction industry can significantly reduce its environmental impact while maintaining economic and societal benefits. This Special Issue aims to highlight the innovations that drive this transition, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future for the built environment.

Dr. Karol Durczak
Dr. Michał Pyzalski
Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Sujak
Dr. Michał Juszczyk
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

  • sustainable building materials
  • green construction
  • low-carbon cement
  • energy-efficient building technologies
  • renewable construction materials
  • recycling in construction
  • carbon footprint reduction
  • eco-friendly insulation
  • circular economy in construction
  • low-emission construction materials
  • sustainable building technologies
  • indoor air quality improvement

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 5299 KiB  
Article
Effects of Harmless Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Fly Ash on the Macroscopic Properties and Microstructure of Recycled Aggregate Concrete
by Bochen Song, Yefan Li and Wengang Zhang
Materials 2025, 18(8), 1866; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18081866 - 18 Apr 2025
Viewed by 243
Abstract
With the increasing rate of urbanization and the annual rise in municipal domestic waste, the use of harmless municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (HMSWIFA) as a construction material has been gradually adopted and promoted. However, significant differences exist in how various characteristics [...] Read more.
With the increasing rate of urbanization and the annual rise in municipal domestic waste, the use of harmless municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (HMSWIFA) as a construction material has been gradually adopted and promoted. However, significant differences exist in how various characteristics of HMSWIFA affect the performance of recycled aggregate concrete (RCA). To analyze the effects of HMSWIFA content and particle size on the macroscopic properties and microstructure of RCA, this paper conducts compressive, flexural, frost resistance, and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) characterization on RCA with varying dosages and particle sizes of HMSWIFA as a cement replacement. The results indicate that HMSWIFA enhances the compressive strength (CS) and frost resistance of RCA. Experimental data reveal that HMSWIFA with a particle size of 600–900 μm exhibits the best modification effect at an admixture level of 10–15%: the 28-day CS increased by 1.90–3.60%, the mass loss after freezing and thawing decreased by 0.37–0.45%, and the increase in dynamic elastic modulus reached 16.09–16.44%. Notably, the flexural strength (FS) experienced a reduction of 1.81% at a high dosage of the optimal particle size. This study elucidates the coupling relationship of “particle size-admixture-performance” in HMSWIFA-modified recycled concrete, demonstrating that reasonable control of the particle size distribution of HMSWIFA can achieve a synergistic effect of mechanical enhancement and durability improvement. The research findings provide a valuable reference for the application of municipal waste incineration HMSWIFA in RCA, facilitating the recycling of waste resources to mitigate pollution and enhance energy efficiency. Full article
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15 pages, 9175 KiB  
Article
Development and Characterization of Biodegradable, Binderless Fiberboards from Eggplant Straw Fibers
by Hailun Fan, Xiulun Wang, Tingting Wu, Jianzhong Sun and Jun Liu
Materials 2025, 18(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18010037 - 25 Dec 2024
Viewed by 641
Abstract
Currently, wood-based panels are mainly made from wood and adhesives containing formaldehyde. With the growing demand for raw materials and increasing concern for human health, the use of residues from annual crops to manufacture binder-free biodegradable biomass boards has attracted increasing interest. The [...] Read more.
Currently, wood-based panels are mainly made from wood and adhesives containing formaldehyde. With the growing demand for raw materials and increasing concern for human health, the use of residues from annual crops to manufacture binder-free biodegradable biomass boards has attracted increasing interest. The aim of this study was to develop a biodegradable bio-board without any adhesives using eggplant straw fibers. The bio-boards were produced via simple mechanical refinement of eggplant straw fibers and were formed under pressures of 2.0 MPa, 3.5 MPa, 5.0 MPa, 6.5 MPa, and 8.0 MPa. The mechanical properties and dimensional stability of the manufactured bio-boards were evaluated. With increasing applied pressure, the bending rupture stress of the bio-boards increased from 27.69 MPa to 45.29 MPa, the tensile rupture stress varied from 12.45 MPa to 24.62 MPa, the water absorption decreased from 91.45% to 88.29%, and the contact angle increased from 89.67° to 90.45°. The bio-boards were subjected to morphological analysis (SEM) and porosity and crystallinity measurements (XRD), and the results indicated that the water absorption of the bio-boards was due to a combination of porosity and crystallinity. The results showed that eggplant straw is suitable for manufacturing bio-boards. Full article
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