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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2026) | Viewed by 13437

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiao Huang

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Guest Editor

School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Interests: advanced concrete- and cement-based composite materials; industrial solid waste resource utilization; high-performance environmental restoration materials; green and low-carbon building materials

Dr. Caixia Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: carbon nutrition technology; low-carbon building materials; composite materials of building envelopes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Concrete- and cement-based composites have long been central to construction and infrastructure development. In recent years, the demand for these materials has evolved, driven by the urgent need for sustainable, durable, and high-performance solutions in construction. The challenge now lies in advancing the sustainability of concrete materials while maintaining or enhancing their performance. This Special Issue focuses specifically on the sustainable development and application of advanced concrete- and cement-based composites. Submissions are encouraged that explore materials such as high-performance concrete, fiber-reinforced concrete, self-healing concrete, and smart concrete, provided that these studies are anchored in sustainability. Research should demonstrate a clear commitment to reducing environmental impact, such as by incorporating recycled materials, designing for lower carbon footprints, or optimizing energy efficiency in production and application. This Special Issue also welcomes studies on eco-friendly cementitious materials, advanced mix designs aimed at sustainability, and innovations that contribute to the lifecycle sustainability of concrete structures. The objective is to provide a platform for research that not only advances materials science but also aligns closely with the principles of sustainable development, offering practical solutions for reducing the environmental impact of construction. The areas to be covered in this Special Issue may include, but are not limited to, the following:

High-performance concrete with sustainability-focused innovations;
Sustainable construction materials;
Fiber-reinforced concrete with reduced environmental impact;
Self-healing concrete using eco-friendly materials;
Smart concrete with energy-efficient applications;
Durability studies emphasizing lifecycle sustainability;
Recycled materials in concrete for sustainable development;
Microstructural analysis with a focus on sustainability;
Eco-friendly cementitious materials;
Advanced mix designs aimed at lowering carbon footprints;
Lifecycle sustainability of concrete;
Environmental impact assessments of construction materials;
Innovations in additives and binders with a sustainability perspective;
Energy conservation in the built environment;
Energy-efficient buildings;
Energy sustainability, resilience, and climate adaptability of buildings;
New materials in buildings and their impact on energy demands;
Building envelope materials and structure energy performance;
Energy storage technologies and their applications to the built environment;
Low-carbon building materials.

Dr. Xiao Huang
Dr. Caixia Wang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

high-performance concrete
sustainable construction materials
fiber-reinforced concrete
self-healing concrete
smart concrete
durability of cement composites
recycled materials in concrete
microstructural analysis
eco-friendly cementitious materials
advanced mix design
energy conservation
low-carbon materials
composite materials
building envelopes
smart building materials

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 6979 KB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Synthetic and Natural Fibers on Mortar Frost and Abrasion Resistance

by Sandra Juradin, Silvija Mrakovčić, Ana Romić and Martina Milat

Sustainability 2026, 18(10), 4771; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18104771 - 11 May 2026

Viewed by 234

Abstract

The durability of cementitious mortars exposed to freeze–thaw (F/T) cycles and abrasion remains a challenge in sustainable infrastructure, motivating the exploration of alternative fiber reinforcements with lower environmental impact. There is a notable gap in understanding the behavior of natural-fiber-reinforced composites, particularly their response to freeze–thaw cycles and abrasion. Additionally, data on the physical and mechanical properties of mortars that use sheep wool and Spanish broom fibers as cement composite reinforcement remain limited. This study investigates the influence of industrially produced fibers (polypropylene and glass) and natural fibers (sheep wool and Spanish broom, with different treatments) on the F/T cycles and abrasion resistance of cement mortars. Six mixtures were prepared, including a reference and five fiber-reinforced mortars (FRM) with 0.5% fiber content by binder mass. The workability of fresh mortar, abrasion resistance, flexural strength, compressive strength, and specific fracture energy were evaluated at the age of 56 days and after 56 F/T cycles. Results indicate that fiber addition reduced workability and compressive strength and no FRM has increased flexural strength at 56 days. Polypropylene- and NaOH-treated Spanish broom fibers improved flexural performance after FT exposure, exceeding the reference mortar flexural strength by up to 23%. All FRMs have significantly enhanced fracture energy, with increases up to 2.6 times compared to the reference mortar, and maintained improved values after F/T cycling. For the selected amount of fiber, abrasion resistance remained within the same performance class for all mixtures. Polypropylene and hydroxide treated Spanish broom FRMs demonstrated the highest potential for improving F/T resistance and toughness, while FRM with untreated or seawater-treated natural fibers require further optimization for durability in alkaline environments. Understanding the behaviour of local natural fibers under extreme conditions is essential for developing durable, sustainable construction materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete- and Cement-Based Composite Materials)

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18 pages, 16595 KB

Open AccessArticle

pH- and Temperature-Dependent Dissolution Kinetics of Commercial Lightly Burned Magnesia: Bridging Methodological Gaps for Cement Applications

by Xiaowen Zhang and Juan Pablo Gevaudan

Sustainability 2026, 18(7), 3600; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18073600 - 7 Apr 2026

Viewed by 414

Abstract

Performance variability in MgO-based cements stems partly from poorly characterized dissolution kinetics of commercial lightly burned magnesia (LBM). Existing studies focus on high-purity materials under acidic conditions, but LBM also dissolves in alkaline conditions, where Mg(OH)₂ precipitation prevents reliable sampling at high pH. We validated pH monitoring against ICP-AES for tracking initial LBM dissolution kinetics across pH 2.0–11.0 and temperatures 25–85 °C. Commercial LBM (32 m²/g, 7.5 wt% CaO) exhibited rates one to two orders of magnitude higher than synthetic magnesia (10⁻⁸ to 10⁻¹² mol/cm²·s). X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and BET analysis revealed enhanced reactivity from poor crystallinity, multiphase composition, and high surface area with textural porosity. Temperature effects peaked at 75 °C before declining due to Mg(OH)₂ passivation. The validated method provides practical guidance for MBC quality control and performance optimization. By providing a rapid, instrument-simple alternative to ICP-AES for reactivity assessment, it lowers the analytical barrier to systematic LBM quality control, supporting the transition of magnesia-based cements from laboratory materials to scalable low-carbon alternatives to Portland cement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete- and Cement-Based Composite Materials)

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20 pages, 3426 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Absorption-Dominant EMI Shielding Performance of Pyramidal Cementitious Composites Incorporating Recycled Plastics and Magnetite Minerals for 5G Applications

by Mehmet Cakir, Mustafa Alptekin Engin and Murat Camuzcuoglu

Sustainability 2026, 18(4), 1875; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18041875 - 12 Feb 2026

Viewed by 500

Abstract

In this study, waste polypropylene (PP) and magnetite (Fe₃O₄) mineral-reinforced cement-based pyramidal composite structures were designed, manufactured, and experimentally characterized to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems in the 3.3–4.9 GHz frequency band for 5G communication systems. Unlike traditional planar concrete surfaces, the aim was to minimize surface reflections and obtain an absorption-dominant shielding mechanism by providing gradient impedance matching through the pyramidal geometry. Although the use of carbon-based nanomaterials is common in the current literature, their high cost and corrosion risks limit their large-scale applications. This study involves the evaluation of waste polypropylene disposal and self-enriching magnetite mineral together. Theoretical analyses were supported by the Lichtenecker Logarithmic Mixing Rule and the Maxwell–Garnett model, and seven different mixing scenarios (S1–S7) were measured using the free-space method with a Libre vector network analyzer. Experimental results showed that the pure concrete sample exhibited predominantly reflective behaviour, with shielding performance improving significantly as the filler ratio increased. The S4 sample, containing 15% PP and 10% magnetite, offered broadband and balanced absorption performance, while the S7 sample, containing 25% PP and 25% magnetite, provided the highest shielding effectiveness with reflection below −10 dB across the entire band and transmission loss reaching −65 dB. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete- and Cement-Based Composite Materials)

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17 pages, 8770 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanism of Crack Development and Strength Deterioration in Controlled Low-Strength Material in Dry Environment

by Wei Peng and Zili Dai

Sustainability 2025, 17(3), 965; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17030965 - 24 Jan 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2236

Abstract

The continuous expansion at the urban scale has produced a lot of construction waste, which has created increasingly serious problems in the environmental, social, and economic realms. Reuse of this waste can address these problems and is critical for sustainable development. In recent years, construction waste has been extensively recycled and transformed into highly sustainable construction materials called controlled low-strength materials (CLSMs) in backfilling projects, pile foundation treatment, roadbed cushion layers, and other applications. However, CLSMs often experience shrinkage and cracking due to water loss influenced by climatic temperature factors, which can pose safety and stability risks in various infrastructures. The purpose of this paper was to study the mechanism of crack formation and strength degradation in a CLSM in a dry environment and to analyze the deterioration process of the CLSM at the macro- and micro-scales by using image analysis techniques and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The test results show that with the drying time, the CLSM samples had different degrees of cracks and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) decreases, and increasing the content of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) reduced the number of cracks. The addition of bentonite with the same OPC content also slowed down the crack development and reduced the loss of UCS. The development of macroscopic cracks and UCS is caused by the microscopic scale, and the weak areas are formed due to water loss in dry environments and the decomposition of gel products, and the integrity of the microstructure is weakened, which is manifested as strength deterioration. This research provides a novel methodology for the reuse of construction waste, thereby offering a novel trajectory for the sustainable progression of construction projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete- and Cement-Based Composite Materials)

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17 pages, 14064 KB

Open AccessArticle

Case Study of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete with Urban Sludge Gasification Slag

by Juntao Ma, Yanbo Huang, Zhiyong Li, Manman Yang, Yunfei Tan and Shunbo Zhao

Sustainability 2025, 17(3), 938; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17030938 - 24 Jan 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2285

Abstract

This article, for the first time, investigates the potential of Sludge Gasification Slag (SGS), a byproduct of urban sewage sludge gasification, as a lightweight aggregate in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), proposing a novel sustainable solution for the utilization of SGS. The UHPC mix design followed the modified Andreasen and Andersen model, incorporating pretreated SGS, cement, silica fume (SF), river sand, and a high-efficiency water-reducing agent. A total of eight experimental groups were developed, including five pre-wetted groups (I1–I5) and three dry groups (N1–N3), to evaluate the rheological and mechanical properties of UHPC. For the first time, this study combines scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nitrogen adsorption techniques to investigate the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and porosity of SGS-UHPC, providing insights into the influence of SGS on the matrix. The results show that SGS, due to its irregular particle shape and high water absorption capacity, negatively impacts the flowability of the fresh mix. However, when the SGS content reached 7.5%, the plastic viscosity of the UHPC mix peaked. Notably, after 28 days of curing, the compressive strength of the 5% pre-wetted SGS group exceeded that of the control group by 5%, indicating a time-dependent strength improvement. This enhancement is primarily attributed to the water release effect of SGS, which optimizes the ITZ and strengthens the overall matrix. The findings suggest that SGS, when used at dosages below 7.5%, can be effectively incorporated into UHPC, offering a promising, environmentally friendly alternative for sustainable construction applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete- and Cement-Based Composite Materials)

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Review

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44 pages, 2944 KB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Thermochromic Materials for Passive Adaptive Solar Regulation in Buildings: Mechanisms, Performance and Applications

by Cong Chen, Kai Huang, Yongkang Gui, Xiao Huang and Caixia Wang

Sustainability 2026, 18(9), 4158; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18094158 - 22 Apr 2026

Viewed by 513

Abstract

Thermochromic materials (TCMs) have attracted increasing attention as passive adaptive materials for solar regulation in buildings because they can reversibly change their optical properties in response to temperature without external energy input. Owing to this temperature-triggered optical modulation, they have been widely investigated for smart windows, temperature indicators, anti-counterfeiting labels, and flexible devices. In recent years, representative systems such as VO₂-based materials, polymers, hydrogels, and organic–inorganic hybrids have shown steady progress, especially in transition-temperature tuning, spectral selectivity, and cycling stability. This review summarizes the main classes of TCMs as well as their color-changing mechanisms, preparation methods, and performance-regulation strategies, with an emphasis on building energy efficiency and passive solar regulation. Typical applications and current bottlenecks are also discussed, including response speed, durability, environmental compatibility, and large-scale manufacturing. Finally, several practical directions for future work are highlighted, particularly low-cost synthesis, multifunctional integration, and application-oriented material design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete- and Cement-Based Composite Materials)

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28 pages, 1677 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Development of Sustainable Concrete Using By-Products as a Green Material, and Potential Solutions for Sustainability in Mass Concrete Construction—Comprehensive Review

by Hesam Afsoosbiria and Agnieszka Machowska

Sustainability 2025, 17(22), 9983; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17229983 - 8 Nov 2025

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3666

Abstract

The production of concrete strongly influences the environment. It is a versatile and sustainable construction material capable of creating a wide range of structures. It has always been indispensable as a material for the engineering and construction industry, including applications in hydraulic structures (e.g., dams, underwater tunnels, sluices, and other concrete structures), where mass concrete is a fundamental material in the construction industry. Developing sustainable concrete as an alternative construction material to the traditional one provides a reduction in the carbon dioxide footprint with regard to cement use and waste material disposal in landfills. This paper provides a comprehensive review of current trends and opportunities in sustainable construction using mass concrete. It underscores the importance of incorporating eco-friendly practices to mitigate environmental impact by using by-products as green materials. The review highlights how optimizing clinker content, supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), and aggregates can improve the strength, durability, and thermal stability of mass concrete. Strategic material selection helps minimize thermal cracking, extend service life, and reduce environmental impact. Future research should focus on developing advanced mix design strategies and standardized practices for sustainable infrastructure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete- and Cement-Based Composite Materials)

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26 pages, 1923 KB

Open AccessReview

Review of Energy Dissipation Mechanisms in Concrete: Role of Advanced Materials, Mix Design, and Curing Conditions

by Hadi Bahmani, Hasan Mostafaei and Davood Mostofinejad

Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 6723; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156723 - 24 Jul 2025

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2499

Abstract

Concrete structures increasingly face dynamic loading conditions, such as seismic events, vehicular traffic, and environmental vibrations, necessitating enhanced energy dissipation capabilities. The damping ratio, a critical parameter quantifying a material’s ability to dissipate vibrational energy, is typically low in conventional concrete, prompting extensive research into strategies for improvement. This review comprehensively explores the impact of advanced concrete types—such as Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECCs), Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC), High-Performance Concrete (HPC), and polymer concrete—on enhancing the damping behavior. Additionally, key mix design innovations, including fiber reinforcement, rubber powder incorporation, and aggregate modification, are evaluated for their roles in increasing energy dissipation. External factors, particularly curing conditions, are also discussed for their influence on the damping performance. The findings consolidate experimental and theoretical insights into how material composition, mix design, and external treatments interact to optimize dynamic resilience. To guide future research, this paper identifies critical gaps including the need for multi-scale numerical simulation frameworks, standardized damping test protocols, and long-term performance evaluation under realistic service conditions. Advancing work in material innovation, optimized mix design, and controlled curing environments will be essential for developing next-generation concretes with superior vibration control, durability, and sustainability. These insights provide a strategic foundation for applications in seismic-prone and vibration-sensitive infrastructure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete- and Cement-Based Composite Materials)

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