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New Challenges in Construction: Functional Materials and Waste Recycle

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 1460

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Graduate Program in Materials Engineering and Technology (PGETEMA), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
Interests: recycling; circular economy; construction materials; new materials; eco-efficiency; CO2 uptake

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Guest Editor
Instituto Latino-Americano de Tecnologia, Federal University for Latin America Integration, Foz do Iguacu 1000, Brazil
Interests: durability; service life prediction; CO2 emissions and capture; use of solid waste; construction sustainability; circular economy and eco-efficiency

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In an era of increasing environmental consciousness and technological innovation, the construction industry stands at the forefront of addressing pressing global challenges. This Special Issue serves as a platform for researchers, practitioners, and industry stakeholders to delve into the multifaceted landscape of construction materials and waste management, highlighting emerging trends, innovative solutions, and future directions. The construction sector plays a significant role in shaping the built environment, but its traditional practices often result in substantial resource consumption and waste generation. As we confront the urgent need for sustainability, a growing imperative exists to revolutionize construction methodologies and materials. Functional materials, characterized by their enhanced performance and adaptive properties, offer immense potential to redefine construction practices, enabling durable structures that are responsive to environmental stimuli. Moreover, the issue of waste management looms large over the construction industry, with vast amounts of materials being discarded each year. However, within this challenge lies an opportunity: the prospect of recycling and repurposing construction waste to minimize environmental impact and foster a circular economy. By embracing innovative recycling techniques and sustainable practices, we can mitigate the environmental footprint of construction activities while simultaneously unlocking economic benefits. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Construction materials;
  • Functional materials;
  • Waste recycling;
  • Circular economy;
  • Built environment;
  • Recycling.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Jairo Andrade
Prof. Dr. Edna Possan
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. Sustainability 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 2400 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

  • sustainability
  • waste recycle
  • functional materials
  • nanoparticles
  • biomaterials in construction
  • 3D printer
  • performance of waste materials
  • circular economy

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 11771 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Possible Use of Straw from Agriculture as an Environmental Insulation Material in Buildings
by Jitka Peterková, Azra Korjenic, Jiří Zach, Jiří Bydžovský, Simona Halásová and Eldira Sesto
Sustainability 2025, 17(8), 3589; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083589 - 16 Apr 2025
Viewed by 291
Abstract
Straw has been used as a building material since time immemorial and has been considered as a waste product from the agricultural sector, usually used for feed, bedding, or fertilization. Nowadays, the construction industry strives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and is focusing [...] Read more.
Straw has been used as a building material since time immemorial and has been considered as a waste product from the agricultural sector, usually used for feed, bedding, or fertilization. Nowadays, the construction industry strives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and is focusing on renewable materials; hence, straw seems to be an attractive, low-energy option. Straw bales or blown insulation are common uses, with limited detailed knowledge regarding the properties of different straw types. Straw is made up of the dry stems of crops. Straw’s chemical composition will differ with different crops and can have a great impact on its effectiveness. As a renewable material, straw also has the potential to be used in buildings, enhancing thermal insulation and reducing environmental impacts. This study considers four kinds of straw: barley, oats, oilseed rape, and triticale, regarding their possible usage in insulation materials. The thermal conductivity, bulk density, and dust generation of each type were tested in the laboratory. Among them, the best performance was shown by the barley straw treated with mechanical pulping using a knife mill at 4000 rpm for 60 s, which showed the lowest bulk density and thermal conductivity and generated the least dust. It is thus proven to be an environmental insulation material with significant implications for sustainable construction and energy-efficient building design, further helping in maintaining environmental sustainability in building construction. Full article
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17 pages, 6283 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Impact of Graphene Nanoplatelets Aggregates on the Performance Characteristics of Cement-Based Materials
by Ahmed A. Ahmed, Mahmoud Shakouri and Ojo Friday Abraham
Sustainability 2025, 17(6), 2349; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062349 - 7 Mar 2025
Viewed by 795
Abstract
Graphene nanoplatelet aggregates (GNAs) are a low-cost, low-quality alternative to graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), characterized by their three-dimensional stacked structure and porous surface morphology. Despite their affordability, limited research has been conducted on the effects of GNAs in cementitious systems. This study investigates the [...] Read more.
Graphene nanoplatelet aggregates (GNAs) are a low-cost, low-quality alternative to graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), characterized by their three-dimensional stacked structure and porous surface morphology. Despite their affordability, limited research has been conducted on the effects of GNAs in cementitious systems. This study investigates the impact of GNAs on hydration kinetics, phase assemblage, mortar consistency, mechanical strength, bulk electrical resistivity, water absorption, and pore solution pH. Mortar mixtures with 0%, 0.05%, and 1% GNAs by cement weight were prepared using a water-to-cement ratio of 0.42 and cured for 28 days. The results showed that GNAs had minimal influence on hydration kinetics, with no significant changes in hydration products detected by XRD and TGA analyses. Mortar consistency consistently decreased with increasing GNA content. At 0.05%, GNAs had no significant effect on compressive strength or bulk electrical resistivity, whereas 1% GNAs reduced compressive strength by 10%. Water absorption was significantly lower in specimens with 1% GNAs as well, while pore solution pH increased at this dosage. The findings of this study indicate that the incorporation of GNAs at a 0.05% replacement level does not inherently enhance cementitious properties but can influence specific behaviors, such as workability and water absorption, when used at 1% dosages. Full article
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