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Sustainable Advancements in Construction Materials

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 February 2026 | Viewed by 871

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Piastów 50a, 70-311 Szczecin, Poland
Interests: construction materials; 3D concrete printing (3DCP); 3D mortar printing; 3D printing; sustainable materials; FEM analysis
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable advancements in construction materials are crucial for the entire civil engineering industry. The use of recycled materials, alternative binders, and optimization of construction processes can significantly benefit the environment. These solutions can be divided into two main categories: material issues and construction process optimization issues. The first category focuses on the modification of materials used, while the second category explores new strategies for the construction process, including automation. One promising innovation is 3D concrete (or other construcion materials) printing technology, which reduces waste, speeds up construction, and minimizes material usage.

The primary aim of this Special Issue is to (i) enhance understanding of the environmental impact of construction materials and 3D printing techniques; and (ii) contribute to knowledge on sustainable materials, alternative materials, and waste materials used in the construction industry.

Research areas may encompass, but are not limited to, the following topics: construction materials, sustainable development, recycled aggregate, alternative binders, 3D printing of cementitious materials (such as concrete and mortars), 3D printing of geopolymers, 3D printing of soft and biomaterials, additive manufacturing for electronics and metamaterials, development of new materials for 3D printing (including metals, composites, hard materials, ceramics, etc.), multi-material 3D printing, advancements in 3D printing technologies, metallization for 3D printing, 3D printing for microfabrication, numerical and finite element modeling of additive manufacturing processes, life-cycle assessment of additive manufacturing processes, environmental impact, and economic aspects of construction process (including 3D printing technology).

This Special Issue invites research papers and review articles that explore sustainable solutions for construction materials to enhance sustainability and minimize environmental impact. The papers published in this Special Issue will contribute to the body of knowledge on sustainable research in construction materials, including 3D printing technology.

Dr. Szymon Skibicki
Guest Editor

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

  • construction materials
  • sustainable development
  • recycled aggregate
  • alternative binders
  • 3D concrete printing (3DCP)
  • 3D mortar
  • 3D printing
  • additive manufacturing
  • life-cycle assessment
  • recycling

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 3716 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial Action of Ginger and Ornamental Rock Wastes for Cement Mortar
by Romário Moreira Siqueira, Bruna Sthefanie Paz de Souza, Jonas Alexandre, Aline Chaves Intorne, Edmilson José Maria, Sergio Neves Monteiro and Afonso Rangel Garcez de Azevedo
Sustainability 2025, 17(10), 4698; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104698 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 427
Abstract
This study investigated the technical feasibility and antimicrobial potential of incorporating ornamental rock, limestone, and ginger waste into coating mortars with the aim of developing an innovative and sustainable solution for civil construction. This study evaluated the synergistic action of these materials on [...] Read more.
This study investigated the technical feasibility and antimicrobial potential of incorporating ornamental rock, limestone, and ginger waste into coating mortars with the aim of developing an innovative and sustainable solution for civil construction. This study evaluated the synergistic action of these materials on the microbiological and mechanical resistance of mortar, contributing to the greater durability and efficiency of the coatings. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were performed to characterize the morphology, chemical composition, and crystalline structure of the added materials, confirming their suitability for the cement matrix. Tests in the fresh state evaluated parameters such as density, consistency index, and entrained air content, demonstrating the viability of the formulations, whereas flexural and compressive strength tests indicated significant improvements in the mechanical performance of the modified mortar. Microbiological tests demonstrated a significant reduction in microbial colonization, indicating the action of ginger’s bioactive compounds, such as gingerol and shogaol, which have antimicrobial properties and are effective in inhibiting the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, as confirmed by the reduction in the bacterial colony count from 4 × 102 to 1 × 102 CFU mL−1. Comparisons with conventional compositions indicate that the proposed approach outperformed traditional formulations in terms of both mechanical resistance and microbiological control. Thus, the results validate this research as a promising strategy for improving the durability and performance of coating mortars, reducing maintenance costs, and promoting the sustainable use of alternative materials in civil construction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Advancements in Construction Materials)
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