Sustainable Cementitious Materials and Recycling Techniques
Summary
The global construction sector accounts for substantial carbon emissions and resource consumption, driving research into low-carbon binders and circular material flows. Sustainable cementitious materials encompass a range of innovations including supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) derived from industrial by-products or construction waste, thermally reactivated cements recovered from demolished concrete, and novel blends that reduce Portland clinker content. Recycling techniques focus on separating and refining end-of-life concrete fractions, employing thermal activation, mechanical classification and chemical treatment to reclaim hydrated cement phases and high-quality aggregates. These approaches yield binders with enhanced mechanical performance, tailored hydration kinetics and refined pore structures, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions and conserving natural resources. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methods guide optimisation by quantifying environmental benefits across production, utilisation and end-of-life stages. Implementation spans on-site processing technologies and industrial-scale pilot trials, underpinned by circular economy principles and aligned with global sustainability targets. Progress in this field promises to transform concrete from a linear to a regenerative material, fostering resilient infrastructure and reducing the sector’s ecological footprint.
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Sustainable Cementitious Materials and Recycling Techniques publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in sustainable cementitious materials and recycling techniques across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Supplementary cementitious material (SCM): A non-clinker additive, often derived from industrial by-products or recycled waste, that contributes to cement hydration and strength.
Pozzolanic activity: The ability of siliceous or aluminous materials to react with calcium hydroxide and water, forming additional cementitious phases.
Thermoactivated recycled cement: Recycled cementitious powder that has been heated to restore hydraulic reactivity and enable its reuse as a binder.
Portland clinker: The primary heat-treated component of cement, composed mainly of calcium silicates, whose production is energy-intensive.
Hydration kinetics: The rate and sequence of chemical reactions between cementitious materials and water that determine setting and strength development.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): A methodological framework for evaluating the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product’s life, from raw material extraction to disposal.
References
- Fine demolition wastes as Supplementary cementitious materials for CO2 reduced cement production. Construction and Building Materials (2023).
- Influence of the Treatment Temperature on the Microstructure and Hydration Behavior of Thermoactivated Recycled Cement. Materials (2020).
- Life Cycle Assessment of Thermoactivated Recycled Cement Production. Materials (2022).
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