This study evaluated the performance of geopolymer concretes based on a binary mixture of fly ash (FA) with blast furnace slag (GBFS) in an 80/20 ratio and activated with a mixture of sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide. FA/GBFS and portland cement (OPC) concretes were immersed in 5% by weight sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate solutions. Volumetric expansion and mechanical resistance loss were measured, and the reaction products were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The highest levels of deterioration were found in the probes exposed to MgSO4, indicating the higher aggressiveness of this solution. After aging for 360 days in MgSO4, the FA/GBFS concrete expanded by 0.04% and decreased its mechanical resistance by 33%, compared to 0.08 and 48%, respectively, for similarly treated OPC concretes. However, the same exposure to Na2SO4 increased the observed FA/GBFS resistance while reducing the mechanical resistance of OPC by 30%. This relates to their respective ...

This article demonstrates the possibility of producing alkali-activated materials (AAM) from a mixture of mechanically processed concrete, ceramic, masonry, and mortar wastes, as a sustainable alternative for recycling construction and demolition wastes (CDWs) under real conditions. The addition of 10% Portland cement allowed the materials to cure at room temperature (25 °C). CDW binder achieved a compressive strength of up to 43.9 MPa and it was classified as a general use and low heat of hydration cement according to ASTM C1157. The concrete produced with this cement and the crushed aggregates also from CDW reported a compressive strength of 33.9 MPa at 28 days of curing and it was possible to produce a high-class structural block with 26.1 MPa according to ASTM C90. These results are considered one option in making full use of CDWs as binder and aggregates, using alkaline activation technology thereby meeting the zero-waste objective within the concept of the circular economy.

This article describes the recycling of coarse and fine fractions and powder from construction and demolition waste (CDW) using alkaline activation technology (geopolymerization). The CDW sample used corresponds to a mixture (mixed waste) of concrete (Co), ceramics (Ce) and masonry (M). Co, Ce and M (CDW-Mixed) powders were used as geopolymer precursors. As an alkaline activator, a mixture of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (Na₂SiO₃) was used. From CDW-Mixed, a hybrid cement added with 10% ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was synthesized to promote curing at room temperature (25 °C). From the alkali-activated hybrid cement and the incorporation of mixed recycled aggregates (gravel and sand), applications of mortars, concretes, fiber-reinforced materials and prefabricated units, such as solid blocks, perforated (hollow) blocks and pavers, were produced. The results of the physical–mechanical characterization validate the application potential of these CDW-based materials in the construction sector. Compressive strengths of up to 40.5 MPa for mortar and 36.9 MPa for concrete were obtained after 90 days of curing at room temperature ≈ 25 °C. Similarly, a life cycle analysis (LCA) associated with raw materials demonstrated the environmental sustainability (44% lower carbon footprint) of mixed alkali-activated CDWs compared to conventional materials based on OPC.

This article demonstrates the possibility of producing alkali-activated hybrid cements based on fly ash (FA), and construction and demolition wastes (concrete waste, COW; ceramic waste, CEW; and masonry waste, MAW) using sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄) (2–6%) and sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) (5–10%) as activators. From a mixture of COW, CEW, and MAW in equal proportions (33.33%), a new precursor called CDW was generated. The precursors were mixed with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) (10–30%). Curing of the materials was performed at room temperature (25 °C). The hybrid cements activated with Na₂SO₄ reached compressive strengths of up to 31 MPa at 28 days of curing, and the hybrid cements activated with Na₂CO₃ yielded compressive strengths of up to 22 MPa. Based on their mechanical performance, the optimal mixtures were selected: FA/30OPC-4%Na₂SO₄, CDW/30OPC-4%Na₂SO₄, FA/30OPC-10%Na₂CO₃, and CDW/30OPC-10%Na₂CO₃. At prolonged ages (180 days), these mixtures reached compressive strength values similar to those reported for pastes based on 100% OPC. A notable advantage is the reduction of the heat of the reaction, which can be reduced by up to 10 times relative to that reported for the hydration of Portland cement. These results show the feasibility of manufacturing alkaline-activated hybrid cements using alternative activators with a lower environmental impact.