Current insulation materials applied in construction engineering and the building industry are generally petrochemical-based polymers and recycled thermal insulation materials. The environmental effects of these materials’ production processes are substantial, despite their high thermal insulation performance. Consequently, the researchers conclude that it is essential to develop and produce insulating materials with superior thermal properties, minimal environmental impact, and a reasonable cost. The study concentrated on the application of insulation materials derived from biomass in the development of thermal insulation. The purpose of this review is to investigate and develop the possibilities of using biomass wastes as renewable and eco-friendly thermal insulation materials for construction engineering and the building industry. The thermal conductivity of those materials was measured using the hot plate and hot box methods, two of the most widely used hot processing methods. With a relatively low thermal conductivity (< 0.100 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹), this review provides critical scientific insight into potential building insulation materials derived from biodegradable and abundant resources. It was observed that these materials are appealing for use in building and construction because they have a number of potential advantages from technical, economic, environmental, and green credentials perspectives. The collection of information enables some conclusions regarding the different biomass waste–derived insulation materials that have already been investigated and identifies gaps in the literature. Finally, the scope of commercialization pathways and future research directions to validate the proposed material alternatives’ claim for commercial-scale applications has been identified in this review. Graphical Abstract

The wide use of multi-component cement of highly reduced Portland clinker factor is largely impeded by detrimental changes in the rheological properties of concrete mixes, a substantial reduction in the early rate of cement hardening, and sometimes the insufficient strength of mature concrete. Therefore, major changes are needed in traditional concrete-production technologies if low-clinker cement is to gain wider acceptance. This review’s goal is to summarize the impacts of using non-ionizing radiation methods to improve the dispersion of concrete mix constituents, cement setting, and early hardening. The potential impacts of such interactions on the permeability and strength of concrete are also highlighted and investigated. Their intriguing potential for delivering additional energy to cementitious mixtures is analyzed for batch water, solid non-clinker constituents of cement (mainly supplementary cementitious materials), and their mixtures with aggregates. The advantages of adopting these non-traditional methods are found to be highly alluring to the greener preparation techniques used in the construction materials sector.

Piasek stosowany jako kruszywo drobne w betonie w niekorzystnych warunkach środowiska może spowodować reakcję alkaliczno-krzemionkową, a w konsekwencji – pogorszenie właściwości użytkowych i trwałości betonu. Celem pracy jest porównanie reaktywności alkaliczno-krzemionkowej 18 piasków naturalnych o różnym pochodzeniu. Wykonano badania potencjalnej reaktywności piasku zgodnie z procedurami PB/1/18 i PB/3/18 przedstawionymi w Wytycznych Technicznych GDDKiA. Prze- prowadzono analizę składu mineralnego kruszywa pod kątem zawartości reaktywnych minerałów, badanie wydłużenia próbek zapraw oraz analizę mikroskopową produktów reakcji alkalia-krzemionka. W toku badań dowiedziono, że 6 kruszyw (33%) spośród 18 przebadanych należy zaklasyfikować do kategorii „umiarkowanie reaktywne”, natomiast 12 kruszyw (67%) należy przypisać do kategorii „niereaktywne”. Wykazano wpływ pochodzenia piasku na jego podatność na wystąpienie reakcji alkalicznej.

This study investigates a comprehensive study on the mechanical and microstructural behavior of cementitious mortars modified with a combination of internal carbonation (via solid CO₂), calcined clay as a ceramic pozzolanic additive, and bio-based sheep wool fibers. The investigation aimed to explore sustainable routes for enhancing mortar performance while reducing the environmental impact of cement production. A series of mortars incorporating various combinations of dry ice, calcined clay, and wool fibers was prepared and tested to evaluate compressive and flexural strength, porosity, pore size distribution, phase composition, and microstructural morphology. Results demonstrated that internal carbonation significantly promoted matrix densification and compressive strength, increasing fc by approximately 8% compared to the reference. The addition of calcined clay further improved microstructural compactness, reducing total pore volume by 12%, while the incorporation of wool fibers enhanced post-cracking toughness by over 40% despite a 15–30% decrease in compressive strength. SEM and TGA confirmed the formation of calcite and reduced portlandite content, consistent with carbonation and pozzolanic reactions. The findings underscore the potential and limitations of multicomponent eco-modified cement mortars. Optimizing the balance between internal carbonation, pozzolanic reaction, and fiber stability is a key to developing next-generation low-carbon composites suitable for durable and resilient construction applications.