Impact of Recycled Concrete and Ceramic Fillers on the Performance of Cementitious Systems: Microstructural, Mechanical, and Durability Aspects
Cement production is a major contributor to CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, while construction and demolition waste (CDW) presents growing environmental challenges. The new European standard UNE-EN 197-6 permits the use of recycled concrete fines as partial clinker replacements, providing a re...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Recycling |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/10/3/108 |
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| author | Tianjun Han Diego Aponte Susana Valls Marilda Barra Bizinotto |
| author_facet | Tianjun Han Diego Aponte Susana Valls Marilda Barra Bizinotto |
| author_sort | Tianjun Han |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cement production is a major contributor to CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, while construction and demolition waste (CDW) presents growing environmental challenges. The new European standard UNE-EN 197-6 permits the use of recycled concrete fines as partial clinker replacements, providing a regulatory framework for integrating CDW into cementitious systems. This study investigates two CDW-derived fillers, FHH (recycled concrete filler) and FHC (recycled ceramic–concrete mixed filler), as partial substitutes for ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The materials were characterized using XRD, XRF, FTIR, and particle size analysis. Cement pastes and mortars with 10%, 20%, and 30% volume replacements were evaluated for hydration behavior, mechanical performance, and durability. At lower replacement levels, FHC promoted ettringite formation and microstructural refinement, while FHH favored carbonate hydrate development; both fillers also exhibited durability comparable to the control. At higher levels, they maintained satisfactory compressive strength. This study offers critical insights into the integration of CDW-derived fillers into cementitious systems, revealing their potential to significantly reduce clinker consumption while maintaining high mechanical and durability standards. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-594794dbf71b4daebcdf8d4f586a75e0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2313-4321 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Recycling |
| spelling | doaj-art-594794dbf71b4daebcdf8d4f586a75e02025-08-20T03:29:40ZengMDPI AGRecycling2313-43212025-06-0110310810.3390/recycling10030108Impact of Recycled Concrete and Ceramic Fillers on the Performance of Cementitious Systems: Microstructural, Mechanical, and Durability AspectsTianjun Han0Diego Aponte1Susana Valls2Marilda Barra Bizinotto3Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), 08034 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), 08034 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), 08034 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), 08034 Barcelona, SpainCement production is a major contributor to CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, while construction and demolition waste (CDW) presents growing environmental challenges. The new European standard UNE-EN 197-6 permits the use of recycled concrete fines as partial clinker replacements, providing a regulatory framework for integrating CDW into cementitious systems. This study investigates two CDW-derived fillers, FHH (recycled concrete filler) and FHC (recycled ceramic–concrete mixed filler), as partial substitutes for ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The materials were characterized using XRD, XRF, FTIR, and particle size analysis. Cement pastes and mortars with 10%, 20%, and 30% volume replacements were evaluated for hydration behavior, mechanical performance, and durability. At lower replacement levels, FHC promoted ettringite formation and microstructural refinement, while FHH favored carbonate hydrate development; both fillers also exhibited durability comparable to the control. At higher levels, they maintained satisfactory compressive strength. This study offers critical insights into the integration of CDW-derived fillers into cementitious systems, revealing their potential to significantly reduce clinker consumption while maintaining high mechanical and durability standards.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/10/3/108concrete recycled fillerceramic–concrete mixed fillerhydration behaviormechanical performancedurabilityXRD |
| spellingShingle | Tianjun Han Diego Aponte Susana Valls Marilda Barra Bizinotto Impact of Recycled Concrete and Ceramic Fillers on the Performance of Cementitious Systems: Microstructural, Mechanical, and Durability Aspects Recycling concrete recycled filler ceramic–concrete mixed filler hydration behavior mechanical performance durability XRD |
| title | Impact of Recycled Concrete and Ceramic Fillers on the Performance of Cementitious Systems: Microstructural, Mechanical, and Durability Aspects |
| title_full | Impact of Recycled Concrete and Ceramic Fillers on the Performance of Cementitious Systems: Microstructural, Mechanical, and Durability Aspects |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Recycled Concrete and Ceramic Fillers on the Performance of Cementitious Systems: Microstructural, Mechanical, and Durability Aspects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Recycled Concrete and Ceramic Fillers on the Performance of Cementitious Systems: Microstructural, Mechanical, and Durability Aspects |
| title_short | Impact of Recycled Concrete and Ceramic Fillers on the Performance of Cementitious Systems: Microstructural, Mechanical, and Durability Aspects |
| title_sort | impact of recycled concrete and ceramic fillers on the performance of cementitious systems microstructural mechanical and durability aspects |
| topic | concrete recycled filler ceramic–concrete mixed filler hydration behavior mechanical performance durability XRD |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/10/3/108 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tianjunhan impactofrecycledconcreteandceramicfillersontheperformanceofcementitioussystemsmicrostructuralmechanicalanddurabilityaspects AT diegoaponte impactofrecycledconcreteandceramicfillersontheperformanceofcementitioussystemsmicrostructuralmechanicalanddurabilityaspects AT susanavalls impactofrecycledconcreteandceramicfillersontheperformanceofcementitioussystemsmicrostructuralmechanicalanddurabilityaspects AT marildabarrabizinotto impactofrecycledconcreteandceramicfillersontheperformanceofcementitioussystemsmicrostructuralmechanicalanddurabilityaspects |