Development of CO₂-ceramsite foam concrete: Mechanical properties, microstructure and environmental benefits
With the advancement of the global carbon neutrality goal, the construction industry, as a major resource consumption and carbon emission sector, is facing increasingly severe environmental pressures. Building material production not only consumes substantial energy but also generates significant CO...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-12-01
|
| Series: | Case Studies in Construction Materials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525007557 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850168912004513792 |
|---|---|
| author | Jing Zhang Yuxin Su Hongshuai Gao |
| author_facet | Jing Zhang Yuxin Su Hongshuai Gao |
| author_sort | Jing Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With the advancement of the global carbon neutrality goal, the construction industry, as a major resource consumption and carbon emission sector, is facing increasingly severe environmental pressures. Building material production not only consumes substantial energy but also generates significant CO₂ emissions. This context necessitates the development of novel low-carbon materials and carbon sequestration technologies. This study proposes a novel CO₂-foamed ceramsite foam concrete (CCFC), and systematically investigates its mechanical properties, multi-scale pore structure evolution, and environmental benefits through experimental approaches. CO₂ foaming significantly refined the pore structure of CCFC, enhancing its compressive strength and water absorption capacity while reducing thermal conductivity. Multi-scale analyses from macro to micro levels revealed that CaCO₃ generated through carbonation filled pores and optimized pore distribution. Life cycle assessment (LCA) demonstrated that each cubic meter of CCFC sequesters approximately 25 kg CO₂, reducing global warming potential (GWP) by 12 % compared to conventional ceramsite foam concrete (CFC). These findings indicate that CCFC can serve as a sustainable alternative to traditional insulation materials in building envelopes, significantly lowering carbon footprints in construction projects. By integrating CO₂ sequestration into lightweight concrete production, this technology aligns with global carbon neutrality goals and offers a scalable solution for reducing embodied carbon in urban infrastructure. Furthermore, the improved mechanical and thermal performance of CCFC supports its application in energy-efficient buildings, contributing to both structural safety and long-term energy savings. The findings offer practical guidance for scaling low-carbon construction practices. Compared to other emerging low-carbon concretes such as geopolymer or mineralized systems, CCFC demonstrates a balanced integration of environmental performance, structural applicability, and industrial scalability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d8093860dfcd42f7aaeac92facd7dd37 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2214-5095 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Studies in Construction Materials |
| spelling | doaj-art-d8093860dfcd42f7aaeac92facd7dd372025-08-20T02:20:51ZengElsevierCase Studies in Construction Materials2214-50952025-12-0123e0495710.1016/j.cscm.2025.e04957Development of CO₂-ceramsite foam concrete: Mechanical properties, microstructure and environmental benefitsJing Zhang0Yuxin Su1Hongshuai Gao2School of Civil Engineering, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China; Heilongjiang North Resilient City Research Institute, Harbin 150080, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China; Key Laboratory of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration,Institute of Engineering Mechanics, China Earthquake Administration,Harbin 150080, China; Corresponding author at: School of Civil Engineering, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China.With the advancement of the global carbon neutrality goal, the construction industry, as a major resource consumption and carbon emission sector, is facing increasingly severe environmental pressures. Building material production not only consumes substantial energy but also generates significant CO₂ emissions. This context necessitates the development of novel low-carbon materials and carbon sequestration technologies. This study proposes a novel CO₂-foamed ceramsite foam concrete (CCFC), and systematically investigates its mechanical properties, multi-scale pore structure evolution, and environmental benefits through experimental approaches. CO₂ foaming significantly refined the pore structure of CCFC, enhancing its compressive strength and water absorption capacity while reducing thermal conductivity. Multi-scale analyses from macro to micro levels revealed that CaCO₃ generated through carbonation filled pores and optimized pore distribution. Life cycle assessment (LCA) demonstrated that each cubic meter of CCFC sequesters approximately 25 kg CO₂, reducing global warming potential (GWP) by 12 % compared to conventional ceramsite foam concrete (CFC). These findings indicate that CCFC can serve as a sustainable alternative to traditional insulation materials in building envelopes, significantly lowering carbon footprints in construction projects. By integrating CO₂ sequestration into lightweight concrete production, this technology aligns with global carbon neutrality goals and offers a scalable solution for reducing embodied carbon in urban infrastructure. Furthermore, the improved mechanical and thermal performance of CCFC supports its application in energy-efficient buildings, contributing to both structural safety and long-term energy savings. The findings offer practical guidance for scaling low-carbon construction practices. Compared to other emerging low-carbon concretes such as geopolymer or mineralized systems, CCFC demonstrates a balanced integration of environmental performance, structural applicability, and industrial scalability.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525007557CO2 sequestrationLightweight foam concreteCO2 foamingMulti-scale microstructureSustainable building materials |
| spellingShingle | Jing Zhang Yuxin Su Hongshuai Gao Development of CO₂-ceramsite foam concrete: Mechanical properties, microstructure and environmental benefits Case Studies in Construction Materials CO2 sequestration Lightweight foam concrete CO2 foaming Multi-scale microstructure Sustainable building materials |
| title | Development of CO₂-ceramsite foam concrete: Mechanical properties, microstructure and environmental benefits |
| title_full | Development of CO₂-ceramsite foam concrete: Mechanical properties, microstructure and environmental benefits |
| title_fullStr | Development of CO₂-ceramsite foam concrete: Mechanical properties, microstructure and environmental benefits |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of CO₂-ceramsite foam concrete: Mechanical properties, microstructure and environmental benefits |
| title_short | Development of CO₂-ceramsite foam concrete: Mechanical properties, microstructure and environmental benefits |
| title_sort | development of co₂ ceramsite foam concrete mechanical properties microstructure and environmental benefits |
| topic | CO2 sequestration Lightweight foam concrete CO2 foaming Multi-scale microstructure Sustainable building materials |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525007557 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jingzhang developmentofco2ceramsitefoamconcretemechanicalpropertiesmicrostructureandenvironmentalbenefits AT yuxinsu developmentofco2ceramsitefoamconcretemechanicalpropertiesmicrostructureandenvironmentalbenefits AT hongshuaigao developmentofco2ceramsitefoamconcretemechanicalpropertiesmicrostructureandenvironmentalbenefits |