Application Of Building Materials Research Articles

Phosphogypsum-based building materials: Resource utilization, development, and limitation

Phosphogypsum (PG) is a major industrial waste emitted during phosphate production. Facing the environmentally risky challenges posed by PG emissions and stockpiles, a review of the state of PG resource utilization in civil engineering and searching for new ways to utilize PG to improve the utilization rate are necessary. Therefore, this paper compared the chemical composition and pretreatment methods of PG from different sources and outlined the application of PG-based building materials, including gypsum products, cement-based materials, and road materials. It was found that there are differences in the chemical composition and physical properties of PG due to differences in phosphate mines and production processes, which affected the way it was pretreated and applied. Currently, thermal treatment and synergistic treatment by various means are effective methods for cleaning PG, and future treatment processes should be developed to highly efficient, and low cost. PG-based building materials positively contribute to recovering PG and promoting resource recycling, but environmental safety and long-term stability need to be explored. In addition, the importance, limitations, and development trends of applying PG-based building materials were discussed. Future research focuses on solid waste-based cementitious and mineralized materials to inform harmless, high-value and large-scale utilization of PG.

Preparation, Surface Modification, and Building Materials Applications of Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles

Preparation, Surface Modification, and Building Materials Applications of Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles

Construction of durable, multifunctional superhydrophobic wood surface via ɛ-polylysine/PDMS/wax treatment

In addressing the limitations of wood's susceptibility to water and moisture, this study explored the development of a durable, superhydrophobic surface through a novel ɛ-polylysine/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/wax composite system. Leveraging the layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly, the incorporation of cationic ɛ-polylysine not only improved the adherence of PDMS and wax to the wood surface through electrostatic attraction but also facilitated a more uniform distribution, achieving optimal hydrophobicity at a ɛ-polylysine concentration of 2 g/L. The synergistic effect of the wood's natural rough structure and the deposition of these hydrophobic substances endowed the treated wood with superhydrophobic properties, showcasing exceptional self-cleaning capabilities by efficiently repelling a variety of liquid contaminants. Durability assessments through sandpaper abrasion, chemical exposure, and accelerated weathering tests confirmed the enhanced long-term stability of the treated wood surfaces. Furthermore, the incorporation of ε-polylysine provided nice antimicrobial properties, showing a substantial reduction in bacterial adhesion. The ε-polylysine/PDMS/wax composite system represents a significant advancement in the development of multifunctional wood surfaces, promising broader applications in sustainable building materials, furniture, and packaging solutions.

A discussion on the application of green building materials in the renovation of buildings

With the continuous improvement of peoples living standards, enhancing living conditions has gradually become a consensus for many. In addition to choosing new construction, the renovation of some old buildings has also gradually become a topic of discussion. In the process of building renovation, the selection of building materials has become a general concern. Green building materials are gradually entering the public eye, and green buildings have become a widely favored type of construction. The use of green building materials has become a trend. This paper, through introducing the concept, necessity, and characteristic advantages of green building materials, takes the example of the renovation design of an expert reception center to explore the feasibility of using green building materials in six aspects: building doors and windows, energy-saving glass, building walls, building insulation materials, decorative materials, and wood structure materials.

Study on preparation and property of coir fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite geogrid

Based on the development and application of green composite building materials, this study prepared a coir fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite grid using coir fiber as the reinforcement material. Through tensile tests of a multi rib grid, the effects of coir fiber content, length, and rib spacing on the composite grid were studied. The results showed that with increase in the coir fiber content, the tensile yield force first increased and then decreased, reaching the maximum value at coir fiber content of 1%. When the coir fiber content exceeded 1%, the tensile properties of the composite grid were lower than that of pure epoxy resin. With the increase in the coir fiber length, the tensile yield force of composite grid also first increased and then decreased. At a fiber length of 1 cm, the maximum tensile yield force was obtained, which was 34.33% higher than that of pure epoxy resin grid. Compared with the influence of fiber length and content on the composite grid, the influence of rib spacing on the composite grid was more obvious. At a rib spacing of 1 cm, the tensile yield force reached its maximum.

Biomimetic versatile wood hybrids with gradient structure towards lightweight, high strength, fire-retardant, and deterioration-resistant materials

The development of versatile wood-based biomaterials with integrated low density, high surface hardness, high strength, fire-resistance, anti-decay, and termite-resistance is highly desirable, yet challenging to skillfully fabricate. Inspired by the ubiquity of gradient biostructures in nature, we achieve biomimetic gradient densification structures by controlling the distribution of thermal-moisture fields within the wood, and combine this with in-situ curing of polyacrylic acid/borate supramolecular resins within the wood cells to transform bulk natural wood into lightweight, high strength, and multifunctional materials. The optimally gradient-densified hybrid wood, with a slight increase in density, demonstrates markedly improved mechanical properties (≈2.4 × increase in surface hardness, ≈52 % increase in flexural strength), excellent dimensional stability, and leaching resistance. In addition, the collaboration of the gradient-densified structure and the in-situ cured acrylic resin/borate supramolecular network provides the biomimetic wood hybrids with excellent fire resistance (V-0 rating in fire retardant grade, 74 % reduction in total smoke release, ≈2.5 × increase in fire performance index), decay and mildew resistance (mass loss of less than 10 %), as well as termite resistance (100 % protection efficiency and termite kill rate) properties. It is the first report to combine gradient densification with in-situ curing of supramolecular resins in the structural design and functionalization of wood-based composites. This new design principle provides guidance for fabricating advanced all-in-one wood materials with applications in lightweight, strong, fire-resistant, deterioration-resistant, and scalable building and furniture materials.

The main trends of 2023 in concrete construction

The analytical review of 2023 was prepared based on the analysis of materials and publications of the Beton GmbH information center (Germany).
 
 Concrete construction, concrete and reinforced concrete technologies, carbon neutrality, and resource efficiency are the central topics that the Beton GmbH (IZB) information center is working on today on behalf of German cement and concrete manufacturers. As an analytical platform for manufacturers and the driving force of the industry, the center promotes new applications of cementbonded building materials and introduces innovative products and processes. Given the critical importance of cement and concrete in construction, the industry also has a special responsibility to mitigate the effects of climate change. Therefore, the German cement industry has been actively working for many years to reduce carbon emissions and conserve natural resources. Using innovative technologies, Germany plans to produce cement and concrete with zero carbon emissions by 2045.
 
 An important element of the promotion and training of sustainable concrete construction is the provision of technical advice to builders, contractors, architects and engineers in the field of civil, road, high-rise and agricultural construction. The main focus is on concrete and processes that provide sustainable, reliable solutions, as well as contribute to the implementation of major planned ideas in accordance with the main global trends: climate efficiency, resource conservation, energy conservation.

Strong double networked hybrid cellulosic foam for passive cooling

Up to now, energy conservation, emission reduction, and environmental protection are still the goals that humanity continuously pursues. Passive radiative cooling is a zero-consumption cooling technology, which gains more and more attention. However, the contraction between mechanical strength and cooling performance of traditional radiative cooling materials still limits their scalable production. In this work, we developed a strong double-networked hybrid cellulosic foam via crosslinking recyclable CNF and PVA with a silane coupling agent in the freeze-drying process. Meanwhile, nano zinc oxide and MOF were added to improve the mechanical and solar scattering of foam. Benefiting from the synergistic solar scattering of ZnO and MOF and the stable double crosslinking network, the as-prepared hybrid cellulosic foam exhibits high solar reflectivity of 0.965, high IR emissivity of 0.94, ultrahigh mechanical strength of and low thermal conductivity. Based on above results, the hybrid cellulosic foam shows high-performance daytime cooling efficiency of 7.5 °C under direct sunlight in the hot region (Nanjing, China), which can serve as outdoor thermal-regulation materials. This work demonstrates that biomass materials possess the enormous potential of in thermal regulating materials, and also provides great possibilities for their applications in energy conservation, environmental protection and green building materials.

Crystallization, thermal properties, rheological properties, mechanical properties, and morphology of thermoplastic polyurethanes/calcium sulfate whiskers composites

The research shows that thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) which is easy to process has great application potential in practical application. In this study, a calcium sulfate whisker (CSW) with high strength and stability was used as a reinforcing filler to improve the processability of flexible TPU. In this paper, TPU/CSW composites were prepared by the melt blending method, and the effects of modified CSW on the thermal, crystalline, and melt properties, as well as the rheological and mechanical properties of TPU composites were investigated. The results showed that when the mass content of modified CSW was 10%, the maximum values of ΔH c and ΔH m were 222.81°C and 9.24 J/g, respectively, and the thermal properties of the composites were the most stable. When the content of modified CSW is 5%, the maximum impact strength, bending strength, and tensile strength are 50.5 KJ/m2, 38.8 MPa, and 927.7 MPa, respectively, and the mechanical properties of the composites are the best. The excellent stability and high strength of TPU/CSW composites show great promise for various applications in transportation and building materials.

Novel integration of recycled-hemihydrate phosphogypsum and ethyl palmitate in composite phase change material for building thermal regulation

This study investigates the properties of novel heat storage gypsum composites composed of waste Hemihydrate phosphogypsum (HP) incorporated with Ethyl Palmitate (EP) Phase Change Material (PCM) at varying concentrations of 25 wt %, 50 wt %, and 75 wt %. The focus of the research revolves around evaluating key characteristics, including leakage properties, chemical stability, microstructural analysis, heat storage characteristics, mechanical properties, and the thermal regulation performance of these novel composites. The investigation of leakage properties aimed to find the optimum EP ratio within the composite structure without causing any potential EP leakage, and it was determined to be 25 wt %. Furthermore, thermal regulation tests are conducted to assess the heat storage and release capabilities of the composites with varying HP/EP content. The latent heat storage of the HP/EP composite was determined as 46.12 J/g, even after the 750th cycle, the value only decreased to 46.03 J/g. With the porosity filling effect of EP additive in HP, as the EP additive increased, the amount of porosity decreased, and the compressive strength values increased by almost 10 %. In hot weather conditions, the EP additive provided a cooler environment between 2 and 4 °C according to thermoregulation results. This study not only holds promise in the context of developing novel heat storage composites for applications in energy-efficient building materials, thermal energy storage systems, and related sustainable technologies but also in harnessing industrial waste byproducts. It particularly highlights the value of HP as a waste material, which has a high potential for evaluation in the production of gypsum and other building materials.

Fabrication and characterization of lignocellulosic coconut and energy reed straw-reinforced methylene diphenyl diisocyanate-bonded sustainable insulation panels

The use of renewable environmental resources and plastics that can be returned to the biological cycle shows a new direction in the application of composite building materials. This study investigated the potential and strengthening effects of developing composite panels from coconut materials (CM) and reed straw (RS) particles in the presence of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). Five composite panels with 100:0, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, and 0:100% proportions were produced. The nominal density was 600 kg/m3 and the dimensions were 400 × 400 × 8 mm3. The panels were produced by hot-pressing for a total of 10 min at a maximum pressure of 7.2 MPa and at 135 degrees, and then slowly cooled at room temperature. The following experiments were performed: mechanical, physical and morphological properties, thermal conductivity, FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), and EDX (Energy disruptive X-ray). The study gave the following results: the thermal conductivity of the coir and reed panels is competitive with the thermal insulation capacity of similar natural-based insulation materials, and is close to the values of other mineral and plastic-based insulation materials. The values of thermal conductivity coefficient ranged from 0.08 to 0.10 W/(mK). Only reeds (MDI_1) boards have better results than coconut materials. Among the mechanical properties, flexural strength and internal bonding strength increased proportionally with the increase in the amount of coconut. The Young's modulus reached its maximum in the case of a 50–50% coir-reed mixture. The best values of the panels are: 6.33 MPa for flexural strength, 1.83 GPa for Young's modulus and 0.36 MPa for internal bonding strength. The morphological recordings confirmed the proper mixing and binding of the lignocellulosic materials in the composite. FTIR tests proved the successful chemical interactions. The findings support the possibility of creating a promising, environmentally friendly building material.

Study on the preparation and mechanical and fatigue properties of alkali excited recycled concrete

This study aims to explore the preparation process of alkali excited recycled concrete, and evaluate its performance in terms of mechanical and fatigue properties, so as to provide theoretical and practical support for the application of sustainable development and environmental protection building materials. Laboratory test and performance evaluation were used to prepare alkali-stimulated recycled concrete specimens with different proportions by adjusting fly ash, alkali activator and water solid ratio in recycled concrete. Then, the mechanical properties of the specimen were tested, including the influence of the cementing material on its compressive strength and the influence of the aggregate quality on its compressive strength. Finally, the fatigue life test is used to analyze the fatigue performance of alkali stimulated recycled concrete, and the influence of different ages and different stress levels on fatigue damage performance of alkali stimulated recycled concrete specimens is studied. The experimental results show that the mechanical properties of recycled concrete can be significantly improved by using alkali excited recycled concrete preparation technology. It is found that under the same stress ratio, with the increase of age, the corresponding fatigue life will increase, the flexural tensile strength will increase, and the fatigue resistance will improve. At the same age, the fatigue life of specimens decreases with the increase of stress ratio, and the flexural tensile strength and fatigue resistance remain unchanged. This study proves the effectiveness of alkali excited recycled concrete preparation technology in improving the mechanical properties and fatigue properties of recycled concrete. Alkali stimulated recycled concrete is not only conducive to resource reuse, reduce the impact of waste on the environment, but also provides a new choice for the sustainable development of building materials. However, further research and application are needed to promote the widespread application of alkali excited recycled concrete in engineering practice.

Behavior of steel tubed rubberized geopolymer concrete columns under axial compression: Experimental study and analytical modeling

Rubberized geopolymer concrete (RuG) has become increasingly popular due to its capability of sustainable utilization of resources, but the mechanical properties of RuG could deteriorate significantly with the increase of rubber content. To mitigate the adverse effects of rubber and further promote the engineering applications of eco-friendly building materials, a new type of composite column, i.e., steel tubed rubberized geopolymer concrete (ST-RuG) columns, was proposed and tested in this paper. The influence of concrete types, rubber replacement ratios, the configurations of steel tubes, and diameter-to-thickness ratios on the compressive behavior of specimens was analyzed. The test results show that the incorporation of rubber has a deterioration effect on the strength of ST-RuG columns with a maximum degradation of 37.6%, but it can improve the ductility of specimens to a certain extent, which is slightly superior to steel tubed rubberized ordinary concrete (ST-RuO) columns. Due to the inherent brittleness of geopolymer concrete (GPC), more obvious residual behavior is detected for ST-RuG compared with ST-RuO under the same rubber replacement ratio Rf. Moreover, with the increase of Rf, the confining pressure of ST-RuG specimens gradually decreases, and a significant decreasing trend is observed for both the peak stress ratio and residual strength ratio of confined RuG. Finally, a new stress-strain model considering the effect of rubber replacement ratio is developed, and comparisons with test results reveal that the proposed model possesses satisfactory accuracy in predicting the axial stress-strain curves of steel-confined GPC and RuG.

Application and Environmental Impact Analysis of Green Building Materials in Civil Engineering

Application and Environmental Impact Analysis of Green Building Materials in Civil Engineering

Characterization of Coal Combustion Products from Malaysian Power Plant for Building Materials Applications

Coal combustion by Products (CCPs) are produced during coal combustion in the process of electric generation. Without proper handling system, this will cause serious problems towards human and environmental. Nevertheless, with proper treatment, these ashes are applicable in many areas specially building construction materials. Coal Bottom Ash, Coal Fly Ash and Cenosphere are three main wastes produced from power plant. The aim of this study is to determine the characteristics of samples collected from different parts of Malaysia Power Plant. Characterization testing involved included surface morphology, chemical composition (oxides), chemical components, amorphousness, and particle size distribution testing. From this study, CBA have more angular-shaped particles compared to CFA which is smoother surface morphology. However, Cenosphere shown the most uniform and spherical shaped particles. EDS testing shown Existing CBA have highest Carbon content (46%) while Cenosphere is lowest (11.38%). The percentage oxides contents for all samples demonstrate more than 70% of Total SiO2 + Al2O3 + Fe2O3. Hence, all ashes considered as Class F (pozzolanic). CBA, SFA, CFA and cenosphere has significantly more amorphous phases of silica and alumina, and this will increase the concrete strength. Due to agglomeration of ashes on ash pond, the cumulative PSDs results shown that the particle size of the existing sample obtained larger than the new sample. Minimum particles size of SFA (New Dry) is 2 µm while SFA (Existing 2) is 20 µm. From characteristic determination above, it shown that each type of ashes has its own uniqueness and capability to be applied wide range of applications.

Tadao Ando’s Application of Fair-Faced Concrete Building Materials

In the world of architecture, fair-faced concrete has evolved from a utilitarian building material to a symbol of design innovation and aesthetic excellence. Tadao Ando, a renowned architect, has played a pivotal role in showcasing the possibilities and beauty of fair-faced concrete in his architectural works. The use and appreciation of fair-faced concrete by Tadao Ando have permanently altered the architectural environment. As a result of his imaginative use of the material, a new generation of architects and designers are today exploring the boundless potential of fair-faced concrete to create environments that are not only functional but also visually beautiful and profoundly connected to their surroundings. Ando's imaginative work has revolutionized modern architecture and raised the status of fair-faced concrete as a medium for aesthetic expression.

Study on photocatalytic performance of carbonated coating supported TiO2@SiO2

In recent years, photocatalytic cement-based materials have demonstrated a positive impact on reducing air pollutants. However, challenges arise from the aggregation of photocatalysts and the intricate internal environment of cement-based materials, resulting in diminished photocatalytic efficiency. To address these issues, the TiO2@SiO2 photocatalyst which reduced agglomeration and was easy to disperse was prepared by sol-gel method, and the TiO2@SiO2 photocatalyst was added into γ-C2S carbonated cementitious material system by surface loading and blending to prepare the photocatalytic carbonation coating. In this paper, the TiO2@SiO2 photocatalyst synthesized at solution pH 4.16 had the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency of nitrogen oxides. The photocatalytic efficiency of the prepared carbonated coating was evaluated through the degradation efficiency of nitrogen oxide and rhodamine B. When the content of TiO2@SiO2 was 7%, the photocatalytic carbonation coating had the highest photon removal efficiency for NO (0.17%), and the degradation rate for rhodamine B was 32.94% after 7 h illumination. The photocatalytic effect of the photocatalytic carbonated coating prepared with surface loaded TiO2@SiO2 was better than that of the doped coating. When the surface loading was 1.5 g/m2, the photocatalytic efficiency of the coating on NO reached 0.81%, and the degradation rate of rhodamine B after 7 h illumination was 36.92%. This method introduced a novel concept for the future application of photocatalytic building materials, contributing to carbon sequestration and energy conservation efforts.

Sustainable lignocellulose aerogel for air purifier with thermal insulation, flame retardancy, mechanical strength, and its life cycle assessment

High-performance biomass materials with good thermal insulation, flame retardrancy, and mechanical properties are urgently required for thermal management. Herein, a novel lignocellulose aerogel treated using a recyclable deep eutectic solvent (DES) was physically mixed with tourmaline particles (TPs) to enhance its structural stability, flame retardancy, and mechanical properties. The optimized TPs-modified lignocellulose aerogel (TLA-4) had good comprehensive performances due to the synergistic effect of ammonium sulfate and TPs. Compared with TPs-free lignocellulose aerogel (LA), the total heat release (THR) and heat release rate (HRR) of TLA-4 were reduced by 62.0 % and 66.3 %, respectively, and the limiting oxygen index (LOI) of TLA-4 was drastically enhanced by 74.1 %. TLA-4 also exhibited a low thermal conductivity of 29.67 mW/mK, showing favorable thermal insulation performance. When compressed to 5 %, the mechanical strength of TLA-4 increased by 8.3 times. Meanwhile, the presence of TPs and abundant pores in the aerogel contributed to the release of negative oxygen ions (NOIs), aiding air purification. A life cycle assessment (LCA) indicated that this composite had a minimal environmental impact (EI) in 17 categories compared to other similar aerogels. The proposed strategy for preparing an environment-friendly lignocellulose aerogel offers significant potential for applications in home decoration and building materials.

Towards net zero carbon buildings: Accounting the building embodied carbon and life cycle-based policy design for Greater Bay Area, China

Carbon mitigation of buildings is critical to promote a net-zero society. The international society has vigorously promoted “Net Zero Carbon Buildings” across the globe, and accounting for building carbon emissions is critical to support this initiative. Embodied carbon, which represents carbon emissions from the entire lifecycle of the buildings, is fundamental for realizing the idea of zero carbon. However, only limited studies have been conducted so far that take into account the city scale. This paper aimed to act as a first try to account for the embodied carbon emissions in buildings in 2020 for the Guangdong-Hong Kong Macau Greater Bay Area in China (GBA). We integrated remote sensing techniques such as night-time light data (NLT) and building material flows analysis to calculate and spatialize the newly generated building material stocks (MS). Based on the MS data, we further applied life cycle assessment (LCA) to assess the embodied carbon in the buildings. The results highlighted that over 163 million tons of embodied carbon in buildings of GBA are expected to be generated, from 497 million tons of newly generated building MS in 2020. The embodied carbon in each life cycle stage is valuable for further lifecycle-based policy designs for: (i) supporting the updating of the green building certification system with consideration of the embodied carbon; (ii) promoting the green building material application and certification; and (iii) reducing the embodied carbon intensity from compact urban planning policy, such as the urban agglomeration policies in GBA. The goal of this paper was to shed a light on reducing carbon emissions from the perspective of the entire lifecycle and promote the development of net zero carbon buildings in China and Asia-Pacific.

Application of new green building materials in civil engineering

About 50% of the world's energy consumption comes from the construction industry. At the same time, more than 60% of the raw materials that humans obtain from nature, such as wood, stone, sand, etc., are used to build various buildings. During the construction process, the processing of these materials can cause a large amount of pollution. For example, the production of concrete can cause an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. These phenomena urge us to improve and upgrade building materials to ensure that the basic functions of the building are achieved and its safety is guaranteed on the basis of minimum pollution. Therefore, green buildings have emerged and gradually received attention. This paper mainly introduces two new concrete materials (one is the concrete material produced by Carbicrete Company that can realize the negative emission of carbon in production and use, and the other is high-performance concrete material), photovoltaic power generation system that can be installed on various structures of buildings and new SiO2 aerogel building materials (mainly used in thermal insulation felt and concrete, which can ensure the heat resistance of materials while reducing the thermal conductivity).