New sustainable binders based on waste valorization for civil engineering applications

This research investigates different kinds of waste as possible new binder components for the production of cement based mortar and concrete. Waste types have been selected on the basis of availability in the Emilia Romagna Region. In particular, three different wastes (i.e., waste from rectified porcelain gres tile, sea shell fragments and eggshell waste from agri-food industry) are explored as a possible substitution of a certain fraction of cement in order to evaluate their effect. Chemical properties and physical behavior of the waste are studied, and the activity index of the waste is investigated. A series of mortar specimens with normalized silica sand and a binder compositional ratio of cement (CEM I) at 75 wt.% and waste at 25 wt.% is prepared. The physical and mechanical behavior of the mortar is investigated at different curing time (i.e., 2, 7, 28 and 90 days). This research shows first preliminary results of the MATER-SOS Project, funded by the Emilia Romagna Region, Italy (POR FESR 2014-2020), aimed at implementing circular economy processes in the constructions industry.