Construction and demolition waste makes up a substantial part of all waste produced in Europe. Its impact on the environment may be relatively small, but it exists in large amounts and holds many options of re-use. This is why it remains a frequently discussed topic of European policy. As part of circular economy, the European Commission has already proposed new goals and strategies for existing types of waste. However, they are not entirely clear on the usage of new kinds of building and demolition waste, as they are yet to be specified by existing legislation. This paper discusses new kinds of building and demolition waste and the basic principles (new technology) of their use. The possibilities of utilizing new kinds of waste are based on a multicriteria optimization calculation, specifying each material and proposing ways of its further use. Recent findings can expand the choice of new uses of construction and demolition waste and reduce their impact on the environment (less waste, better properties and more effective processing, reducing transportation needs, maximizing re-use and recycling).
Crystalline admixtures and industrial by-products can be used in cement-based materials in order to improve their mechanical properties. The research examined long-term curing and the exposure to environmental actions of polymer–cement mortars with crystalline admixture (CA) and different by-products, including Bengħisa fly ash and Globigerina limestone waste filler. The by-products were introduced as a percentage replacement of the cement. A crystallization additive was also added to the mixtures in order to monitor the improvement in durability properties. The mechanical properties of the mortar were assessed, with 20% replacement of cement with fly ash resulting in the highest compressive strength after 540 days. The performance was analyzed with respect to various properties including permeable porosity, capillary suction, rapid chloride ion penetration and chloride migration coefficient. It was noted that the addition of fly ash and crystalline admixture significantly reduced the chloride ion penetration into the structure of the polymer cement mortar, resulting in improved durability. A microstructure investigation was conducted on the samples through Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Crystals forming through the crystalline admixture in the porous structure of the material were clearly observed, contributing to the improved properties of the cement-based polymer mortar.
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