Effect of mechanically activated recycled concrete powder on the properties of cement paste
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5937/ror2501011SKeywords:
recycled concrete powder, compressive strength, mechanical activation, rheology, setting timeAbstract
This study investigates the effect of mechanically activated recycled concrete powder (RCP) on Portland cement mixtures with an RCP content of 20 % is investigated. The setting time tests showed that the inclusion of RCP increased the setting time in almost all cases. However, better results were achieved with the mechanically activated RCP than with the RCP raw material additive. In addition, the final setting time was reduced by almost one hour overall (from 380 min to 325 min) when the 3 minute grind was used, which had a similar setting time to Portland cement. The mixtures showed similar behavior in the rheological tests, with the initial shear stress decreasing slightly after the addition of the RCP. Overall, the compressive strength of the RCP-containing mixtures decreased compared to the cement-containing samples. However, a positive effect of milling was observed, as the lowest compressive strength reduction of 29.34 % was achieved by the RCP ground for 3 minutes.References
Ahmad K. M., Kristály F., Turzó Z., Effects of clay mineral and physico-chemical variables on sandstone rock permeability, Journal of Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Sciences, 1(1), 2018, 18-26
https://doi.org/10.30881/jogps.00006
Amor F., Diouri A., Ellouzi I., Ouanji F., Development of Zn-Al-Ti mixed oxides-modified cement phases for surface photocatalytic performance, Case Studies in Construction Materials, 9, 2018, e00209
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2018.e00209
Cantero B., Bravo M., de Brito J., Sáez del Bosque I. F., Medina C., Mechanical behavior of structural concrete with ground recycled concrete cement and mixed recycled aggregate, Journal of Cleaner Production, 275, 2020, 122913
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122913
Chen X., Li Y., Bai H., Ma L., Utilization of recycled concrete powder in cement composite: strength, microstructure and hydration characteristics, Journal of Renewable Materials, 9 (12), 2021, 2189-2208
https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2021.015394
Cho J., Waetzig G. R., Udayakantha M., Hong C. Y., Banerjee S., Incorporation of hydroxyethylcellulose-functionalized halloysite as a means of decreasing the thermal conductivity of oilwell cement, Scientific Reports, 8, 2018, 16149
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-34283-0
Dacić A., Fenyvesi O., Kopecskó K., Investigation of waste perlite, recycled concrete powders as supplementary cementitious materials, Periodica Polytechnica Civil Engineering, 67 (3), 2023, 683-694
https://doi.org/10.3311/PPci.21593
Deng X., Li J., Lu Z., Zhang J., Luo K., Niu Y., Hu J., He K., Rheological and early hydration of cementitious material containing recycled concrete powders collected from recycled aggregates, Construction and Building Materials, 393, 2023, 132108
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.132108
dos Reis G. S., Grigore Cazacliu B., Rodriguez Correa C., Ovsyannikova E., Kruse A., Hoffmann Sampaio C., Lima E. C., Dotto G. L., Adsorption and recovery of phosphate from aqueous solution by the construction and demolition wastes sludge and its potential use as phosphate-based fertilizer, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 8 (1), 2020, 103605
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2019.103605
Du J., Zhang T., Chen P., Guo Y., Zhan B., Wei J., Yu Q., Phase separation of recycled concrete powder during grinding and consequent influences on its hydration behaviors in cement paste, Cement and Concrete Composites, 142, 2023, 105203
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2023.105203
Figueiredo P. O., Ulsen C., Bergerman M. G., Mucsi G., Properties of recycled concrete aggregate produced by different comminution methods, Proceedings of the International V4 Waste Recycling 21 Conference, Miskolc, Hungary, November 2018, 219-227., Editor: Bokányi L., Publisher: University of Miskolc, ISBN 978-963-358-173-5
Gao Q., Li X., Shi X., Li X., Lyu X., Zhu X., Ren Y., Clean and high-value recycling approach for waste concrete powder: Mechano-chemical activation of pozzolanic activity, Powder Technology, 458, 2025, 120988
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2025.120988
Greinert A., Piernik A., Grande U., Hulisz P., Construction and demolition waste (CDW) in urban soils as a factor controlling their diversity, Geoderma, 449, 2024, 117019
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2024.117019
Horgnies M., Chen J. J., Bouillon C., Overview about the use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to study cementitious materials, WIT Transactions on Engineering Sciences, WIT Press, 77, 2013, 251-262
https://doi.org/10.2495/MC130221
Ilcan H., Sahin O., Kul A., Ozcelikci E., Sahmaran M., Rheological property and extrudability performance assessment of construction and demolition waste-based geopolymer mortars with varied testing protocols, Cement and Concrete Composites, 136, 2023, 104891
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2022.104891
Juhász A. Z., Opoczky L., Mechanical activation of minerals by grinding. Pulverizing and morphology of practices, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó - Chichester: Ellis Horwood Ltd Publishers, 1990. ISBN: 0745800157
Kaptan K., Cunha S., Aguiar J., A Review of the Utilization of Recycled Powder from Concrete Waste as a Cement Partial Replacement in Cement-Based Materials: Fundamental Properties and Activation Methods, Applied Sciences, 14 (21), 2024, 9775
https://doi.org/10.3390/app14219775
Khan Z. A., Balunaini U., Costa S., Nguyen N. H.T., A review on sustainable use of recycled construction and demolition waste aggregates in pavement base and subbase layers, Cleaner Materials, 13, 2024, 100266
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clema.2024.100266
Kong, X., Yao Y., Kai M., Guan Y., Ding X., Gu Z., Liu J., The assessment of the mechanical and durability properties of mortar prepared with carbon dioxide-treated recycled concrete-brick powder, Construction and Building Materials, 466, 2025, 140305
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.140305
Kumar S., Mucsi G., Kristály F., Pekker P., Mechanical activation of fly ash and its influence on micro and nano-structural behaviour of resulting geopolymers. Advanced Powder Technology, 28 (3), 2017, 805-813
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apt.2016.11.027
Li Z., Bian Y., Zhao J., Wang Y., Yuan Z., Recycled concrete fine powder (RFP) as cement partial replacement: influences on the physical properties, hydration characteristics, and microstructure of blended cement, Journal of Building Engineering, 62, 2022, 105326
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2022.105326
Li J., Zhan B., Gao P., Hu L., Qiao M., Sha H., Yu Q., Effects of recycled concrete powders on the rheology, setting and early age strength of cement paste, Construction and Building Materials, 401, 2023, 132899
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.132899
Li X., Wang X. Y., Li M., Zhan Q. W., Dong W. Y., Study on activation and performance of recycled hardened concrete powder based on microbial accelerated carbonization, Biochemical Engineering Journal, 214, 2025, 109586
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2024.109586
Lotfi S., Eggimann M., Wagner E., Mróz R., Deja J., Performance of recycled aggregate concrete based on a new concrete recycling technology, Construction and Building Materials, 95, 2015, 243-256
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.07.021
Lu B., Shi C. Zhang J. Wang J., Effects of carbonated hardened cement paste powder on hydration and microstructure of Portland cement, Construction and Building Materials, 186, 2018, 699-708
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.07.159
Luciano A., Cutaia L., Altamura P., Penalvo E., Critical issues hindering a widespread construction and demolition waste (CDW) recycling practice in EU countries and actions to undertake: the stakeholder's perspective, Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, 29, 2022, 100745
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scp.2022.100745
Menegaki M., Damigos D., Review on current situation and challenges of construction and demolition waste management, Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 13, 2018, 8-15
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogsc.2018.02.010
Methods of testing cement. Part 3: Determination of setting times and soundness, MSZ EN 196-3:2017 Standard, 2017
Mucsi G., Halyag Papné N., Ulsen C., Figueiredo P. O., Kristály F., Mechanical activation of construction and demolition waste in order to improve its pozzolanic reactivity, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 9 (9), 2021, 3416-3427
https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.0c05838
Nagataki S., Gokce A., Saeki T., Hisada M., Assessment of recycling process induced damage sensitivity of recycled concrete aggregates, Cement and Concrete Research, 34 (6), 2004, 965-971
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2003.11.008
Németh N., Kristály F., Gál P., Móricz F., Lukács R., Metavolcanic formations in the Paraautochthonous Triassic successions of the Bükk Mts, NE Hungary, International Journal of Earth Sciences (Geol Rundsch) 112, 2023, 297-320
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-022-02246-6
Pallewatta S., Weerasooriyagedara M., Bordoloi S., Sarmah A.K., Vithanage M., Reprocessed construction and demolition waste as an adsorbent: an appraisal, Science of The Total Environment, 882, 2023, 163340
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163340
Pan X., Shi C., Hu X., Ou Z., Effects of CO 2 surface treatment on strength and permeability of one-day-aged cement mortar, Construction and Building Materials, 154, 2017, 1087-1095
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.07.216
Quan H. Z., Effects of Adhered Mortar Content on Quality of Recycled Coarse Aggregate of Concrete, Advanced Materials Research, 194-196, 2011, 1059-1062
https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.194-196.1059
Santos R. P., Tubino R., Potential evaluation of the use of construction and demolition waste (CDW) in the recovery of degraded soils by mining in Brazil, Resources, Conservation & Recycling Advances, 12, 2021, 200060
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcradv.2021.200060
Shen Z., Zhu H., Zhao Z., Pang S., Li Z., Yang S., Cao P., Lin S., High-performance artificial aggregate prepared with recycled concrete powder and its impact on concrete properties, Construction and Building Materials, 404, 2023, 133151
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.133151
Szabó R., Szűcs M., Ambrus M., Mucsi G., Increasing the pozzolanic reactivity of recovered CDW cement stone by mechanical activation, Materials Proceedings, 13 (1), 2023, 27
https://doi.org/10.3390/materproc2023013027
Tam V.W.Y., Soomro M., Evangelista A.C.J., Quality improvement of recycled concrete aggregate by removal of residual mortar: A comprehensive review of approaches adopted. Construction and Building Materials, 288, 2021, 123066
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123066
Tan J., Cai J., Li X., Pan J., Li J., Development of eco-friendly geopolymers with ground mixed recycled aggregates and slag, Journal of Cleaner Production, 256, 2020, 120369
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120369
Tang Q., Ma Z., Wu H., Wang W., The utilization of eco-friendly recycled powder from concrete and brick waste in new concrete: A critical review. Cement Concrete. Composites. 114, 2020, 103807
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103807
Tavira J., Jiménez J. R., Ledesma E. F., López-Uceda A., Ayuso J., Real-scale study of a heavy traffic road built with in situ recycled demolition waste, Journal of Cleaner Production, 248, 2020, 119219
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119219
The World Bank Data, Urban population (% of the total population), 2018 revision, https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS, date of access 12.08.2024
Trivedi S. S., Das B. B., Barbhuiya S., Performance of construction and demolition waste as recycled aggregates in concrete - review, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Construction Materials, 178 (1), 2025, 20-47
https://doi.org/10.1680/jcoma.23.00030
Wu H., Liang C., Xiao J., Xu J., Ma Z., Early-age behavior and mechanical properties of cement-based materials with various types and fineness of recycled powder, Structural Concrete, 23(2), 2022, 1253-1272
https://doi.org/10.1002/suco.202000834
Xue C., Tian G., Zhang Y., Wang Z., Qiao H., Su L., Study on the effect of particle size on the basic characteristics of RCP and hydration kinetics of slurry, Construction and Building Materials, 470, 2025, 140540
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.140540
Zhang J., Ding L., Li F., Peng J., Recycled aggregates from construction and demolition wastes as alternative filling materials for highway subgrades in China, Journal of Cleaner Production, 255, 2020, 120223
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120223
Zhang D., Zhang S., Huang B., Yang Q., Li J., Comparison of mechanical, chemical, and thermal activation methods on the utilisation of recycled concrete powder from construction and demolition waste, Journal of Building Engineering, 61, 2022, 105295
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2022.105295
Zhang H., Zhang C., He B., Yi S., Tang L., Recycling fine powder collected from construction and demolition wastes as partial alternatives to cement: A comprehensive analysis on effects, mechanism, cost, and CO2 emission. Journal of Building Engineering, 71, 2023, 106507
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2023.106507
Zhao Y ., Gao J., Liu C., Chen X., Xu Z., The particle-size effect of waste clay brick powder on its pozzolanic activity and properties of blended cement, Journal of Cleaner Production, 242, 2020, 118521
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 CC BY 4.0 by Authors

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.