Mechanical Performance, Durability, and Sustainability of Pozzolanic and Waste-Derived Cementitious Composites: A Critical Review

Concrete production is associated with significant environmental impacts due to the extensive consumption of Portland cement and the resulting carbon dioxide emissions. In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward the utilization of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and pozzolanic compounds as sustainable alternatives for improving the mechanical performance and durability of cementitious composites while reducing environmental burdens. This review critically examines the effects of conventional and waste-derived pozzolanic materials, including silica fume, fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), metakaolin, rice husk ash, glass powder, and organic waste-based materials, on the behavior of concrete and geopolymer systems. The reviewed studies demonstrate that highly reactive pozzolanic materials can significantly enhance compressive strength, reduce permeability, refine pore structure, and improve resistance against chloride penetration and aggressive chemical environments through secondary hydration and geopolymerization reactions. The effectiveness of these materials is strongly influenced by factors such as particle fineness, chemical composition, curing conditions, alkaline activation, and replacement ratio. In addition, the incorporation of recycled waste materials contributes to sustainable construction practices by reducing cement consumption and promoting waste reutilization. However, excessive replacement levels and untreated organic waste materials may negatively affect mechanical properties and increase porosity because of weak interfacial bonding and higher water absorption characteristics. This review also discusses the microstructural mechanisms governing durability enhancement and compares the performance of ordinary pozzolanic systems with geopolymer-based binders. Furthermore, current limitations, including variability of waste materials and the lack of long-term field investigations, are highlighted. The findings confirm the considerable potential of pozzolanic and recycled supplementary materials for developing durable, environmentally friendly, and sustainable cementitious composites suitable for future construction applications.

کلیدواژه ها:

Pozzolanic materials ، Sustainable cementitious composites ، Geopolymer concrete ، Mechanical performance ، Recycled waste materials ، Microstructure