Circular economy in construction – mortars from recycled materials
How can construction waste be transformed into high-value materials that can return to the market? This is the goal set by a research team led by Natalia Gasik-Kowalska, MSc, from the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Mechanics and Petrochemistry, which is conducting research on the development of new formulations of construction mortars in which traditional raw materials are replaced with recycled components.
The project focuses on the use of fine recycled aggregate, obtained from, among other sources, used sanitary ceramics elements. The team is also investigating the potential of multi-component CEM VI cements – containing clinker, blast furnace slag, and dust from concrete recycling.
In the laboratory, mortar samples are produced in which traditional sand is gradually replaced with crushed ceramic material – from 25% up to even 100%. Their mechanical and physical properties are then compared with reference mortars. This makes it possible to assess the extent to which ceramic waste can successfully replace natural raw materials.
A damaged sample during a bending strength test
The research is not limited to laboratory tests alone. The team also applies the Cradle-to-Cradle life cycle assessment methodology ("from cradle to cradle"), which allows the product to be viewed in a broader context – from the moment of its creation to the potential for reuse or safe return to the environment.
"We want to verify whether ceramic waste and new types of cement, used simultaneously, can become high-value raw materials that close the loop in construction – without loss of quality and with environmental benefit," emphasizes Natalia Gasik-Kowalska, MSc.
A comprehensive analysis, combining technical, environmental, economic, and social aspects, may pave the way for implementing more sustainable solutions in the construction industry. If the results prove positive, recycling sanitary ceramics and utilising CEM VI cements could become a viable alternative to traditional materials, supporting the development of a circular economy in the construction sector.