PROJECTS

Framework
The concept of sustainability applied to the construction sector has stimulated the development of new materials from waste and other renewable natural resources. Simultaneously, there has been a more systematic demand in the market for products capable of meeting the requirements of modern architecture and sustainable construction. The use of industrial waste can offer significant environmental advantages, through its valorization as constituents of cementitious mixtures, and other advantages related to the improvement of their properties considering the intrinsic characteristics of the waste itself

Main objective
The WasteCrete project has as its main objective the development of new cement-based products incorporating waste for non-structural applications, improving some of their properties. The WasteCrete project also has as its objective the development of alternative additives and/or admixtures for cementitious mixtures, produced from waste or containing waste in their formulation.

Project activities and expected results
The WasteCrete project has a total duration of 36 months and the work is expected to be carried out according to the following structure:

Activity 1 – Preliminary studies
The aim of this activity is to pre-select and characterize waste, assess any pre-treatment needs, assess the compatibility of waste with hydraulic binders, and define the requirements applicable to new products that are intended to be developed with a view to CE marking. Based on these studies, the waste to be explored in the rest of the project will be selected.

Activity 2 – Formulation of compositions
The main objectives of this activity are the development of different formulations of cementitious composites incorporating different residues as substitutes for binders, aggregates or additives/adjuvants; the physical, mechanical, thermal, acoustic and colorimetric characterization of the new composites; and the selection of the compositions with the best performance for the production of prototypes.

Activity 3 – Industrial Validation
This activity focuses on the industrialization of manufacturing processes of the new products, including the assessment of needs and adaptation of production methods, as well as the definition of industrial layouts for prototyping and manufacturing of the new products.

Activity 4 – Characterization of the resulting products
The aim of this activity is to validate the performance of full-scale prototypes of new products developed in factory conditions in accordance with the functional requirements initially established, in laboratory and real conditions. The aim is also to prepare technical data sheets containing relevant information associated with the use of the products, their main properties and their classification in the applicable legislation and standards.

Activity 5 – Environmental and life cycle assessment
This activity aims to evaluate the proposed solution and the products to be developed, from an environmental perspective. A life cycle analysis will be carried out to compare the products obtained through the incorporation of waste with current products, taking into account the changes associated with waste management.

Activity 6 – Dissemination
The aim of this activity is to develop elements for dissemination that demonstrate the performance of new products and compliance with the proposed functional requirements aimed at the target market, as well as to participate in technology fairs and other events that allow the dissemination of technical and scientific information on new products. The aim is also to disseminate scientific results through the publication of scientific articles in peer-reviewed specialist journals and presentations at scientific conferences in the specialist field.