Cement & concrete composites最新文献

{"title":"Unveiling the hydration mechanism of LS-BOFS binary cementitous materials: Role of Al(OH)3 for β-C2S activation","authors":"Mengyu Zhu ,&nbsp;Yuxuan Chen ,&nbsp;Qingliang Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106381","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106381","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Basic oxygen furnace slag (BOFS), a major by-product of the steel industry, suffers from sluggish early-age hydration due to its iron-rich and aluminum-deficient composition, which severely restricts its practical applications. A promising strategy to address this limitation involves the incorporation of aluminum-rich phases to modify BOFS hydration. Ladle slag (LS), another steelmaking by-product featuring high CaO–Al₂O₃ and low SiO₂ contents, is considered as a promising source of reactive aluminum to enhance and accelerate the hydration of BOFS. In this study, LS–BOFS composite binders were designed by exploiting their compositional complementarity. Multi-scale analyses of hydration kinetics, phase evolution, pore solution chemistry, and microstructure showed that LS plays a pivotal role in regulating the β-C₂S hydration pathway in BOFS. Specifically, LS accelerates β-C₂S hydration through the in situ generation of Al(OH)₃, which facilitates the early formation of C–A–S–H gel and Si(Fe)-katoite, thereby establishing a distinctive synergistic hydration mechanism. Consequently, LS–BOFS pastes achieved compressive strengths of 21 MPa at 7 days and 50 MPa at 28 days respectively, corresponding to 3.9- and 3.7-fold increases over the control group. This synergistic mechanism effectively mitigates the low early strength of conventional BOFS-based materials and offers new insights into the high-end utilization of steel slag.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9865,"journal":{"name":"Cement & concrete composites","volume":"166 ","pages":"Article 106381"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145383485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Developing sustainable engineered cementitious composites with carbonated recycled concrete fines: Feasibility and engineering properties","authors":"Hao Sun ,&nbsp;Meng Chen ,&nbsp;Yihan Tian ,&nbsp;Yuting Wang ,&nbsp;Tong Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaowei Ouyang ,&nbsp;Mingzhong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106378","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106378","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Using carbonated recycled concrete fines (CRCF) as supplementary cementitious material is an effective way to develop sustainable engineered cementitious composites (ECC). This study systematically explored the effects of CRCF with a substitution rate up to 30 % through mechanical property tests, micromechanical analysis and microstructural characterisation, aiming to elucidate the mechanism of CRCF on ECC. Results suggest that the incorporation of CRCF reduces the mechanical properties of ECC, but a moderate amount (15 %) of CRCF-ECC still performs more than 85 % and 90 % of the tensile and compressive strengths of the reference ECC. Also, the tensile strain capacity of 15CR is increased by approximately 20 %, significantly enhancing the tensile toughness of ECC. The <span><math><mrow><msubsup><mi>J</mi><mi>b</mi><mo>′</mo></msubsup></mrow></math></span> and <span><math><mrow><msub><mi>J</mi><mrow><mi>t</mi><mi>i</mi><mi>p</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></math></span> of 15CR are approximately 10 % and 6 % higher than those of 15R, respectively. This indicates that the 15CR mixture exhibits superior Griffith crack propagation capability after the initiation of the first crack, which is also recognised as flat crack propagation capability. The incorporation of CRCF significantly improves the average pore size of ECC, mainly attributed to more calcium carbonate on the surface of CRCF, resulting in strengthening of bonding interactions with C-S-H during hydration. This results in stronger fibre-matrix bonding and denser microstructure in the microscopic reaction, and in turn enhances the internal structural compactness and strengthens the mechanical properties. The effects and micro-mechanisms of CRCF on the mechanical properties of ECC were comprehensively evaluated and revealed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9865,"journal":{"name":"Cement & concrete composites","volume":"166 ","pages":"Article 106378"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145360580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bio-inspired jigsaw-interlocking suture interfaces for enhanced flexural response of 3D-printed strain-hardening cementitious composites (3DP-SHCC)","authors":"Shiping Li ,&nbsp;Yan Sun ,&nbsp;Ye Qian ,&nbsp;Wujun Chen ,&nbsp;Daxu Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaoniu Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106395","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106395","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The natural jigsaw-interlocking suture interfaces of the exoskeletal forewings (elytra) of the diabolical ironclad beetle, <em>Phloeodes diabolicus</em>, exhibit excellent mechanical response, enabling efficient load transfer and energy dissipation. Inspired by these natural jigsaw-interlocking suture interfaces, a groove structure with prefabricated interlocking sutures in 3D-printed Strain-Hardening Cementitious Composites (3DP-SHCC) was systematically studied to investigate the influence of suture geometries on load transfer efficiency, crack propagation paths, and failure modes, revealing the unique energy dissipation mechanism and exceptional deformation capacity of the jigsaw-interlocking suture. Experimental results show that bio-inspired jigsaw-interlocking sutures can significantly enhance flexural strength and energy dissipation, and delay suture interface failure through an interlocking mechanism. The optimized suture geometries (engagement angle = 25°; elliptical aspect ratio = 1.8) achieve synergistic optimization of flexural strength, ductility, and energy dissipation. Compared with its cast unjointed counterpart, specimen Y-A_25°G_1.8 retained 97.2 % of the flexural strength and 94.0 % of the total energy dissipation, indicating comparable mechanical performance without supplementary reinforcement. These findings challenge the conventional assumption that joints inherently compromise mechanical performance. The suture interface with nonlinear mechanical response provides a novel bio-inspired approach for the engineering joint design, holding significant application potential in the fields of earthquake resistance and prefabrication assembly.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9865,"journal":{"name":"Cement & concrete composites","volume":"166 ","pages":"Article 106395"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145478096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advancing energy savings and CO2 emission reductions in lightweight concrete with bio-based polyurethane phase change material for sustainable building applications","authors":"Muhammed Bayram ,&nbsp;Ercan Aydogmuş ,&nbsp;Osman Gencel ,&nbsp;Abid Ustaoğlu ,&nbsp;Ahmet Sarı ,&nbsp;Gökhan Hekimoğlu ,&nbsp;Selçuk Memiş ,&nbsp;Hasbi Yaprak ,&nbsp;Togay Ozbakkaloglu","doi":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106404","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106404","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Improving the energy efficiency of building materials is critical for reducing environmental impacts. This study develops and evaluates bio-based polyurethane composites (BPUCs) incorporating lauryl alcohol (LA) as a phase change material (PCM) for lightweight cementitious systems. The composites were synthesized from modified castor oil (MCO), commercial polyether polyol (CPP), and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), and systematically characterized to assess their thermal, mechanical, microstructural, and environmental performance. Differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, hardness, tensile, and thermal conductivity tests were performed, followed by outdoor thermal regulation testing using a full-scale cabin setup. Results show that increasing LA content improves bulk density (38.9–67.6 kg/m³), hardness (7.1–15.2), and thermal conductivity (0.026–0.038 W/m·K), while moderately reducing tensile strength (243–138 kPa) and strain (89–43 %). The optimized composite, BPUC-LA-6, achieved a latent heat storage of 127.8 J/g and enhanced thermal stability, with activation energy increasing from 108.47 to 164.13 kJ/mol. When incorporated into lightweight cementitious composites (BLWC3), the system reduced peak surface temperatures by up to 6.5 °C and maintained nighttime warmth by approximately 2 °C, confirming its effective thermal energy storage behavior. Energy simulations across different Turkish climate zones indicated heating energy reductions up to 60 % in severe climates, accompanied by proportional decreases in CO₂ emissions. The economic analysis showed annual savings between $0.65 and $4.39 per square meter depending on the heating source, with a payback period of 2–15 years. This work presents a scalable bio-based polyurethane–PCM system that integrates renewable materials with high PCM loading, offering a practical route to energy-efficient and low-carbon building materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9865,"journal":{"name":"Cement & concrete composites","volume":"166 ","pages":"Article 106404"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145567511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Layered double hydroxides-based binders: Performance, reaction mechanism, and thermodynamic modelling","authors":"Hamdy A. Abdel-Gawwad ,&nbsp;Tamino Hirsch ,&nbsp;Christian Lehmann ,&nbsp;Dietmar Stephan","doi":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106400","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106400","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The commercial viability of alkali-activated materials remains fundamentally constrained by the high variability and limited availability of traditional aluminosilicate precursors. Addressing this critical barrier requires the utilization of widely accessible, consistent feedstocks. Herein, we report the development of a novel layered double hydroxide (LDH)-based binder utilizing limestone powder (LP) as the primary precursor<strong>.</strong> This study presents the first systematic, year-long comparative investigation of binders incorporating monocarboaluminate (MCA-LDH) versus hydrotalcite (HT-LDH). An LP activated with sodium aluminate (NaAlO₂) solution produced an MCA-LDH binder with compressive strengths ranging from 23 to 78 MPa after one year, depending on the alkali dosage. Crucially, the substitution of 30 vol% of LP with reactive magnesia fundamentally altered the phase assemblage, suppressing MCA-LDH formation and promoting the development of the stable HT-LDH phase, a finding consistent with thermodynamic predictions and microstructural analysis. The long-term performance data reveal significant structural degradation in the MCA-LDH crystalline lattice over time, contrasting sharply with the superior stability of HT-LDH. It was found that the formation of pirssonite (Na₂CO₃⋅CaCO₃⋅2H₂O) is the primary mechanism driving the detrimental decrease in water availability and subsequent MCA-LDH crystalline deformation. This work, supported by integrated thermodynamic modeling, establishes a robust theoretical framework for elucidating the long-term phase transformation kinetics, and provides essential guidance for the design of durable LP-based alkali-activated systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9865,"journal":{"name":"Cement & concrete composites","volume":"166 ","pages":"Article 106400"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145553547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unraveling the multiscale enhancement mechanism of nano-Al2O3 on subzero-prepared alkali-activated slag paste","authors":"Jin Xu,&nbsp;Hongen Zhang,&nbsp;Qiang Ren,&nbsp;Wenting Li,&nbsp;Bei He,&nbsp;Zhengwu Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106418","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106418","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alkali-activated materials show promise for in-situ subzero preparation due to alkaline activators' lower freezing point. Nanomaterials offer potential to enhance mechanical performance, but their enhancement mechanisms under subzero require deeper systematic exploration. This study investigated the performance of alkali-activated slag paste (AASP) prepared in-situ over 20 °C to −20 °C and explored the modification mechanisms of nano-Al₂O₃ (NA) under subzero temperatures with MIP, TGA, SEM-EDS, and ²⁹Si NMR technologies. The study showed that the compressive strength of AASP significantly weakened, closely associated with the reduction in C-A-S-H content and the decline in polycondensation degree as the reaction temperature decreased. Furthermore, the pore structure deteriorated and carbonation intensified. NA had high reactivity, could provide additional aluminum phase through pozzolanic reaction, and also had a nucleation effect. AASP improved the production of C-A-S-H through the coupling of the above effects at the early stage of product formation. Appropriate NA of 0.5 wt% facilitated the formation and polycondensation of C-A-S-H and optimized the pore distribution, but excessive addition led to an increased proportion of large and harmful pores, primarily due to agglomeration effects. This study clarified the deterioration mechanisms of subzero-prepared AASP and the multiscale enhancement strategies using nanomaterials, establishing reaction process models that offer critical insights for engineering applications in cold climates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9865,"journal":{"name":"Cement & concrete composites","volume":"166 ","pages":"Article 106418"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145608871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel framework for realistic modelling of 3D mesostructure and fracture behaviour of recycled aggregate concrete","authors":"Yi Ding ,&nbsp;Sadjad Naderi ,&nbsp;Gert van der Heijden ,&nbsp;Mingzhong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106396","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106396","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) offers a sustainable alternative to natural aggregate concrete, while its meso-scale modelling is often limited by overly simplified geometries. This study presents a novel 3D computational framework using Voronoi tessellation and hierarchical clustering to realistically generate 3D mesostructure of RAC. The model equips six distinct phases including old aggregate, old mortar, new mortar, two interfacial transition zones (ITZs) and voids, and employs splining and scaling techniques to control morphology. It produces irregular recycled aggregates with realistic size distribution, volume fraction, old mortar content, and shape descriptors in terms of sphericity, roundness and convexity. Validation indicates consistence with experimental findings in terms of geometry and composition. 3D meso-scale modelling of fracture processes in RAC under uniaxial compression can accurately capture the crack initiation at old ITZs and shear-dominated failure. The proposed modelling framework offers a robust tool for understanding the mesostructure-mechanical property relationships in RAC and optimising material design of RAC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9865,"journal":{"name":"Cement & concrete composites","volume":"166 ","pages":"Article 106396"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145498724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydration time-dependent evolution of interfacial micromechanical behavior between magnesium potassium phosphate cement and cement concrete","authors":"Fei Liu ,&nbsp;Baomin Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaona Li ,&nbsp;Zengtao Chen ,&nbsp;Changjun Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106362","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106362","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the time-dependent evolution of the interfacial micromechanical properties between magnesium potassium phosphate cement (MPC) and ordinary Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavement is crucial for improving the structural performance after rapid repair. This study investigates the hydration time-dependent evolution of the interfacial mechanical behavior, chemical reactivity, and microstructural development between MPC and PCC interface by a multi-scale characterization approach, including nanoscratch testing, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), and Raman spectroscopy. Results demonstrated a rapid increase in scratch hardness and fracture toughness within the early hydration time of 6 h, indicating prompt strength development. At 3 d, scratch hardness and fracture toughness further increased, with ITZ-4 consistently exhibiting superior performance. Raman spectroscopy quantification revealed chemical stratification and progressive phosphate penetration, notably identifying <em>v</em>₁ and <em>v</em>₃ PO₄³⁻ vibrational peaks and amorphous phosphate species bridging the MPC and PCC phases. Phosphate penetration into the aggregate surface was observed as early as 6 h, while delayed and weaker interaction occurred at the OPC interface. SEM/EDS analysis confirmed phosphorus diffusion and dense hydration product formation across the interface. The development of interfacial strength was attributed to a synergistic mechanism combining chemical bonding via ion exchange, formation of magnesium phosphate hydrates, physical densification through crystallization, and microvoid filling by amorphous gels. I provide fundamental insight into the interfacial reinforcement mechanisms in MPC-based repair material, offering valuable guidance for optimizing rapid repair strategies in concrete infrastructure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9865,"journal":{"name":"Cement & concrete composites","volume":"166 ","pages":"Article 106362"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145255557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Decoupling early-age free shrinkage and restraint effects in 3D printed concrete using digital image correlation","authors":"Aniket Kumar Patel ,&nbsp;Avinaya Tripathi ,&nbsp;Ravi Kiran ,&nbsp;Manu Santhanam ,&nbsp;Gaurav Sant ,&nbsp;Narayanan Neithalath","doi":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106405","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106405","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>3D printed concrete (3DPC) undergoes substantial early-age shrinkage and cracking, driven by its formwork-free nature and high surface area-to-volume ratio that accelerates moisture loss. Measuring early-age deformations in 3DPC is complex because of the local heterogeneity caused by layering variations, overburden effects, print geometry, and the restraint effects that result in non-uniform volume changes. This paper utilizes Digital Image Correlation (DIC) to capture early-age (first 24 h) shrinkage deformations in 3D printed elements made using different binders, and with different layer and filament configurations. DIC-based surface strain measurements accurately capture the rapid volume change due to early drying, and the gradual plateauing as the mixture sets and hardens. The differences in restraint effects—both from the substrate as well as the layers and filaments—impose substantial differences in measured shrinkage. Hence, a novel framework is proposed here to quantify the multi-directional restraint effects, and to decouple them from the measured shrinkage. The result is the extraction of free shrinkage strains (geometry- and restraint independent) in 3DPC that is a function of the mixture design and exposure condition. The framework is validated for multiple layers and filaments with different dimensions as well. The approach, in conjunction with measurements of time-dependent elastic modulus, also allows for the determination of tensile stresses and thus the cracking propensity in in-place 3D printed concrete elements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9865,"journal":{"name":"Cement & concrete composites","volume":"166 ","pages":"Article 106405"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145560173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Design of sustainable cementitious systems incorporating layered double hydroxides with antimicrobial and photocatalytic properties","authors":"Dominika Konarska ,&nbsp;Olga Długosz ,&nbsp;Izabela Klapiszewska ,&nbsp;Adam Kubiak ,&nbsp;Anna Parus ,&nbsp;Agnieszka Ślosarczyk ,&nbsp;Jan Fořt ,&nbsp;Teofil Jesionowski ,&nbsp;Robert Černý ,&nbsp;Marcin Banach ,&nbsp;Łukasz Klapiszewski","doi":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106408","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106408","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Developing multifunctional cementitious composites that can address both structural and environmental challenges is essential for sustainable construction. In this study, Zn–Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) modified with Zr⁴⁺, Ni²⁺, Ti⁴⁺, and Cu²⁺ were synthesized and incorporated as admixtures (0.25–1.0 wt%) into CEM I 42.5R and CEM II B-V 42.5R systems. XRD and morphological analyses confirmed the presence of well-defined LDH phases. The diffraction peaks, indexed to the R-3m space group, corresponded closely to the hydrotalcite reference pattern (JCPDS No. 89–0460) at the following angles: 11.71° (003), 23.52° (006), 34.47° (102), 39.29° (105), and 46.87° (108).</div><div>Zn–Al–Ti (ZAT) LDH demonstrated outstanding dual functionality, enabling the rapid photocatalytic degradation of metronidazole under UV-LED irradiation, with &gt;95 % removal efficiency sustained over five reuse cycles. Additionally, ZAT exhibited complete antimicrobial activity at ≥0.75 wt%, preventing microbial colonization and enhancing long-term durability in humid or high-risk environments. Mechanical testing revealed that the Zn–Al–Zr (ZAZ) admixture significantly enhances compressive strength. In Series I, 0.25 wt% ZAZ achieved 34.6 MPa after 3 days and 56.8 MPa after 28 days, while 1.0 wt% ZAZ reached 32.1 and 64.5 MPa, respectively. In Series II, 0.75 wt% ZAZ reached 27.8 MPa at 3 days and 57.6 MPa at 28 days. Incorporating fly ash further improved performance by increasing porosity and internal light scattering.</div><div>These results demonstrate that LDH-modified cementitious composites are ideal for sewage pipelines, hospital wastewater channels, and other infrastructure that requires structural integrity and resistance to chemical and biological degradation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9865,"journal":{"name":"Cement & concrete composites","volume":"166 ","pages":"Article 106408"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145567513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}