The Use of Ground Recycled Concrete Cement as an Eco-Friendly Alternative Cement Material in Mortar Production

Concrete is a significant construction material, with a 25% increase in production by 2030. However, rapid industrialization and urbanization have made it non-sustainable due to the use of ordinary Portland cement (OPC). OPC production requires extensive energy and resources and causes greenhouse gas emissions. To promote sustainable development, the construction industry is now seeking alternative raw materials, like reusing waste from infrastructure and buildings. The use of recycled cement as a substitute for OPC has been the subject of recent research. Considering this, the main goal of this study was to determine how using ground recycled concrete cement (GRC) as a partial cement substitution affects the fresh, mechanical, microstructure, and durability properties of mortar. To achieve this goal, several tests were performed after a thorough preliminary analysis. GRC particles lack smoothness and have irregular edges, affecting mortar workability. Nonetheless, the 10% replacement improves mechanical and durability performance and has comparable structural compactness to reference mortar, particularly for the latter ages.