The construction sector faces the dual challenge of reducing energy consumption and mitigating the environmental burden of construction and demolition waste (CDW). Geopolymers offer a low-carbon alternative to Portland cement, yet their performance depends strongly on precursor composition. This study presents an extensive investigation of precursor chemistry, mechanical performance and phase composition, focusing on the partial substitution of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) with mechanically activated CDW powder (15% and 30% by weight) alongside fly ash (FA). The oxide composition, amorphous content and particle size distribution were analyzed, using XRF, XRD and laser diffraction to evaluate the reactivity. Mortar samples were subsequently synthesized and tested for compressive and flexural strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, density and porosity. The results demonstrate that while mechanically activated CDW incorporation decreases early strength compared with GGBFS-rich systems, compressive strengths above 45 MPa were attained at 28 days, with continuous improvement to >69 MPa for aged composites. The relationship between precursor chemistry, precursor sizes and mechanical performance highlights the feasibility of CDW valorization in geopolymer binders, contributing to energy efficiency, circular economy strategies and sustainable construction materials.
Sitarz et al. (Tue,) studied this question.