The overexploitation of natural sands has become a pressing issue that must be addressed urgently. Aeolian sand (AS) has drawn great attention as a promising alternative material. However, their concentrated gradation, small particle size, and poor adhesion with cementitious materials pose scientific and technological challenges to fully exploit AS resources as the sole fine aggregate. Herein, the low molecular weight hyperbranched polyvinylimide (HPEI) was adopted as a crosslinker to create an AS-HPEI-hydration product network in the aeolian sand concrete (ASC), leading to significant enhancements in both flexural and compressive properties. Furthermore, profiting from the robust crosslinking reaction and film-filling effect, ASC reinforced by 1% HPEI possessed a more compact microstructure and interfacial transition zone, which was beneficial to enhance the pore structures. This innovative approach has significant potential to enhance the mechanical properties of ASC and effectively boost the utilization rate of AS in construction materials, which offers a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative solution.
Wang et al. (Thu,) studied this question.