Durability of Reinforced Concrete Containing Biochar and Recycled Polymers

Abstract

In the field of sustainable construction materials, the production of eco-friendly concretes, obtained by the addition of waste products such as biochar and recycled polymer particles, offers interesting alternatives to traditional materials. Biochar is a carbonaceous solid by-product obtained from the thermo-chemical conversion of biomass and its addition into concrete admixtures can offer an eco-friendly carbon sequestration solution, capable to slightly improve concrete properties. Recycled polymer materials can be used to partially replace conventional aggregates with the aim of obtaining lighter concretes that help to face the disposal challenge presented by this non-degradable plastic waste. However, the influence of these waste additions on the corrosion behavior of steel rebars embedded in these “eco-concretes” is still unexplored. Within this context, this work presents some results of an extensive study dealing with the concrete mechanical and physical properties and the rebar corrosion resistance during cyclic exposures to chloride-containing solutions.