Combining Mineral and Polymer Binder Material Science for Sustainability in Construction and Restoration

Abstract The study of microstructure formation in polymer-cement concrete provides opportunities to exploit synergetic actions between cement and polymer, leading to performance improvement and to a wide range of new and innovative properties and applications. Polymers can reduce the impact of construction industry on environment, by decreasing the carbon footprint of cement and concrete production. Renovation and restoration, largely figuring in the concept of sustainable construction development, thank their growing share in construction activity to the input of polymers in repair and binder materials and in rehabilitation procedures. The study of ancient binders and mortars reveals aspects of the origins of the observed long lasting durability of those ancient mortars. It also reveals the interaction mechanisms between carbonation of air hardening components and hydration of hydraulic components, which in turn helps to develop chemical activation methods (i.e. alkaline activation) to improve the hydraulic properties of pozzolans and industrial residues to develop inorganic polymers (i.e. geopolymers) for eventually full replacement of cement in binders.