Dear Colleagues,

The production of most building materials involves large energy inputs and often the emission of environmentally harmful greenhouse gases. Therefore, the construction industry is increasingly looking for new environmentally friendly materials and moving toward products based on waste materials in accordance with the principles of circular economy. Among these materials, special attention is being paid to the development of alternative polymer binders and wide-ranging polymer modifications, both modifying the durability of the binder and acting as fillers or aggregate materials. Therefore, topics of interest include but are not limited to the following: polymers as alternative cementitious binders; polymer modifications and nanomodifications of cementitious composites; recycling aggregates based on polymers and plastics; polymer fibers as reinforcements of building composites; biopolymer modifications of building materials; polymeric modifications of the surface of construction materials that increase material durability and provide them with new functionalities, such as antibacterial properties; and LCA assessment of polymer composites. The aim of this Special Issue is to present the latest research and advances in the aforementioned areas, particularly on the alternatives binders to cementitious materials and polymer modifications of cement-based materials. In addition, articles outlining the development and future prospects of this type of material, with a focus on life cycle assessment and the circular economy, are welcome. 

Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Ślosarczyk
Dr. Jan Fořt
Guest Editors

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• alkali-activated binders
• polymer-modified cement-based materials
• polymer fibers in building materials
• durability of building materials
• circular economy
• life cycle assessment