Alkali-Activated Granulated Aggregates from Low-Quality Fly Ash and Basalt Dust: Effect of Sodium Silicate/NaOH Activator Chemistry and Accelerated Carbonation Krzysztof Granatyr, Małgorzata Franus, Katarzyna Kalinowska-Wichrowska, Adam Masłoń Materials, 2026 This study examined alkali-activated granular aggregates produced from biomass fly ash, coal fly ash, and basalt dust. The work focused on multicomponent industrial waste mixtures activated with two sodium silicate-based systems and on the effect of carbonation curing on aggregate properties. Twelve designed mixtures and reference series were evaluated in terms of particle density, water absorption, and mechanical performance. The response to carbonation was also analysed to assess the potential for CO2 uptake. Mechanical performance ranged from low to moderate and depended on mixture composition, activator type, and carbonation treatment. In most cases, the blended activator produced higher strength before carbonation than sodium silicate alone, whereas carbonation frequently reduced strength. Mixtures containing more basalt dust and less biomass fly ash generally showed the most favourable combination of properties. The results indicate that these industrial mineral wastes can be used to produce alkali-activated granular aggregates with adjustable properties, while carbonation curing may additionally contribute to phase changes and limited CO2 binding.
Optimization and Performance Evaluation of Multi-Component Binder-Based Mortars Using Particle Packing Techniques Vanga Renuka, Sarella Venkateswara Rao, Tezeswi Tadepalli, Katarzyna Kalinowska-Wichrowska, Krzysztof Granatyr, et al. Materials, 2026 The use of a multi-component binder (MCB), consisting of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) combined with one or more supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), has gained prominence for enhancing sustainability and improving the performance of cementitious systems. This study provides an integrated approach to optimize both binder composition and aggregate gradation through advanced mixture design and particle packing techniques. The MCB system consists of OPC partially replaced with SCMs such as fly ash (FA), Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS), metakaolin (MK), and silica fume (SF), with particle sizes ranging from micron to sub-micron scale. The D-optimal mixture design (DOD) method is used to determine the optimal material proportions by evaluating the relation between binder composition and wet packing density measured through the wet packing method (WPM). To further enhance packing efficiency, the Modified Toufar Model (MTM) is employed to optimize fine aggregate gradation. The maximum packing density is considered the primary criterion for identifying the optimal mix design, as it reflects the minimum void ratio and the most efficient particle size distribution. The optimized mortar mixes are evaluated for mechanical strength, pozzolanic reactivity, capillary water sorptivity, and drying shrinkage. Results indicate that the optimized MCB and optimized fine aggregate gradation improve the packing density and pozzolanic activity, significantly enhancing strength and durability performance. The incorporation of SCMs offers an effective strategy to improve performance while mitigating carbon emissions. Compared with C100, CFGMS-based systems achieved energy reductions of 35–40% and CO2 emission reductions of 34–48%.
Properties of Eco-Friendly Cement Composites Made with Recycled Cement Mortar-Based Artificial Aggregates Katarzyna Kalinowska-Wichrowska, Edyta Pawluczuk, Krzysztof Granatyr, Małgorzata Franus, Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, et al. Materials, 2025 Artificial aggregates (AAs) are man-made construction materials, and their properties greatly depend on their manufacturing process (e.g., granulation and hardening) and the raw materials used. The conducted research aimed to determine the most advantageous composition of artificial aggregates prepared based on three wastes simultaneously: municipal waste incineration ash (MWIA), sediment from the bottom of a water reservoir (SBWR), recycled cement mortar (RCM)- which was the main waste. A production process of such aggregates was also developed, with the setting of the hardening temperature (20 °C, 200 °C, 400 °C). The X-ray diffractometry (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the waste. Then, the properties of cementitious composites prepared with artificial aggregate with the best strength parameters of 0–100% of the natural aggregate were determined. Carbon footprint calculations were performed for the production of artificial aggregate, depending on its composition and for cementitious composites.
Adhesion analysis between geopolymer and mineral-asphalt composite Krzsztof Granatyr Budownictwo I Architektura, 2025 The article presents research on the influence of the variable composition of geopolymer concrete on its ability to bond with asphalt concrete. The experimental variables included the proportion of mortar in the geopolymer concrete, the molarity of NaOH in the activator, and the thickness of the geopolymer layer in the road composite. The curing conditions remained constant. Tests were conducted to evaluate interlayer adhesion using the Leutner method, as well as compressive strength, shrinkage, and temperature deformation. The obtained results confirm the interlayer bonding values in each tested case. The interlayer adhesion test was performed according to a three-factor experimental design at three levels of variability. The factors considered were: geopolymer layer thickness (15, 30, 45 mm), molar concentration of NaOH in the activator (8, 10, 12 mol/L), and mortar content in geopolymer concrete (45%, 55%, 65%). All factors significantly influenced interlayer adhesion. The shrinkage of the geopolymer and mineral-asphalt composite was lower than that of geopolymer concrete. Additionally, deformation at both low and high temperatures was lower in the geopolymer and mineral-asphalt composite.
Alkali-Activated Granulated Aggregates from Low-Quality Fly Ash and Basalt Dust: Effect of Sodium Silicate/NaOH Activator Chemistry and Accelerated Carbonation K Granatyr, M Franus, K Kalinowska-Wichrowska, A Masłoń Materials 19 (10), 2026 , 2026 2026
The Influence of the Water–Cement Ratio on the Mechanical Properties of Cement Mortars with the Addition of Sewage Sludge Biochar K Kalinowska-Wichrowska, M Kosior-Kazberuk, K Granatyr, ... International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials 20 (1), 37 , 2026 2026
Optimization and Performance Evaluation of Multi-Component Binder-Based Mortars Using Particle Packing Techniques V Renuka, SV Rao, T Tadepalli, K Kalinowska-Wichrowska, K Granatyr, ... Materials 19 (5), 1024 , 2026 2026 Citations: 2
Properties of Eco-Friendly Cement Composites Made with Recycled Cement Mortar-Based Artificial Aggregates K Kalinowska-Wichrowska, E Pawluczuk, K Granatyr, M Franus, ... Materials 18 (22), 5115 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Analiza właściwości fizyczno-mechanicznych kompozytów geopolimerowych z zastosowaniem kruszyw z recyklingu betonu K Kalinowska-Wichrowska, K Granatyr, AS Nowak, C Fleming, H Jackson Builder 29 , 2025 2025
Wpływ zróżnicowanego składu kompozytu geopolimerowego na adhezję z kompozytem asfaltowym K Granatyr, M Bołtryk, K Kalinowska-Wichrowska, P Szeligowski Materiały Budowlane , 2023 2023
Ecological aspects in the application of geopolymer composites on road surfaces M Bołtryk, K Granatyr, N Stankiewicz Ekonomia i Środowisko, 193-202 , 2019 2019 Citations: 8
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Ecological aspects in the application of geopolymer composites on road surfaces M Bołtryk, K Granatyr, N Stankiewicz Ekonomia i Środowisko, 193-202 , 2019 2019 Citations: 8
Optimization and Performance Evaluation of Multi-Component Binder-Based Mortars Using Particle Packing Techniques V Renuka, SV Rao, T Tadepalli, K Kalinowska-Wichrowska, K Granatyr, ... Materials 19 (5), 1024 , 2026 2026 Citations: 2
Properties of Eco-Friendly Cement Composites Made with Recycled Cement Mortar-Based Artificial Aggregates K Kalinowska-Wichrowska, E Pawluczuk, K Granatyr, M Franus, ... Materials 18 (22), 5115 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Alkali-Activated Granulated Aggregates from Low-Quality Fly Ash and Basalt Dust: Effect of Sodium Silicate/NaOH Activator Chemistry and Accelerated Carbonation K Granatyr, M Franus, K Kalinowska-Wichrowska, A Masłoń Materials 19 (10), 2026 , 2026 2026
The Influence of the Water–Cement Ratio on the Mechanical Properties of Cement Mortars with the Addition of Sewage Sludge Biochar K Kalinowska-Wichrowska, M Kosior-Kazberuk, K Granatyr, ... International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials 20 (1), 37 , 2026 2026
Analiza właściwości fizyczno-mechanicznych kompozytów geopolimerowych z zastosowaniem kruszyw z recyklingu betonu K Kalinowska-Wichrowska, K Granatyr, AS Nowak, C Fleming, H Jackson Builder 29 , 2025 2025
Wpływ zróżnicowanego składu kompozytu geopolimerowego na adhezję z kompozytem asfaltowym K Granatyr, M Bołtryk, K Kalinowska-Wichrowska, P Szeligowski Materiały Budowlane , 2023 2023