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Mechanisms and design of fully carbonated recycled aggregate concrete enabling low-carbon, circular construction

Objective

The worldwide rapid urbanisation and ageing concrete infrastructures are driving the demand for natural aggregates and cement (major global CO2 contributors) for concrete production. Despite adequate performance of recycled aggregates (RA), persistent quality concerns keep confidence low, limiting circularity in construction. Project RECO2-CONC will respond to these issues on multiple levels by taking the technology a step forward in fully carbonated recycled aggregate concrete (FCRAC) with 100% carbonated recycled coarse/fine aggregates (CRCA/CRFA) and partially replacing cement with carbonated recycled powder (CRP). Existing studies have yet to demonstrate the combined physico-chemical impacts of carbonation on RA and recycled powder, how to optimise them in new concrete, and to define industrial upscaling measures, all of which are key barriers to large-scale high-quality RA use, fully tackled here. The four main objectives of the project are:
(i) Quantification of CRCA/CRFA morphology together with grading/packing controlling porosity evolution and pore network reconstruction;
(ii) Evaluation of CaCO₃ polymorph and carbonation status effect on cement hydration kinetics, thereby governing interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and pore structure evolution;
(iii) Integration of (i) and (ii) to build predictive models linking microscopic parameters with macroscopic performance;
(iv) Quantification of the carbon balance using life-cycle analysis and low-carbon modelling, together with resource-efficiency and circularity metrics.
By pairing CO2 utilisation with full waste concrete recycling, RECO2-CONC will reduce natural aggregates and cement demand significantly, advance the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan. The applicant’s international network and skills will be expanded, yielding high-impact outputs and targeted training that strengthen employability in academia and industry.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF

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Coordinator

INSTITUTO SUPERIOR TECNICO
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 207 183,12
Address
AVENIDA ROVISCO PAIS 1
1049 001 Lisboa
Portugal

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Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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