Effect of mono-ethylene glycol on hydration and mechanical properties of waste glass replacement cement composites

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable construction materials has highlighted the need to utilize industrial by-products as supplementary cementitious materials (SCM). In particular, waste glass (WG) has attracted attention due to its abundance. However, its low reactivity and large particle size limit practical applications in cementitious systems. To address this limitation, this study investigates the feasibility of using mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) as a grinding agent to enhance both the ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and pozzolanic reactivities of WG. The research focuses on improving the hydration performance and mechanical properties of WG-substituted OPC composites while simultaneously promoting resource recycling and reducing CO2 emissions. Experimental results demonstrate that MEG induces subtle modifications in the hydration behavior of OPC and significantly increases the pozzolanic activity of WG, leading to greater calcium silicate hydrate formation and pore structure refinement. Remarkably, the incorporation of only 0.05 % MEG achieved superior compressive strength at both 1 and 28 days compared to 100 % OPC samples. These findings suggest that the proposed approach provides an efficient and eco-friendly strategy for enhancing WG recycling rates and lowering the embodied CO2 emissions of cement-based materials.