Recycled Brick Powder as Sustainable Supplementary Cementitious Material: A Review

This paper investigates the potential of recycled brick powder as a sustainable alternative for partial replacement of Portland cement in cement composites. Given the significant impact of the cement industry on global CO₂ emissions, finding environmentally friendly solutions has become a key goal in the construction industry. Recycled brick powder, as a secondary material, demonstrates considerable pozzolanic activity and the potential to reduce the environmental footprint of cement production. A systematic literature review indicates that replacing cement with recycled brick powder in the range of 10–20% improves the mechanical properties of concrete as well as some durability related properties, due to the potential pozzolanic reactivity of the brick powder particles while also contributing to the reduction of construction and demolition waste disposal. However, higher replacement levels (>25%) result in a reduction of  rheological properties due to relatively high water absorption and irregular shape of particles,  and may negatively affect mechanical performance. This paper provides insights into the various aspects of using recycled brick powder in cement-based composites, contributing to waste reduction and enhancing the sustainability of construction materials.