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This paper describes research on the synergistic effect of nano–SiO2 (NS) and spent fluid catalytic cracking catalyst (FCCCw) in cement pastes’ pozzolanicity. Binary and ternary blended cement pastes containing 0.02% of NS and 5–20% of FCCCw were investigated. Hydration at early age followed using semi-adiabatic calorimetry. The macroscale properties were assessed by measuring density, ultrasonic pulse velocity and compressive strength. The microstructures were analysed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The results are consistent among the different techniques and materials’ levels and show that a small NS content promotes a marked synergistic enhancement of the pozzolanic reaction.

This paper is aimed to show the impact of bitumen roofing production waste (BTw) on the properties of cement mortars in terms of mineral composition, microstructure, setting rate, physical and mechanical properties and durability (water absorption, freeze-thaw resistance). To this aim, mortar specimens were manufactured by replacing 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% of natural sand by weight with BTw. The main results show that BTw slightly accelerates cement hydration and 4% is the best content of BTw to be valorised in mortars. In this case, compressive strength, density and ultrasound pulse velocity are comparable to the control mortar (0% BTw content) but capillary water absorption decreases and flexural strength increases. Moreover, at this dosage, the forecasted freeze-thaw resistance of mortars increases considerably (~30%).