Preliminary evaluation of local mineral additions (by-products or wastes) valorisation in innovative cementitious composites

Romania’s recent joining of the European family implies a fast upgrading of all evaluation references for every direction concerning life evolution and society development, in close correlation with the European ones. In accordance with the European strategies, implemented starting with 2000, sustainability is set as a key priority, governing all further development axes. Innovation, one of the foundation pillars of durability (environmental protection and non-renewable resources management) can be successfully implemented in all fields of activity. For instance, the path to a sustainable infrastructure could include innovative building materials, designed and developed by means of new technologies and of the latest information, as well as the use of additions (industrial waste / by-products), which could contribute to the improvement of their characteristics and performance. The aim of this paper is to present a general overview of the scientific demarches developed in the topic of Material Science, where innovation is achieved by identifying the re-conversion options for wastes and by-products from industrial processes, as mineral additions for cement-based composites.