Il calcestruzzo fotoluminescente. L’innovazione materica applicata alle infrastrutture viarie

All over the world in 2019 the production of cement and concrete increased: this positive trend differs within the world panorama; China is the largest user of these materials with over 50% of consumption and in Europe and in Italy, with concrete still have a great demand. For the production of this binder and conglomerate, the demand for raw materials from extraction is very high, reaching a percentage of over 60% for concrete aggregates only. As a possible solution to this great material demand, research has been carried out over the years for the use of recycled materials. This replacement is now a common practice that sees the use of recycled aggregates in the packaging of new concretes. The use of recycled aggregates throughout history has always proved to be a useful tool for material demand. Today this practice is regulated and set between national and international objectives, preferring a circular economy based on the minimum waste. The research carried out for the re-use of secondary raw materials have contributed to the development of many innovations, in particular the product with new concretes with specific characteristics derived from the inclusion of secondary raw materials of different nature. One of the most interesting product innovations is photoluminescent concrete. This is achieved by mixing binders, recycled aggregates, water and recycled glass. This particular composition, following a thermal process, gives the concrete the physical phenomenon of phosphorescence, allowing this conglomerate to absorb solar radiation and release it after hours in the form of a natural light source. Thanks to this characteristic, in Europe, cycle paths have been created with the use of this conglomerate. It would find a potential application for pavements and urban components such as highway or airplane runway with a relevant contribution in term of environmental benefit.