Sustainable road paving: Enhancing concrete paver blocks with zeolite-enhanced cement

The present investigation assesses the impact of zeolite-enhanced sustainable cement (ZESC), a product achieved through the blending and grinding of clinker, gypsum, and varying percentages of natural zeolite (6, 10, and 15%). While the existing research has mainly concentrated on substituting ordinary Portland Cement with natural or synthetic zeolite, a critical research gap persists in using this manufactured cement in nontraditional building materials. Addressing this gap, our investigation assesses the durability and mechanical properties of concrete paver blocks manufactured by ZESC, particularly crucial for road paving applications. Comprehensive evaluations of hardened properties were conducted, including compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, abrasion resistance, and water absorption. In addition, the impact of ZESC on the fresh properties of concrete paver blocks was examined. The findings reveal that a 15% N.Z. inclusion in ZESC production results in an optimal mix design, leading to a remarkable increase in compressive strength and splitting tensile strength by 24 and 25%, respectively. It reduces water absorption and abrasion resistance by 80 and 7.8%, respectively, compared to O.P.C. cement concrete paver blocks. It is noteworthy that the addition of natural zeolite to ZESC mixtures led to an increased water demand. Notably, the integration of natural zeolite significantly reduces the environmental impact of cement production, promoting a sustainable shift by minimizing cement clinker. The study employs microstructural analysis, supported by scanning electron microscopic images, revealing a significant reduction in microcracks and enhanced cohesiveness, particularly at the aggregate-cemented paste interface in ZESC mixes.