Sustainable Construction Materials: Process, Structure, and Properties

The transportation and construction industries consume large volumes of engineering materials at a high cost annually, mainly due to the weight, production, and raw materials cost. Furthermore, even though these industries contribute to economic and social development, enhancing both the standard of and quality of life, they are also associated with environmental deterioration. To counter the environmental impact, advances have been made in both the processing and production of new engineering materials. For example, the development of lightweight insulated panels for refrigerated vehicles to address the issue of weight and high thermal conductivity which increases fuel consumption and by extension the environmental footprint. Also of interest is the trolley wire used in the rail sector, typically made of copper alloyed with cadmium and beryllium, that is not only toxic in nature but associated with the loss of electrical power over long distance transmissions. Alternative and environmentally benign materials must be developed to address cases like these.



There is a strong correlation between processing conditions, the (micro-)structure, and the final properties of engineering materials. It is therefore important that these correlations are carefully studied to optimize the materials performance and application. This is especially critical for the introduction of novel advanced materials, where their uptake will be facilitated by confident understanding of their behavior under different conditions and their design-limiting properties.

The aim of this Research Topic is to publish the latest work in advanced engineering materials that have low-cost and are lightweight, such that they are suitable for application in the construction and transportation industries. A particular focus will be placed on the processing techniques and how these influence the material structure and performance.



We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:

• Development of super alloys, composites, and advanced ceramics

• Influence of processing methods on the material structure and properties

• Application of advanced engineering materials in the transportation and construction industries

• Cost analysis and/or effectiveness of the process of production

• Techno-economic and life cycle analysis of advanced engineering materials

• Computation methods and modelling of engineering materials.

Keywords: advanced engineering materials, lightweight, low cost, process, transportation and construction industries, cost analysis

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.