Enhanced mechanical and durability properties of alkali-activated composites through the use waste tire aggregates, brick powder, and marble powder

This study examines the mechanical and durability performance of alkali-activated composites incorporating waste brick powder (BP), waste tire aggregate (WTA), and waste marble powder (WMP). Blast furnace slag was partially replaced with 15% BP, while WMP was substituted with 0–100% WTA. Specimens were thermally cured at 50 °C and 75 °C. Increasing curing temperature improved compressive strength by up to 32.7%, reaching 62.18 MPa in BP-containing mixtures without WTA. At 25% WTA, BP addition increased compressive strength by 58–67% compared to BP-free mixes. Full WTA replacement reduced strength to 7–11 MPa. BP incorporation decreased porosity from 14.17 to 10.49% and reduced water absorption by up to 28% at moderate WTA levels. Durability was highest in mixtures containing 25% WTA, showing reduced sulfate-induced strength loss (≈20–25%) and improved thermal stability up to 400 °C. Optimized BP–WTA combinations enable durable and eco-efficient alkali-activated composites.