par Wang, Qinjian
Président du jury Massart, Thierry Jacques
Promoteur Snoeck, Didier
Publication Non publié, 2026-03-30
Thèse de doctorat
Résumé : Global warming and related climate issues have become some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity today, and carbon neutrality is widely regarded as one of the ultimate goals for nations and research communities alike. In the field of infrastructure, the enormous consumption of construction materials is a key concern. Among them, cement is one of the most energy- and water-intensive products, while also being responsible for a significant share of global CO₂ emissions, ranking among the highest-emitting industrial products. As a result, the search for low-carbon and sustainable alternatives has become a central focus of research in civil engineering materials. Sulfur concrete has recently re-emerged as a promising candidate for replacing conventional cement concrete. The renewed research interest stems not only from its potential to reduce carbon emissions on Earth but also from its relevance to space exploration. Recent findings indicate that the lunar surface contains abundant sulfur deposits, and Mars itself is largely composed of sulfur-bearing minerals. This suggests that, through in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), sulfur could be employed as a construction binder for extraterrestrial human habitats. Sulfur concrete is produced by heating sulfur to its melting point (approximately 120 °C), mixing it with aggregates, and allowing it to cool and solidify. This process generates far fewer carbon emissions than traditional cement production, requires no water, and allows the material to achieve more than 90% of its ultimate strength within 24 hours. Furthermore, sulfur concrete exhibits excellent resistance to acid corrosion. These advantages render it highly attractive for both terrestrial applications aimed at carbon reduction and extraterrestrial applications for long-term human settlement. Nonetheless, sulfur concrete also suffers from limitations. During solidification, volumetric shrinkage may cause microcracking and reduce strength, while the material also displays relatively poor resistance to thermal cycling. The core objective of this doctoral dissertation is therefore to address the cracking problem of sulfur concrete through two complementary approaches: (i) replacing aggregates to enhance thermal cycling resistance, and (ii) incorporating carbon- and steel-based additives to enable microwave and induction heating for crack healing if cracking would occur in sulfur concrete. A comprehensive series of experiments and characterization techniques was conducted, complementing each other, and demonstrating significant improvements in both thermal cycling resistance and microwave- and induction heating-based self-healing capabilities of sulfur concrete, which was carried out for the first time in literature. In conclusion, this dissertation establishes a solid foundation for considering sulfur concrete as a smart and sustainable construction material of the future, offering potential benefits not only for reducing carbon emissions on Earth but also for enabling construction in extraterrestrial environments. It shows that sulfur concrete is able to heal itself efficiently and repeatedly, offering a promising construction material for the future in specific applications.

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