A review of recent trends in sustainable biopolymer-integrated concrete and its impact on mechanical performance and structural reliability.

The integration of sustainable biopolymers into concrete has emerged as a promising approach to enhance mechanical properties, environmental performance, and long-term structural reliability. Conventional concrete, while globally prevalent, faces significant challenges such as high carbon emissions, cracking, and limited durability under aggressive environmental conditions. Biopolymers-derived from natural sources including polysaccharides, proteins, lignin, and synthetic biodegradable polymers-offer eco-friendly, multifunctional reinforcement capable of improving hydration dynamics, reducing shrinkage, and refining interfacial transition zones (ITZs). This review critically examines recent advancements in biopolymer-modified concrete, with a focus on molecular-level mechanisms of interaction, influence on pore structure, and modifications in setting behavior. The impact of biopolymers on key mechanical properties such as compressive strength, tensile behavior, flexural resistance, fracture toughness, and microcrack mitigation is thoroughly explored. Furthermore, the review highlights how biopolymer integration improves structural reliability through enhanced corrosion resistance, freeze-thaw stability, and resistance to chloride and sulfate ingress. The degradation behavior of biopolymers and its implications on long-term durability are discussed alongside the role of machine learning and computational modeling in predicting service life. Finally, the review outlines the future potential of biopolymer-engineered concretes in achieving circular construction practices while maintaining high-performance standards in civil infrastructure.

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