Irradiated, Plastic-Reinforced Concrete

Devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are generally directed to building material including particles of a polymer in an irradiated form, a cement including calcium oxide, and at least one additive including silicon dioxide. In cement paste formed from a mixture of these components, the polymer in the irradiated form may decrease porosity as compared to porosity of cement paste formed without the polymer, and a combination of the silicon dioxide and the calcium oxide may form high-density phases in the cement paste. With these characteristics, such cement paste may exhibit at least the same compressive strength as cement paste formed from the cement by itself. Thus, in certain instances, the particles of the polymer may displace a portion of the cement in a manner that maintains compressive strength while facilitating reduction of greenhouse gas emissions associated with cement paste formation.