Maosen Li, Fan Xu, Shuo Chang, Lu Wang, Jun Wang, Liang Li, Xinhua Cai, Shuhua Liu
High-strength and rapid-hardening alkali-activated cementitious materials (AACs) offer a sustainable alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). This study developed ternary AACs using one-step activation of copper slag (CS), fly ash (FA), and granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS), focusing on their fresh properties, mechanical performance, and carbonation durability. CS incorporation enhanced slurry fluidity and delayed hardening, while the optimized mix (AAC30, 30 wt % CS) achieved a final setting time of 130 min and a 1-day compressive strength of 30.9 MPa. Accelerated carbonation reduced pore solution alkalinity, transformed N(C)–A–S–H gels into calcite, and coarsened the pore structure, leading to strength loss with higher CS contents. Life cycle assessment revealed a cradle-to-gate global warming potential of 265.8 kg CO 2 -equiv/t for AAC30, representing a 72.31% reduction compared to OPC. The cost index was 3.5 $/m 3 /MPa, higher than OPC but competitive relative to other alkali-activated binders. These findings highlight a viable pathway to low-carbon, rapid-repair AACs that balance performance, durability, and sustainability.