Engineering Geopolymers for Sustainable Construction: From Synthesis to Performance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66224/Keywords:
life-cycle assessment, Portland cement replacement, aluminosilicate polymers, sustainable construction materials, geopolymersAbstract
Because of the large amount of CO₂ emissions associated with its production, ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is gradually replaced by more eco-friendly binders, among which geopolymers are the most promising. This review highlights the most important features of geopolymer cements, the production of which uses aluminosilicate precursors, mainly metakaolin, fly ash, blast furnace slag, and various agricultural wastes, cured at a temperature below 100°C. The review discusses the chemical composition, nanostructure, mechanical performance, and durability of geopolymers, as well as their CO₂ footprint, comparing them to OPC. It was found that geopolymers have a unique amorphous aluminosilicate binder formed by cross-linked SiO₄ and AlO₄ tetrahedra, whereas the OPC binder consists of calcium-silicate-hydrate gel. The formation of a geopolymer’s nanostructure allows achieving compressive strengths of 20 MPa after 4 h and 100 MPa after 28 days. Geopolymers are resistant to acid attack, alkali-silica reaction, high temperatures, and permeability. Moreover, the carbon footprint of fly ash- and slag-based geopolymer concrete can be as low as 70% lower than that of OPC concrete. Nevertheless, due to the need for further research into their behavior in natural conditions, geopolymers currently cannot be recommended as a binder for large-scale construction projects.
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