Chee Ban Cheah

Chapter 11 – An Overview on the Influence of Various Factors on the Properties of Geopolymer Concrete Derived From Industrial Byproducts

In recent years, the rapid growth in research and development related to geopolymer binders has indeed indicated that the use of geopolymers offers the greatest potential in solving both the environmental degradation, i.e., carbon footprint, related to the use of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) as primary binder material in the construction industry, and waste management problems related to the aluminosilicate solid waste materials generated from various industries. Results of recent studies are indicative that geopolymer concrete fabricated using various industrial byproducts exhibited similar or better mechanical, physical, and durability properties as compared to OPC concrete. This chapter presents a concise review of the current studies on the utilization of industrial byproducts as the primary binder materials in the fabrication of geopolymer concrete and its environmental impact in comparison with OPC concrete. The effects of a number of major factors such as the use of chemical activator, postfabrication curing regime, particle-size distribution of source materials, and aggressive environment exposure on the mechanical strength, physical properties, microstructures, and durability properties of the geopolymer concrete are exhaustively deliberated. Besides, the current material design, fabrication procedures, and postfabrication treatment procedures were rigorously reviewed to identify the limitations of the current geopolymer technology that impede its wide implementation in the construction industry. It has been identified that the high alkaline-activator content in the material design and requirement for elevated temperature treatment of the contemporary geopolymeric binder are among the major factors in contributing towards the carbon footprint of geopolymer concrete. A proper life-cycle assessment of geopolymer concrete is warranted. Beside, numerous strategies were proposed to overcome the current limitations of the geopolymer technology to achieving a truly low-carbon concrete material status and ultimately its implementation in actual industrial applications.