Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Building Materials for Green and Sustainable Development

Materials (Basel). 2020 Dec 14;13(24):5699. doi: 10.3390/ma13245699.

Abstract

This study reports on formulations and conditions for producing fly ash-based geopolymers with a view to showing that the compressive strength required for construction applications can be obtained without the addition of aggregates, sand, and/or cement. It was shown in a series of experiments constituting at least 73% fly ash that a compressive strength of up to 90 MPa can be obtained depending on the curing conditions. While high alkalinity resulted in stronger materials, the results showed about 40% savings in CO2 emissions without using sand and cement. Such materials are suited for construction applications with minimal environmental impact.

Keywords: carbon dioxide; compressive strength; construction; fly ash; geopolymer.