Development of an innovative one part green concrete
Date Issued
February 2021
Abstract
Concrete is one of the most commonly used construction materials. However, the main drawbacks
in the use of concrete are related to the use of cement and subsequently the high percentage of
carbon dioxide emissions. The use of cement substitutes is an area where there is a lot of ongoing
research. Geopolymer concrete is a concrete in which cement is replaced by waste materials such
as Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA), or Ground Granulated Blast Slag (GGBS). To activate the
geopolymerisisation, an alkali activator is used. The procedure, which is used for the production of
a geopolymer concrete, is normally a two-part procedure: Preparation of the alkali activator one
day before the mixing and mixing of the aluminosilicate sources (PFA, GGBS) with the activator. To
make the production of geopolymers more user friendly it needs to be converted to one part
procedure where water will be added in a readymade mix. In the published literature, there is
research on one part geopolymers, but there are limited studies on the use of demolition waste
materials as substitution of PFA and GGBS in this type of materials. With the current study, different
sources of raw materials focusing on demolition waste materials such as red bricks and reclaimed
concrete, which are commonly used in constructions worldwide, will be examined for the
production of one part geopolymer. The major aim of this research proposal is to develop an
innovative sustainable one part cement free geopolymer concrete. The new concrete is a “green”
concrete where cement is replaced by waste materials. Construction demolition materials such as
red bricks can be used as raw materials in the geopolymer matrix. This project will focus on the
selection, characterisation and development of the appropriate processing of these red bricks so as
they can be used as raw materials in the geopolymer matrix. Also, the development of one part mix
so as the new concrete to be ready for use by adding only water in it, is another aim of the proposed
project.
in the use of concrete are related to the use of cement and subsequently the high percentage of
carbon dioxide emissions. The use of cement substitutes is an area where there is a lot of ongoing
research. Geopolymer concrete is a concrete in which cement is replaced by waste materials such
as Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA), or Ground Granulated Blast Slag (GGBS). To activate the
geopolymerisisation, an alkali activator is used. The procedure, which is used for the production of
a geopolymer concrete, is normally a two-part procedure: Preparation of the alkali activator one
day before the mixing and mixing of the aluminosilicate sources (PFA, GGBS) with the activator. To
make the production of geopolymers more user friendly it needs to be converted to one part
procedure where water will be added in a readymade mix. In the published literature, there is
research on one part geopolymers, but there are limited studies on the use of demolition waste
materials as substitution of PFA and GGBS in this type of materials. With the current study, different
sources of raw materials focusing on demolition waste materials such as red bricks and reclaimed
concrete, which are commonly used in constructions worldwide, will be examined for the
production of one part geopolymer. The major aim of this research proposal is to develop an
innovative sustainable one part cement free geopolymer concrete. The new concrete is a “green”
concrete where cement is replaced by waste materials. Construction demolition materials such as
red bricks can be used as raw materials in the geopolymer matrix. This project will focus on the
selection, characterisation and development of the appropriate processing of these red bricks so as
they can be used as raw materials in the geopolymer matrix. Also, the development of one part mix
so as the new concrete to be ready for use by adding only water in it, is another aim of the proposed
project.
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