A review on selected durability parameters on performance of geopolymers containing industrial by-products, agro-wastes and natural pozzolan

Abstract

The applications of geopolymers as cementitious systems are becoming an alternative source of cement daily. The use of potentially suitable aluminosilicate inorganic waste materials in-corporated with agro-industrial waste in the production of suitable geopolymer binders has been reported. Calcined clay and some agro-waste ash, such as coconut shells, are examples of aluminosilicate materials that exhibit strong pozzolanic activity because of their high sili-ca-alumina composition. The pozzolanic reaction is primarily caused by the amorphous silica present in properly burned agricultural waste and clay. Based on a variety of available literature on concrete and mortar including geopolymers synthesized from the by-product and agro-in-dustrial waste and natural pozzolan, a critical review of raw materials and the mechanism of synthesis of the geopolymer has been outlined in this work. Also, a brief review of the durability characteristics of this geopolymer concrete and mortar has been done. These include resistance to chloride, corrosion, sulphate and acid attack, depth of carbonation, thermal per-formance, Creep and drying shrinkage.