Alternative activators in alkali-activated cements

Abstract

Alkali-activated cements (AACs) require an alkaline component for precursor activation. As the manufacture of the alkaline activator (AA) involves significant energy and raw material uses, these factors primarily influence the carbon footprint of AACs. An alternative is to use alternative materials to prepare the AA. In this work, a comprehensive analysis of the different alternatives is carried out: silica-based materials to prepare alternative silicates and alkaline-based materials. The relative carbon footprints are compared to commercial Portland cements, and the effect of replacing commercial reagents with alternative activators is analyzed.