GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE: A REVIEW OF

ADVANCEMENTS AND PROSPECTS

ABSTRACT

Geopolymer is a material resulting from the polymeric reaction of a source inorganic material
that is rich in silica and alumina with an alkaline solution. Geopolymer concrete utilizes
alternative binder materials which could include industrial by-products such as Fly Ash, Ground
Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS), Silica Fume (SF) and Quarry dust in place of cement.
These binder materials are made to react with alkaline solution such as Sodium Hydroxide
(NaOH) and Sodium Silicate (Na2SiO3) to form a gel which binds the fine and coarse aggregates
together.

This material has been studied extensively over the past few decades and shows promise as a
greener alternative to ordinary Portland cement concrete. It has been found that geopolymer
concrete has good engineering properties with a reduced carbon footprint resulting from the
zero-cement content in the concrete matrix. Since geopolymer concrete is an emerging field, the
guidelines from the Bureau of Indian Standards are yet to be formulated.

Several scientific studies have been conducted on formulation and properties of geopolymer
concrete. Based on the literature review of existing studies in this field, this report reviews the
constituents of geopolymer concrete, its properties, potential applications, along with its
sustainability and economic opportunities.

T. Viswanath