Geopolymer Concrete

Geopolymer materials represent an innovative technology that is generating considerable interest in the construction industry, particularly in light of the ongoing emphasis on sustainability. In contrast to portland cement, most geopolymer systems rely on minimally processed natural materials or industrial byproducts to provide the binding agents. Since portland cement is responsible for upward of 85 percent of the energy and 90 percent of the carbon dioxide attributed to a typical ready-mixed concrete (Marceau et al. 2007), the potential energy and carbon dioxide savings through the use of geopolymers can be considerable. Consequently, there is growing interest in geopolymer applications in transportation infrastructure. To date, there are no widespread applications of geopolymer concrete in transportation infrastructure, although the technology is rapidly advancing in Europe and Australia. One North American geopolymer application is a blended portlandgeopolymer cement known as Pyrament® (patented in 1984), variations of which continue to be successfully used for rapid pavement repair