Alkali-activated cementitious material
Contents |
[edit] What is a Alkali-Activated Material or Cementitious Material ?
Alkali-Activated Materials (AAM) or more specifically Alkali-Activated Cementitious Materials (AACM) might also be referred to as geopolymers, they can be created from a range of different materials, most usually from industrial by-products, termed precursors. These are added to an alkaline medium or activator, to produce a cementitious material that can be used instead of Portland Cement in the making of concrete.
[edit] Background
It was in 1957, when a scientist from Kyiv, Ukraine (which was then part of USSR), Victor Glukhovsky, put forward a working hypothesis in which he established that there was close relationship between alkalis and cementitious materials. He investigated the production of binders by using low basic or free calcium alumino-silicate source (clay) with alkaline activators, the new binder was referred to as soil–cement or soil silicate concretes. It was his assumptions and investigations that formed the foundation on which new types of cementitious materials could be developed, which were later called alkaline cements and later still referred to as AAC's or AACMs.
It was around the 1970's that AAMs were first industrially produced for use as cementitious materials, they had a lower carbon footprint, because the reaction could happen at room temperature and could also contribute to the early ideas around the circular economy because it was possible to use industrial by-products as the raw materials. The term and concept of geopolymer was developed more specifically by Joseph Davidovits, later in 1991, and with ongoing developement in the field, definitions of what a geopolymer is have become gradually more diverse and at times somewhat conflicting.
[edit] Chemical reaction
Alkali-activation is the chemical reaction between a solid aluminosilicate precursor and an alkaline source or activator, importantly it can occur at room temperature to produce a hardened product. The most commonly used alkali sources are sodium or potassium hydroxides and/or silicates, while aluminosilicates may include suitable raw materials and waste products.
The Concrete Society describe alkali activated cements (including geopolymer cements) as:
"The aluminate-containing material - the pozzolan/latent hydraulic binder component of the cement - can be coal fly ash, municipal solid waste incinerator ash (MSWIA), metakaolin, blastfurnace slag, steel slag or other slags, or other alumina-rich materials. The alkali used as the activator tends to be an alkali silicate solution such as sodium silicate (waterglass) but can also be sodium hydroxide solution, or a combination of the two, or other source of alkali (such as lime). Geopolymeric cements are particular examples of ´alkali-activated pozzolanic cements´ or ´alkali-activated latent hydraulic cements´. All alkali-activated cements tend to have lower embodied energy / carbon footprints than Portland cements (up to 80-90% but this is pozzolan dependent). Manufacture on a commercial basis is underway in the UK, Australia, USA and possibly, China. Covered by PAS 8820:2016 Construction materials. Alkali activated cementitious material and concrete. Specification"
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
In major support package for small businesses.
Conservation and transformation
Reading Ruskin’s cultural heritage. Book review.
Renovating Union Chain Bridge.
AI tools for planning, design, construction and management
A long, continually expanding list, any more to add?
Robots in the construction industry
From cultural characterisations to construction sites.
Empowering construction with AI integration
New horizons with a human touch.
Key AI related terms to be aware of
With explanations from the UK government.
A Better Hiring Toolkit for construction
Tooling up to hire under best practice standards in the sector.
Recharging Electrical Skills in Wales
Step by step collaborative solutions.
Ireland budget announcement 2025
CIOB responds with positivity, criticism and clarity.
The continued ISG fall out, where to go?
Support for ISG contractors, companies and employees.
New HES national centre for traditional building retrofit
Announced as HES publishes survey results which reveal strong support for retrofit.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Expected to become one of the largest activities in the global construction industry.
Scope determination appeals and the Building Safety Act
Process explained following release of appeals guidance.
The ECA industry focus video channel
Keeping update with the industry session by session.
Over 25 recorded informations sessions freely available..