Geopolymer Concrete: An Alternative to Conventional Concrete for Sustainable Construction
J. Environ. Nanotechnol., Volume 13, No 4 (2024) pp. 218-225
Abstract
Geopolymer concrete is a sustainable alternative to conventional concrete, offering significant environmental protection and carbon reduction benefits. This study presents a comparative analysis between Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)-based conventional concrete (CC) and geopolymer concrete (GPC) utilizing ultrafine fly ash (UFFA) and ultrafine ground-granulated blast furnace slag (UFGGBS) as binders, with identical binder-to-aggregate ratios. GPC was developed using sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate as alkaline activators, while CC relied on OPC as its binding agent. The mechanical properties and durability of GPC were evaluated under controlled conditions. The results demonstrated that GPC is comparable to CC in terms of strength and durability. Moreover, GPC reduces CO2 emissions by incorporating industrial by-products such as fly ash and slag as binders, replacing energy-intensive Portland cement and significantly lowering greenhouse gas emissions. This underscores the potential of GPC as a sustainable, eco-friendly material for modern construction, supporting environmental conservation and sustainability.
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