SYMPOSIUM 16: Geopolymers, inorganic polymer-derived ceramics and sustainable construction materials

Refractory inorganic polymers can be made at ambient temperatures and pressures from a powder and a liquid to form a paste of low viscosity. These materials, called “geopolymers”, include alkali metakaolin-based, aluminosilicates; aluminosilicate phosphates; potassium magnesium phosphates; alternative geopolymer compositions, other silicate geopolymers. The use of biological materials as starting compounds or as reinforcements in composites demonstrates the eco-friendly and sustainable nature of these materials. The alkali-based, aluminosilicate geopolymer “glue” is refractory up to 900°C, after which it converts to a ceramic, or a ceramic plus glass. Novel potential applications of such composites include: infrastructure and construction materials; porous geopolymers for water purification by heavy metal ion removal; geopolymer derived nano-zeolites for CO2 sequestration; porous geopolymers for thermal insulation; structural ceramic composites containing ceramic, metal, organic or biological reinforcements; fire and corrosion resistant coatings; nuclear radiation shielding geopolymer composites; amorphous, self-healed geopolymer composites; geothermal well casing liners. The nanoparticulate nature of geopolymers also provides a low energy, processing route to ultra-refractory ceramic powders or versatile forming methods based on transient, organic alkali, charge-balanced geopolymer, and 4-D printing, taking advantage of geopolymer thixotropy. 

Proposed Session Topics  

• Synthesis, processing microstructure 

• Mechanical properties, thermal shock resistance  

• Alkali-based geopolymers 

• Acid-based phosphate geopolymers 

• Other inorganic geopolymer analogues 

• Geopolymer-derived processing routes  

• Nuclear radiation shielding 

• Sustainable construction materials 

• Use of waste materials to make geopolymers 

• Water purification, CO2 sequestration 

• Novel applications 

Symposium Organizers 

• Waltraud M. Kriven, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA 

• Ralph Davidovits, Geopolymer Institute, France 

• Cristina Leonelli, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy 

• Sylvie Rossignol, University of Limoges, France 

• Ana Trindade, University of São Paulo, Brazil 

Point of Contact 

• Waltraud M. Kriven; kriven@illinois.edu