Review on Development of Geopolymer Composites from Aluminosilicate Materials

Vishnu P. Anirudhan, Aravind Unnithan

Abstract: Geopolymerization is the chemical reaction between alumino silicate oxides with silicates under highly alkaline condition to form polymers called geopolymers. Geopolymer is an alternate to the Ordinary Portland Cement. This paper tries to review the literatures on geopolymers. Geopolymer is synthesised from materials rich in reactive silica and alumina of geological origin or industrial by products such as fly ash, metakaolin, rice husk ash, red mud etc. The chemical composition of geopolymer is same as to that of zeolite, but amorphous in structure. Type and nature of raw materials, alkaline activators and curing conditions are the main factors affecting the geopolymerisation reaction. The leaching of alumina and silica from raw materials depend on the concentration of the alkali. Alkaline concentration is different for different raw materials. Curing conditions are also different for different raw materials and different activators.

Keywords: Geopolymer, Aluminosilicate, Alkaline activators, Alkaline concentration, Activator-binder ratio