Geopolymers, Volume II

Dear Colleagues,

Today, geopolymers offer an alternative to hydraulic binders. This is a new binder formed by a polymerization process from the combination of an alkaline liquid with aluminosilicate material (natural pozzolans, industrial waste product, calcined clays, etc.). Geopolymer binders are inorganic polymers with 3D framework structures having high mechanical and physical properties. Furthermore, clay-based geopolymers (i.e., with metakaolin) or geopolymers, including byproducts (fly ash, blast furnace slag, etc.), allow decreasing energy consumption and CO₂ release during their manufacturing when compared to clinker manufacture.

Thus, various formulations of geopolymers have appeared in recent decades, but obstacles remain to the spread of such binders, notably a lack of feedback. The demonstration of geopolymer durability and its advantages in the long term (low cost of maintenance because of low degradation, extended life cycle, etc.) should favor the extension of geopolymer applications.

This Special Issue aims to bring together corresponding studies on:

• The formulation of sustainable geopolymers and more especially clay-based geopolymers: innovative components and properties;
• The development of a suitable methodology in order to estimate geopolymers’ durability;
• Multiscale characterization of geopolymer degradation processes under various conditions related to different classes of exposure: fundamental, experimental, as well as theoretical studies are welcome on transport properties (chloride diffusion coefficient, gas permeability), carbonation, sulphate attack, acid attack, freeze thaw resistance, alkali silica reaction, elevated temperature,;
• A comparison of sustainability approaches and properties of hydraulic and geopolymeric binders is encouraged.

We hope that this Special Issue will help to improve our understanding of geopolymers’ deterioration mechanism and to predict their durability.

Dr. Myriam Duc
Dr. Assia Djerbi
Dr. Dimitri Deneele
Dr. Laurent Gautron
Guest Editors

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