Development in Alkali-Activated Materials and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The growing demand for concrete with high efficiency, low cost, and low environmental impact has promoted the development of clinker-free cementitious materials, including alkali-activated cement. Alkali-activated materials are derived from a variety of naturally occurring minerals, such as fly ash, blast furnace slag, natural pozzolans, and other silicate-rich mineral sources. These minerals play a crucial role in the chemical activation process, which reduces the carbon footprint in the building industry. The study of alkali-activated materials (AAMs) is growing rapidly in the global research community, and their use has the potential to significantly reduce environmental impacts.

The study of AAMs is considered a challenging yet rewarding research area with significant economic and environmental implications. These materials can be produced using a wide variety of raw materials and industrial waste, particularly mineral-rich materials, as they do not require components with a high degree of purity or uniformity. AAMs are highly efficient in terms of energy consumption and exhibit lower CO₂ emissions compared to traditional Portland cement. For instance, AAMs produced from fly ash, blast furnace slag, and natural pozzolans—minerals rich in silica and alumina—can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional cement. The development of alkali-activated materials is crucial due to their excellent mechanical strength, long-term durability, low shrinkage, fast setting, acid resistance, fire resistance, and low thermal conductivity, all of which are enhanced by the unique mineral composition of the materials used.

Research that explores the potential of alkali-activated materials derived from various minerals and their applications in different industries is highly encouraged.

This Special Issue is organized into six sections:

• Section 1: Alkali-activated mortars and concrete for use as construction materials;
• Section 2: Alkali-activated mortars and concrete for use as structural construction materials;
• Section 3: Development of alkali-activated materials with industrial waste and mineral-rich sources;
• Section 4: Sustainable alkali-activated materials for reduced greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizing mineral resources;
• Section 5: Durability of alkali-activated materials, with a focus on the role of mineral content;
• Section 6: The use of alkali-activated materials for waste immobilization, utilizing mineral-based technologies.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the wide-ranging applications of alkali-activated cement, mortars, and concrete, all of which are deeply connected to the use of mineral-rich materials in building and construction.

Dr. Emile Mukiza
Dr. Petros Petrounias
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• geopolymeric cements
• eco-efficient concrete
• sustainable materials
• green cements
• durability

• Development in Geopolymer Materials and Applications in Minerals (9 articles)