Low-Density Geopolymer Composites for the Construction Industry

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Construction Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Geopolymers offer sustainable and high-performance alternatives to traditional construction materials.
• Light-weight geopolymers are particularly promising for building applications due to their favorable physical properties.
• Metakaolin-based geopolymers are being explored for enhanced thermal and mechanical characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of various fillers (polystyrene, hollow ceramic microspheres, Liapor) on the properties of light-weight geopolymers.
• To investigate the electromagnetic shielding capabilities of carbon grids integrated into geopolymer composites.
• To determine the suitability of these modified geopolymers for building applications, focusing on thermal conductivity, density, and mechanical strength.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of metakaolin-based geopolymers with different fillers.
• Characterization of thermal conductivity, density, and mechanical strength (flexural and compressive) of the geopolymer composites.
• Testing the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of geopolymer composites reinforced with carbon grids of varying sizes.

Main Results:

• Polystyrene-filled geopolymer (GPP) exhibited five times lower thermal conductivity and 28% lower density than standard geopolymer composites.
• Liapor and hollow ceramic microspheres also proved suitable as fillers, yielding improved mechanical strengths but higher thermal conductivity and density compared to GPP.
• Carbon grids significantly enhanced mechanical performance and reduced electromagnetic field emissions, blocking up to 60% of Wi-Fi signals at 2m and fully blocking at 6m.

Conclusions:

• Polystyrene is an effective filler for creating highly insulating and light-weight geopolymers, though with a compromise in compressive strength.
• Liapor and hollow ceramic microspheres offer alternative filler options with good mechanical properties.
• Carbon grid reinforcement provides a dual benefit of improved mechanical integrity and effective electromagnetic shielding for geopolymer composites in construction.