Pulled the heating elements from the kiln and prepared some concentrated NaOH solution for some #geopolymer experiments
It's funny how fucked up the kanthal wire looks now, can break it with just two fingers, so extraction in one piece wasn't possible at all.
Turning waste into durable building material? Japan’s new cement alternative could reshape the future of construction. #GreenBuilding #SustainableTech #Geopolymer
https://geekoo.news/japanese-tech-turns-construction-waste-into-green-cement-alternative/
I'm in the "actually doing things" phase of my recent fascination with #geopolymer cements, at last. I'm too broke to buy metakaolin and I don't have a kiln set up yet, so I'm starting out experimenting with acid pre-activation of 'raw' Kaolin clay instead. So far I've had at least one "promising failure", so perhaps I can make something of it.
My ideal scenario is a way to make a low-energy ceramic cement that could be used creatively (e.g. sculpting..with gloves) or practically for a kind of #solarpunk raw material . I'm already imagining an aesthetic that collides an organic post-brutalism with art-neuveau. Smooth porcelain facing on cob walls, with elaborate embossings and glazing.
Failing with the acid-only approach, I am hoping to use acid admixtures to reduce the metakaolin dehydroxilation temperature to something achievable in a decent campfire or stove - I do think this can be done, and could still offer a carbon-neutral and lowtech way to access metakaolin. Hopefully.
🌙 Lunar Regolith Geopolymer Concrete for In-Situ Construction of Lunar Bases: A Review
The construction of lunar bases represents a fundamental challenge for deep space exploration, lunar research, and the exploitation of lunar resources. In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) technology constitutes a pivotal tool for constructing lunar bases. Using lunar regolith to create geopolymers as construction materials offers multiple advantages as an ISRU technique. This paper discusses the principle of geopolymer for lunar regolith, focusing on the reaction principle of geopolymer. It also analyzes the applicability of geopolymer under the effects of the lunar surface environment and the differences between the highland and mare lunar regolith. This paper summarizes the characteristics of existing lunar regolith simulants and the research on the mechanical properties of lunar regolith geopolymers using lunar regolith simulants. Highland lunar regolith samples contain approximately 36% amorphous substances, the content of silicon is approximately 28%, and the ratios of Si/Al and Si/Ca are approximately 1.5 and 2.6, respectively. They are more suitable as precursor materials for geopolymers than mare samples. The compressive strength of lunar regolith geopolymer is mainly in the range of 18~30 MPa. Sodium silicate is the most commonly utilized activator for lunar regolith geopolymers; alkalinity in the range of 7% to 10% and modulus in the range of 0.8 to 2.0 are suitable. A vacuum environment and multiple temperature cycles reduce the mechanical properties of geopolymers by 8% to 70%. Future research should be concentrated on the precision control of the lunar regolith’s chemical properties and the alkali activation efficacy of geopolymers in the lunar environment.
The Precursors Used for Developing Geopolymer Composites for Circular Economy
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/7/1696
#geopolymer #cement #technology #materials #buildings #construction #manufacturing #recycling
Considering recent climate changes, special importance is given to any attempt to depollute and protect the environment. A circular economy seems to be the ideal solution for the valorization of mineral waste, resulting from various industrial branches, by reintroducing them in the process of obtaining alternative building materials, more friendly to the environment. Geopolymers can be considered as a promising option compared to Portland cement. Information about the influence of the composition of the precursors, the influence of the activation system on the mechanical properties or the setting time could lead to the anticipation of new formulations of geopolymers or to the improvement of some of their properties. Reinforcement components, different polymers and expansion agents can positively or negatively influence the properties of geopolymers in the short or long term.
🏗️ Development of a Low-Density Waste-Based Geopolymer Construction Material
(… but that styrofoam looks yucky)
The construction industry, integral to national infrastructure development, faces environmental challenges attributed to Portland cement’s high energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions during production. To address this challenge, this study integrated waste fly ash and polystyrene into geopolymers to enhance environmental sustainability and economic feasibility. The objectives included developing low-density geopolymers using polystyrene inclusion, optimizing component mixing ratios, assessing activator concentration effects, determining the optimal curing conditions, and characterizing the resulting geopolymers. Through experimental investigation, low-density geopolymers were developed with optimized component ratios and curing conditions. The experimental procedure began with the classification of fly ash to determine its suitability for various applications, revealing it to be type F. Geopolymers were fabricated using a mixture of fly ash, water, sodium hydroxide activator, and polystyrene. Varied concentrations of sodium hydroxide and polystyrene were employed. Two curing temperatures, 60 °C and 100 °C, were explored. The results showed that greater sodium hydroxide concentrations improved the structure and compressive strength of the geopolymers. The results also demonstrated a significant correlation between the curing conditions and the mechanical properties of the produced geopolymers. The goal of reducing the density of the geopolymers for lightweight thermal-resistant applications was achieved through polystyrene incorporation. However, polystyrene incorporation negatively impacted the compressive strength. The optimum production conditions for the sodium hydroxide-varied samples were 8 g sodium hydroxide/g sample cured at 100 °C, while the optimum production conditions for polystyrene-varied samples were 1 g polystyrene/g sample cured at 60 °C. The findings confirmed the viability of utilizing fly ash and polystyrene wastes to produce sustainable, low-density, thermal-resistant construction materials. Overall, increasing activator concentration enhances the strength and durability of geopolymers, while polystyrene contributes to the development of lightweight geopolymers, provided the appropriate amount is utilized. To ensure replicability, the formulation procedure and input quantities must be tailored according to the intended geopolymer application. These insights offer practical guidance for optimizing geopolymer manufacturing processes towards enhanced sustainability and performance.
Die Herstellung von #Beton ist für etwa 8% der CO2-Emissionen verantwortlich:
"#Geopolymer statt #Zement: Neues Rezept für CO₂-freien Mörtel zum 3D-Druck"
Ein neuartiges Geopolymer könnte die CO2-Emissionen die während eines 3D-gedruckten 🏠 Neubaus anfallen, drastisch reduzieren. Könnte diese Entwicklung eventuell auch die zuletzt im Baugewerbe gestiegenen Kosten reduzieren?
Was denkt ihr? 
Via @heiseonline
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