Investigation the Properties of Geopolymers for Use as Sustainable Materials

The further development of environmentally friendly materials requires the knowledge of environmental stimuli, new materials, as well as the assessment of environmental impacts, and the conventional materials in construction. According to the definitions of sustainable development and materials, it is necessary to use materials that have low energy consumption and properties such as sufficient durability, appropriate physical and chemical properties, and at the same time reduce environmental pollution. Geopolymer materials can be a suitable answer for this problem. Geopolymers are ceramic-like mineral polymers that expand with poly-compact structures in three dimensions. Geopolymers are formed by the chemical activation of solid materials containing aluminum and silica at relatively low temperature. In recent years, geopolymer has emerged as a sustainable, environmentally friendly material and an alternative to Portland cement. Geopolymers are ceramic-like materials with three-dimensional polycompact structures that are formed by the chemical activation of solids containing aluminum and silica at relatively low temperatures.  In recent years, geopolymers have been proposed as a sustainable, environmentally friendly material and an alternative to concretes made of Portland cement. For the production of geopolymer concrete and use in buildings, waste or by-products from industries can be used. In this article, the synthesis method and properties of geopolymers for use in construction as sustainable materials and as a suitable alternative to Portland cement, in order to reduce the emission of environmental pollutants with the approach of life cycle assessment, based on the studies, are briefly reviewed. Findings and results show that geopolymer concretes have much better mechanical properties and chemical performance than hardened concretes with Portland cement and show significant environmental benefits.