We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Geopolymer Concrete Based on Metakaolin and Fly Ash: a Critical Review of Mix Design, Fresh Properties, Mechanical Performance, Durability, and E-waste Plastic Incorporation
AI summary Read the abstract
This review paper looks at "greener" concrete made from recycled industrial materials (like coal ash) instead of traditional cement, which could reduce pollution from construction. Researchers also tested adding shredded electronic waste plastic into this concrete, it made the material lighter and easier to work with, but slightly weaker, though it still resisted water and chemical damage well in certain amounts. This matters because finding safe ways to reuse e-waste plastic in building materials could help keep it out of landfills, though more research is needed on long-term safety and whether any plastic particles could leach out over time.
The rapid growth of infrastructure construction has increased demand for cementitious materials and natural aggregates while simultaneously intensifying the environmental burden associated with Portland cement production and the disposal of industrial and electronic wastes.Geopolymer concrete (GPC), produced through alkaline activation of aluminosilicate-rich precursors, has consequently emerged as a promising alternative to conventional Portland-cement concrete.This review synthesizes particular emphasis on metakaolin (MK), fly ash (FA), alkaline activators, mix proportioning, workability, mechanical properties, durability and the incorporation of e-waste plastic (EWP).The review shows that GPC performance is controlled by interacting parameters including precursor chemistry, MK/FA ratio, NaOH concentration, sodium silicate-to-sodium hydroxide ratio, liquid-to-binder ratio, aggregate content, curing temperature and curing duration.Increasing NaOH concentration generally promotes aluminosilicate dissolution and strength development but reduces workability.Increasing liquid content improves flow but can reduce strength because of increased effective porosity.A sodium silicate-to-sodium hydroxide ratio near 2.5 was repeatedly reported in the thesis literature as favorable for strength in several systems, although the optimum remains precursor-and curing-dependent.Metakaolin is particularly important for ambient-cured systems because its high reactivity can accelerate setting and geopolymerization, while fly ash contributes a spherical-particle morphology and can improve workability and resource efficiency.The literature also indicates that geopolymer concrete can provide high early strength, good resistance to acids and sulphates, low creep and drying shrinkage, and favorable performance under aggressive environments, although elevated-temperature curing, activator handling, variability of waste precursors and the absence of universally accepted mix-design standards remain barriers to wider adoption.EWP incorporation generally increases workability and reduces density but tends to reduce compressive, tensile and flexural strengths because of the lower stiffness and weaker interfacial bonding of plastic particles.Nevertheless, selected EWP contents can improve water-transport and chemical-resistance indicators.The thesis identifies a major knowledge gap at the intersection of binary MK-FA geopolymer binders and EWP aggregate replacement, especially for ambient curing, durability and integrated mix design.Recent literature published after the thesis further supports the need for standardized characterization, fireperformance assessment, long-term durability, leaching evaluation, life-cycle assessment and applicationspecific optimization.The review concludes with a research framework for developing robust, low-carbon MK-FA GPC containing EWP while maintaining structural and durability requirements.
More Papers Like This
Mechanical and Microstructural Investigation of Geopolymer Concrete Incorporating Recycled Waste Plastic Aggregate
AI summary Read the abstract
This study investigated incorporating recycled waste plastic aggregate into geopolymer concrete, finding that it can produce structurally viable construction materials while diverting plastic waste from landfill and reducing reliance on virgin aggregates.
Mechanical and Environmental Performance of Concrete Incorporating Post-Consumer Plastics and E-Waste
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers incorporated ground polypropylene plastic waste and pulverized printed circuit board powder as partial replacements for sand and cement in concrete, finding roughly 11% reductions in compressive strength and beam load capacity, with life cycle assessment showing cement replacement yielded far greater environmental benefit than aggregate substitution.
A sustainable approach to geopolymer concrete utilizing waste materials including plastic waste
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examined the use of various supplementary cementitious materials including fly ash, silica fume, rice husk ash, and plastic waste in geopolymer concrete as a lower-carbon alternative to Portland cement. The study assessed how different additive combinations and mix proportions affect fresh and hardened geopolymer concrete properties.
Utilization of electronic plastic waste as fine aggregate with and without silica fume in concrete: experimentation and life cycle assessment
AI summary Read the abstract
Electronic plastic waste used as 5–20% fine aggregate replacement in concrete reduced mechanical performance, but adding 10% silica fume recovered strength, with the best mix achieving 37.69 MPa compressive strength while a 20% E-waste replacement reduced global warming potential by 1.43% and overall environmental burden by 5.3%. This study demonstrates a viable pathway for diverting e-waste plastics from landfills and open burning into construction materials, directly reducing environmental plastic contamination.
Use of Plastic Waste in Concrete : A Comprehensive Review on Strength of Concrete Mixture with Different Material
AI summary Read the abstract
This review paper looks at how recycled plastic waste (like PET bottles) can be mixed into concrete for building construction, finding that the right amount can actually improve certain properties while reducing landfill waste. This matters because it offers a practical way to reuse plastic that would otherwise pollute the environment—though the paper focuses on construction benefits rather than directly studying whether this affects microplastic exposure or human health, so more research would be needed to confirm concrete made this way doesn't shed plastic particles over time.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.