Geopolymer foams - will they ever become a viable alternative to popular insulation materials? - A critical opinion
Authors:
- Michał Łach
Abstract
Over the last several years, there has been a large increase in interest in geopolymer materials,which are usually produced from waste materials, and their applications. The possibilities of applicationof geopolymers seem to be unlimited, and they are used in almost all fields of technology. Their use asinsulation materials appears promising due to their complete nonflammability and excellent strength.However, one limitation is their complex manufacturing process and lack of stability of the obtainedgeopolymer foams as well as difficulties in achieving such good insulation properties possessed bypolyurethane foams, polystyrene, and wool. Hundreds of studies have already been performed oninsulating geopolymer foams and various types of foaming agents, and their authors reported thatfoamed insulating geopolymers had a density starting from 200 kg/m3and thermal conductivity from0.04 W/mK. However, the repeatability of the obtained results on an industrial scale is questionable.It is still a challenge to obtain a geopolymer material with comparable properties as conventionalinsulation materials and to overcome the barriers associated with the successful implementation ofgeopolymer material as insulation in buildings and other applications on a mass scale. This paperprovides a comprehensive review of the methods used for the production of foamed geopolymers andthe best parameters obtained, as well as a summary of the most important information reported in thescientific literature. It also presents the results of a critical analysis of the feasibility of implementingthis technology for mass deployment. In addition, the problems and limitations that are most oftenencountered with the implementation of geopolymer technology are discussed.
- Record ID
- CUT864f54e079cf409795b1e75d636d3523
- Publication categories
- ;
- Author
- Journal series
- Materials, ISSN , e-ISSN 1996-1944, Biweekly
- Issue year
- 2021
- Vol
- 14
- No
- 13
- Pages
- [1-15]
- Article number
- 3568
- Other elements of collation
- il. (w tym kolor.); Bibliografia (na s.) - 12-15; Bibliografia (liczba pozycji) - 86; Oznaczenie streszczenia - Abstr.; Numeracja w czasopiśmie - Vol. 14, Iss. 13, Spec. Iss.
- Substantive notes
- Special Issue: Functionalized Mineral Materials in Environmental and Civil Engineering, Ceramics, Foundry and Metals
- Keywords in English
- geopolymers, insulation materials,
- DOI
- DOI:10.3390/ma14133568 Opening in a new tab
- URL
- https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/13/3568/htm Opening in a new tab
- Related project
- Pianki geopolimerowe o niskiej przewodności cieplnej wytwarzane na bazie odpadów przemysłowych jako innowacyjny materiał dla gospodarki o obiegu zamkniętym. . Project leader at PK: , ,
Projects financed by NCRD [Projekty finansowane przez NCBiR (NCBR (] - Language
- eng (en) English
- License
- Score (nominal)
- 140
- Publication indicators
- = 39
- Additional fields
- Indeksowana w: Web of Science, Scopus
- Uniform Resource Identifier
- https://cris.pk.edu.pl/info/article/CUT864f54e079cf409795b1e75d636d3523/
- URN
urn:pkr-prod:CUT864f54e079cf409795b1e75d636d3523
* presented citation count is obtained through Internet information analysis, and it is close to the number calculated by the Publish or PerishOpening in a new tab system.