Investigation of physical, chemical, mechanical, and microstructural properties of cement-less concrete-state-of-the-art review

Geo-polymer concrete (GPC) can be obtained by chemical reactions in industrial products and naturally available alumino silicate sources. The main drawback of GPC is that there are no standard or specific guidelines for mix production. Even though the lack of a proper mix design method limits the geo-polymer acceptance in the in-dustry. In the case of cement concrete, the only variable parameter is the water-cement ratio, which strongly influences the concrete's mechanical properties and durability. For GPC, numerous factors such as alkaline liquid to cementitious material ratio, alkaline activator ratio, binder type, curing type, etc., directly and indirectly, influence the fresh, hardened, and microstructural properties of the concrete. This paper presents an overview of the chemistry behind the geopolymer concrete, alumino-silicate source, and the microstructural analysis of binders under different curing conditions.

Automated summary

Geo-polymer concrete (GPC) is produced through chemical reactions between industrial products and naturally occurring alumino silicate sources. However, there is a lack of standardized guidelines for mix production, limiting the acceptance of geo-polymer in the industry. Unlike cement concrete, GPC's properties are influenced by various factors such as the ratio of alkaline liquid to cementitious material, alkaline activator ratio, binder type, and curing type. This paper provides an overview of the chemistry behind GPC, alumino-silicate sources, and the microstructural analysis of binders under different curing conditions.