Geopolymer Institute

Who should attend

The course is designed for professionals who are concerned with Sustainable R&D and Production Technology, in managerial, operational and supervisory positions involved in such industrial applications as extractive minerals, ceramics, cements, building materials, decorative stones and restoration works, fire and heat resistant composites, high-tech composites for aerospace, aircraft, naval and automobile, radioactive and toxic waste containment, thermal insulation.

This course would also benefit R&D scientists and managers presently involved in organic plastic industry by merging organic polymer engineering with the new mineral polymer (Geopolymer) engineering.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Describe the fundamental principles and concepts of geopolymer science and technology.
- Outline the physical, physico-chemical and chemical properties, as well as long-term durability of geopolymer products.
- Present and select techniques for Quality Control in your R&D projects and manufacturing operations.

First day: Physical properties of geopolymers

08:45 Registration

09:00-10:45 The mineral geopolymer concept
The book Geopolymer Chemistry and Applications
Covalent bonding, terminology, geopolymeric micelle, molecular weight

10:45-11:00 Coffee break

11:00-13:00 Thermal properties, shrinkage, expansion

14:15-16:15 Laboratory demonstration
exothermicity, mechanical strength,
setting time, pH values on solids

16:15-16-30 Coffee break

16:30-17:30 Adhesion
on natural stone, steel and glass
on metal

Second day: Chemical properties of geopolymers

09:00-10:45 pH values of geopolymers

10:45-11:00 Coffee break

11:00-13:00 Naand K-based geopolymeric systems
advantages of K-based geopolymers

14:15-16:15 Alkali-activation versus geopolymerization
NMR-spectroscopy

16:15-16-30 Coffee break

16:30-17:30 Long-term durability
acid resistance
archaeological analogues,
geological analogues

Third day: Quality controls

09:00-10:45 Raw -materials
solid elemental composition, pH, granulometry
geopolymeric reactivity

10:45-11:00 Coffee break

11:00-13:00 Laboratory experimentation
freeze-thaw and wet-dry testing
boiling water (steam) tests
thermal expansion

14:15-16:15 Working time (pot-life)
role of additional water

16:15-16-30 Coffee break

16:30-17:00 Collection of samples in laboratory

16:45-17:30