Geopolymeric cements are ideal for environmental applications, such as the permanent encapsulation of radioactive and other hazardous wastes, toxic metals, as well as sealants, capping, barriers, and other structures necessary for remedying toxic waste containment sites (see our Research Project GEOCISTEM and the GEOPOLYTECH® process). In the Library, three papers are dealing with this topic, namely #13 Toxic Metals Immobilisation , #8 Alkaline Cements and Concretes, KIEV, and #7 Concretes for Nuclear Waste .
For information on Fly Ash based geopolymer cements, read Chapters 12, 24 and 25 in Davidovits’ book, Geopolymer Chemistry & Applications. For fly-ash based concrete download the paper #17 Curtin Research Report on Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete .
Geopolymeric rock-concretes for building and repairing infrastructure have very high early strength, their setting times can be entirely controlled, and they remain intact for a very long time without the need for repair. See in Davidovits’ book, Geopolymer Chemistry & Applications, the Chapters 9, 10, 24 and 25. In addition, geopolymeric cement manufacture emits 80% less CO2 (greenhouse effect gas) than Portland Cement. See GLOBAL WARMING . The strength of geopolymeric rock-concrete is such that a heavy Boeing or Airbus can land on a runway freshly patched with geopolymeric rock-concrete only four hours after patching has been completed. The discovery of this new cement was awarded with a Gold Ribbon by the American National Association for Science, Technology and Society (NASTS) in 1994 (Library paper #3 NASTS award ).
