Recycling and optimum utilization of GFRP waste into low-carbon geopolymer paste for sustainable development

To provide an eco-friendlier alternative to traditional ordinary Portland cement (OPC) binder, this study utilized glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) waste powder as a precursor material to prepare geopolymer paste (GP). Through a series of mechanical, thermal, and mineral admixture activation procedures, efforts are made to augment the reactivity of GFRP powder-based geopolymers. The research reveals that subjecting GFRP powder to a 30-min grinding process amplifies the compressive strength of GP by up to 37 %. Moreover, elevating curing temperatures to 60 degrees C leads to a substantial enhancement in the strength of GFRP powder-based GP, attributable to the formation of more amorphous N-A-S-H and C-(A)-S-H gels. However, prolonged grinding durations yield only marginal alterations in particle size, while curing at 80 degrees C demonstrates a detrimental effect on strength. The choice of resin exhibits a discernible impact on both workability and strength. Notably, pure glass fiber powder-based GP displays superior compressive strength but exhibits increased brittleness, whereas GFRP powder-based GP excels in flexural strength. Moreover, the inclusion of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) in the mixture accelerates setting time and reduces flowability of GFRP powder-based GP. Strength shows a positive correlation with GGBS content, although the impact on flexural strength is less pronounced compared to compressive strength. Life cycle assessment (LCA) showed GFRP powder-based GP with 50 % GGBS replacement had a 35 %-48 % lower Global Warming Potential (GWP)/strength ratio compared to OPC pastes. Furthermore, this formulation demonstrates a 15 % decrease relative to GGBS-based GP, and a reduction of 13 %-25 % compared to GGBS/Fly Ash (FA)-based GPs. These results underscore its potential as an environmentally preferable building material.