Geopolymeric materials in infrastructure development: A way forward

Geopolymer material has emerged as a potential substitute for the ordinary Portland cement and research on this material has grown rapidly around the globe. The synthesis chemistry of this alternative inorganic binder has been studied in the laboratory extensively to understand the basic structural framework and the underlying parameters, which influence the material properties at large in a scientific manner. After so many year of research work at lab level, in recent past geopolymer has started to grow into the field in the form of demonstration and implementation projects. In this paper an overview of applications of geopolymer materials in different prospective areas has been presented. The development of products and demonstrations for up-scaling carried at CSIR-CBRI, Roorkee, India is also described briefly. The challenges associated with the large scale implementation and acceptance in practice has been pointed out. There is need of systematic approach towards the development of geopolymer technology at commercial scale in order to bring the beneficial attributes associated with geopolymer to the industry and society as a whole. © 2020, Associated Cement Companies Ltd.. All rights reserved.