review · Discover Civil Engineering
Traditional concrete relies heavily on ordinary Portland cement, a material linked to substantial greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption. Geopolymer concrete provides a lower-carbon substitute that demonstrates superior thermal stability, tolerating exposures up to 1200 °C. Under elevated temperatures, its mechanical properties show defined performance thresholds. Residual compressive strength typically improves between 150 °C and 350 °C, but declines beyond 400 °C as internal microcracks begin to form. Furthermore, enhanced tensile strength is maintained up to 300 °C, followed by a noticeable drop once heat exceeds 800 °C. These performance characteristics confirm that geopolymer concrete delivers greater heat resistance than conventional cement, underscoring its viability for improving structural fire protection across the building sector.
Concrete manufacturing generates significant carbon emissions worldwide. Replacing ordinary Portland cement with geopolymer alternatives curbs industrial greenhouse gases while delivering critical safety advantages. Identifying how geopolymer concrete reacts to intense heat allows engineers to design structures that resist catastrophic failure during fire emergencies, protecting urban infrastructure and building occupants.
The primary applications lie in fire-resistant building elements and structural components for the construction sector. Potential users include civil contractors, precast concrete manufacturers, and structural design engineers seeking sustainable, fire-resilient alternatives to Portland cement. As this evidence derives from a review of mechanical test data rather than direct commercial product validation, the technology sits at an applied research stage requiring standardised manufacturing protocols before broad market adoption.
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Abstract The need for concrete is increasing exponentially due to the growing population and fast urbanization. The primary constituent in concrete is ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Producing cement involves a significant quantity of embodied energy and leads to the release of greenhouse gases. Geopolymer concrete (GPC) was created to address the adverse environmental effects of carbon dioxide emissions (CO 2 ) and the overdependence on fossil fuels in cement production. In addition to reducing environmental consequences, geopolymer concrete shows outstanding resistance to higher temperatures compared to OPC concrete, which maintains temperatures up to 1200 °C. This review investigates the field of GPC, focusing on its ability to withstand high temperatures. It briefly reviews geopolymer concrete's mechanical properties at high temperatures. It has been observed that residual compressive strength, which is essential in high-temperature GPC studies, generally increases to 150–350 °C but decreases beyond 400 °C because of microcrack formation. Moreover, enhanced tensile strength is demonstrated up to 300 °C, with a noticeable decrease above 800 °C. This study emphasizes the potential of geopolymer concrete for improving fire protection measures in the building industry.
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DOI: 10.1007/s44290-024-00028-4
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