article · Sustainability
Portland cement contributes heavily to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, driving interest in greener alternatives such as geopolymer cement and binders. In pavement construction, geopolymer cement significantly reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions when compared with conventional Portland cement. It also delivers enhanced pavement performance, demonstrating superior mechanical, durability, and thermal characteristics that support long-term operational life. Despite these advantages, several hurdles hinder widespread adoption. These include the variability of raw materials, the requirement for suitable hardeners, and a lack of standardised codes and testing procedures. In addition, cost competitiveness and limited field data remain key obstacles. Addressing these factors could enable geopolymerisation to deliver sustainable pavements that support global development targets for industry, innovation, and sustainable cities.
Road construction relies heavily on Portland cement, which is a major driver of global greenhouse gas emissions. Geopolymer binders offer a cleaner alternative by cutting carbon and energy footprints while providing stronger, more durable road surfaces. Understanding its performance and practical constraints helps infrastructure planners work towards more sustainable transport systems without compromising road lifespan.
Geopolymer cement targets pavement contractors and transport infrastructure authorities seeking lower-carbon materials. The technology remains at an applied research stage rather than near-market readiness. Commercial use is currently restricted by limited field data, cost competitiveness issues, raw material inconsistency, and a lack of standardised codes and procedures that highway engineers need for procurement and design.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Sustainability and the quest for a more robust construction material cannot be divorced from each other. While Portland cement has revolutionized the construction sector, its environmental toll, particularly in greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, cannot be ignored. Addressing this dilemma requires embracing alternatives like geopolymer cement/geopolymer binder (GPC/GPB). Over the last few decades, considerable strides have been achieved in advancing GPC as a sustainable construction material, including its utilization in pavement construction. Despite these advances, gaps still exist in GPC optimal potential in pavement construction, as most studies have concentrated on specific attributes rather than on a comprehensive evaluation. To bridge this gap, this review adopts a novel, holistic approach by integrating environmental impacts with performance metrics. To set the stage, this review first delves into the geopolymer concept from a chemistry perspective, providing an essential broad overview for exploring GPC’s innovations and implications in pavement applications. The findings reveal that GPC not only significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption compared to Portland cement but also enhances pavement performance. Further, GPC concrete pavement exhibits superior mechanical, durability, and thermal properties to ensure its long-term performance in pavement applications. However, challenges to GPC utilization as a pavement material include the variability of raw materials, the need for suitable hardeners, the lack of standardized codes and procedures, cost competitiveness, and limited field data. Despite these challenges, the process of geopolymerization presents GPC as a sustainable material for pavement construction, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 9, 11, and 12.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.3390/su16135417
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
