One of the areas of priority in a circular economy, regarding waste management, regards the valorization of construction and demolition wastes (CDW). This study suggests the synthesis of geopolymeric binders based almost entirely on construction and demolition wastes. Ceramic waste was used as the aluminosilicate precursor of the geopolymer synthesis, while glass waste was applied in the preparation of the activation solution. A fractional experimental design defined the optimum synthesis parameters, based on compressive strength values. The final products were characterized by means of X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The glass waste was appropriately processed in order to prepare the activation solution for the geopolymerization of brick waste. In this work, CDW-based geopolymers were produced with a compressive strength in the range 10–44 MPa. The developed products contained 80–90 wt.% CDWs, depending on the method of activator preparation.

In this study, the use of expanded polystyrene and expanded perlite as lightweight aggregates for the preparation of lightweight geopolymers is tested. The geopolymers’ performance was evaluated through physical, mechanical and thermal testing. Polypropylene fibers were used as reinforcement agents, while the long-term durability was assessed though repeated wet–dry and freeze–thaw cycles and sorptivity tests. The results showed that the introduction of lightweight aggregates in the geopolymer mixes decreased the compressive and flexural strength of the specimens by 77% and 35%, respectively. However, the density and thermal conductivity were substantially improved because of the addition of low-density aggregates. The fiber reinforcement of lightweight samples led to a drastic increase in flexural strength by 65%, leaving unaffected the compressive strength and density of the specimens. The freeze–thaw and sorptivity tests were also improved after the introduction of both aggregates and fibers. Lightweight geopolymer composites exhibiting density in the range of 1.0–1.6 g/cm³, compressive strength of 10–33 MPa, flexural strength of 1.8–6.3 MPa, thermal conductivity of 0.29–0.42 W/mK, and sorptivity of 0.031–0.056 mm/min^0.5 were prepared.

This paper concerns the synthesis of foamed geopolymers using fly ash and metallic Si as the binder and the porogent agent, respectively. The Taguchi approach was applied in order to study the effect of some significant synthesis parameters such as the Si foaming agent content (% w/w fly ash based), the alkali type (R : Na or K), and the alkalinity (R/Al molar ratio) of the activation solution on the compressive strength and apparent density of the foamed geopolymers. The final products were characterized by means of XRD, FTIR, and SEM, while optical microscopy was applied for the evaluation of the porosity. Lightweight geopolymers with a compressive strength of 2.08–14.88 ΜPa and an apparent density of 0.84–1.55 g/cm³ were prepared by introducing a Si content up to 0.2% w/w on fly ash basis.