The article presents preliminary results in studying reinforced and light-weight geopolymers, which can be employed in buildings, especially for walling. Such materials are very promising for the construction industry having great potential due to their favorable properties such as high mechanical strengths, low thermal conductivity, and low density. Moreover, they also exhibit several advantages from an economic and ecological point of view. The present study exanimated the use of specific fillers for the metakaolin-based light-weight geopolymers, emphasizing the above-mentioned physical properties. This research also investigated the electromagnetic shielding ability of the carbon grid built into the light-weight geopolymer structure. According to the study, the most suitable materials to be used as fillers are polystyrenes, along with hollow ceramic microsphere and Liapor. The polystyrene geopolymer (GPP) achieves five times lower thermal conductivity compared to cement concretes, which means five times lower heat loss by conduction. Furthermore, GPP is 28% lighter than the standard geopolymer composite. Although the achieved flexural strength of GPP is high enough, the compressive strength of GPP is only 12 MPa. This can be seen as a compromise of using polystyrene as a filler. At the same time, the results indicate that Liapor and hollow ceramic microsphere are also suitable fillers. They led to better mechanical strengths of geopolymer composites but also heavier and higher thermal conductivity compared to GPP. The results further show that the carbon grid not only enhances the mechanical performances of the geopolymer composites but also reduces the electromagnetic field. Carbon grids with grid sizes of 10 mm × 15 mm and 21 mm × 21 mm can reduce around 60% of the Wi-Fi emissions when 2 m away from the signal transmitter. Moreover, the Wi-Fi emission was blocked when the signal transmitter was at a distance of 6 m.

The paper presents the results of research concerning the influence of micromaterials on the heat conductivity coefficient λ, specifically heat Cp and thermal diffusivity a of modified gypsum and geopolymer. Microspheres, hydroxyethyl methylcellulose (HEMC) polymer, and aerogel were used as the gypsum’s modifying materials. The study also investigated an alkali potassium-activated methakaolin-based geopolymer with the addition of aluminium dust. During the measurements of thermal parameters, the nonstationary method was chosen, and an Isomet device—which recorded the required physical quantities—was used. When compared to the reference sample, a decrease in the thermal conductivity and diffusivity of the hardened gypsum— and a simultaneous increase in specific heat—was observed with the addition of micromaterials. The geopolymer sample was characterized by the lowest value of thermal conductivity, equal to 0.1141 W/(m·K). It was over 62% lower than the reference sample containing only gypsum. The experimental values of the thermal conductivity of the gypsum samples with the addition of HEMC, aerogel and microspheres were, respectively, over 23%, 6%, and 8% lower than those of the unmodified gypsum samples. The lowest values of thermal conductivity were observed in the case of the gypsum samples modified with polymer; this resulted from the fact that the polymer caused the greatest change in the structure of the gypsum’s composite, which were expressed by the lowest density and highest porosity.

The article deals with the investigation of geopolymer foams (GFs) synthesized using by-products coming from the (i) screening-, (iv) pyrolysis-, (iii) dust abatement- and (iv) fusion-processes of the secondary aluminum industry. Based on principles of the circular economy to produce new technological materials, the experimental study involves industrial by-products management through the recovery, chemical neutralization, and incorporation of these relatively hazardous waste into the GFs. The geopolymeric matrix, consisting of metakaolin (MK) and silica sand (SA) with a 1:1 wt.% ratio, and chopped carbon fibers (CFs, 1 wt.% MK), was doped with the addition of different aluminum-rich industrial by-products with a percentage from 1 to 10 wt.% MK. The gas (mainly hydrogen) produced during the chemical neutralization of the by-products represents the foaming agents trapped in the geopolymeric structure. Several experimental tests were carried out to characterize the mechanical (flexural, compressive, and Charpy impact strengths) and thermal properties (thermal conductivity, and diffusivity, and specific heat) of the GFs. Results identify GFs with good mechanical and thermal insulation properties, encouraging future researchers to find the best combination (for types and proportions) of the different by-products of the secondary aluminum industry to produce lightweight geopolymer foams. The reuse of these industrial by-products, which according to European Regulations cannot be disposed of in the landfill, also brings together environmental sustainability and safe management of hazardous material in workplaces addressed to the development of new materials.

The paper presents the results of research concerning the influence of a metallic micromaterial on the thermal conductivity λ, specific heat Cp, and thermal diffusivity a of modified geopolymers. Iron oxide in the form of powder with an average granulation of 10 μm was used as the geopolymer-modifying material. The research concerned geopolymer composite samples with metakaolin (activated with potassium silicate) and the addition of iron in amounts ranging from 0.5% to 2.5% in relation to the weight of the metakaolin. Additionally, the samples were modified with sand and fireclay in two different amounts—1:1 and 1:1.2 in relation to the metakaolin. The addition of fireclay caused a decrease in the thermal conductivity of the composites by 30% when compared to the samples with the addition of sand. The lowest value of the thermal conductivity coefficient λ was obtained for the geopolymer with metakaolin and fireclay. When the ratio of these components in the composite was 1:1, the value of thermal conductivity was equal to 0.6413 W/(m·K), while in the case of their ratio being 1:1.2, it was equal to 0.6456 W/(m·K). In the samples containing fireclay, no significant influence of the added iron on the values of thermal conductivity was noticed. In the case of the geopolymer with sand, the effect was noticeable, and it was most visible in the samples containing metakaolin and sand in the ratio of 1:1.2. It was noticed that with an increase in the addition of Fe, the thermal conductivity of the composite increased.

Geopolymer foams are excellent materials in terms of mechanical loads and fire resistance applications. This study investigated the foaming process of geopolymers and foam stability, with a focus on the fire resistance performance when using polystyrene as the base layer. The main purpose is to define the influence of porosity on the physical properties and consequently to find applications and effectiveness of geopolymers. In this study, lightweight materials are obtained through a process called geopolymerization. Foaming was done by adding aluminum powder at the end of the geopolymer mortar preparation. The interaction between the aluminum powder and the alkaline solution (used for the binder during the mixing process) at room temperature is reactive enough to develop hydrogen-rich bubbles that increase the viscosity and promote the consolidation of geopolymers. The basic principle of thermodynamic reactions responsible for the formation of foams is characterized by hydrogen-rich gas generation, which is then trapped in the molecular structure of geopolymers. The geopolymer foams in this study are highly porous and robust materials. Moreover, the porosity distribution is very homogeneous. Experimental assessments were performed on four specimens to determine the density, porosity, mechanical strength, and thermal conductivity. The results showed that our geopolymer foams layered on polystyrene boards (with optimal thickness) have the highest fire resistance performance among others. This combination could withstand temperatures of up to 800 °C for more than 15 min without the temperature rising on the insulated side. Results of the best-performing geopolymer foam underline the technical characteristics of the material, with an average apparent density of 1 g/cm³, a volume porosity of 55%, a thermal conductivity of 0.25 W/mK, and excellent fire resistance.

This article presents experimental studies on the characterization of geopolymer composites intended for applications in aquatic environments, with particular emphasis on underwater infrastructure. The motivation for conducting the research was the growing need to develop durable and ecological building materials that will be resistant to long-term exposure to moisture and aggressive chemical agents, typical for the underwater environment, where traditional cement concretes undergo gradual degradation due to long-term water impact, including hydrotechnical and underwater infrastructure. Geopolymer binders were produced based on metakaolin activated by alkaline solutions containing sodium hydroxide. Several series of mixtures with additives such as blast furnace slag, amphibolite and carbon fibers were developed to evaluate the effect of these components on mechanical strength, water absorption and chemical durability. The conducted studies showed that slag additions improved mechanical properties, for the best composition it across 50 MPa. In contrast, the addition of amphibolite had an unfavorable effect, which probably results from introducing inhomogeneity into the material structure. The presence of carbon fibers promoted matrix cohesion, but their uneven distribution could lead to local strength differences. Water absorption tests have shown that geopolymers reach full water saturation within 24 to 48 h, which indicates rapid establishment of capillary equilibrium and limited further water penetration. The conclusions from the work indicate that geopolymer composites with a moderate amount of blast furnace slag and subjected to appropriate curing conditions. High strength, water and chemical resistance make them suitable for, among others, the construction of marine foundations, protection and structural shields of submerged applications.