Thermal Properties of Geopolymer-Plastic Composites: Up-to-Date Review Study

Abstract

Geopolymers are a new band of sustainable construction materials produced with low CO₂ emission, acceptable strength and high thermal resistance. In comparison to ordinary cement, geopolymers show brittle characteristics and relatively low mechanical stresses. Therefore, different reinforcement materials have been used to produce more reliable geopolymer composites. This implementation of reinforced materials will affect their final thermal properties. This review study presents many investigations that focus on the thermal properties of reinforced geopolymer composites as well as the characterization and development of these composites by the additives of either particles or fibres for a wide range of applications. The main polymeric additives are polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS) and synthetic rubber. The study focuses on the thermal properties of the resultant composites due to reinforcing and underlying mechanisms on fiber-binder interaction at fresh and hardened states. It is intended to build a strong conceptual and technical background for what is currently understood on polymeric reinforced geopolymers. Furthermore, the study may introduce the improvement to the thermal properties of the composites using suitable polymers, blends and compatibilizers.