Properties of selected alkali-activated materials for sustainable development

Abstract

Concrete, which is based on the use of Portland cement as a binder, is often used as a structural material in the construction industry. However, the production of cement has a high energy demand. Alkaline-activated systems, for example, have the potential to replace cement with suitable substitutes, and this also puts the raw materials created as by-products from industrial processes to the fore. The presented research focuses on three selected variants, where the goal is to compare key properties from the point of view of material engineering and structural design. Tests of the mechanical properties of the examined materials are carried out and their durability is compared, namely frost resistance, resistance to chemical and de-icing substances and resistance to elevated temperature. As part of the main design criterion of structure, the resulting average compressive strengths of the selected alkali-activated materials ranged from 52.8 to 62.8 MPa.