Investigation of mechanical foaming and intumescent technologies to develop fire-resistant geopolymers

Currently cement production is responsible for 8% of global CO2 emissions. Replacing cement with geopolymers, cementitious binders produced from industrial wastes, can reduce this emission by 9 times. However, a sustainable material that offers additional benefits will always be well-received. For instance, geopolymers outperform conventional cement in high-temperature applications. In this context, this thesis explores fire-resistant applications as an avenue for geopolymers. Two types of geopolymer-based technologies are covered here: a) aerated geopolymer, an equivalent alternative for conventional aerated concrete and b) intumescent geopolymer, an in-situ foaming material that becomes fire resistant in the event of a fire.