Sustainability of alkali-activated cementitious materials and geopolymers

Alkali-activated cements are materials that gain strength by means of a chemical reaction between a source of alkali, commonly an alkali silicate solution, and an aluminate-rich material. They can exhibit superior performance characteristics to conventional cement-based materials, such as enhanced chemical, wear, and temperature resistance. This family of materials has the potential to provide low-carbon, high-performance alternatives to current Portland cement binders, thus contributing to the sustainability of the built environment.