Geopolymer-based composites

Geopolymers are alkali ion charge-balanced, aluminosilicate inorganic polymers, cured at ambient temperatures from a liquid precursor. The strained nature of the 5-coordination Al polyhedra is identified as the reason why geopolymer ceramics are made at low energy rather than with high temperature diffusion. The nanoporous, nanoparticulate, microstructure of geopolymers are examined by SEM, TEM, and in situ high temperature synchrotron studies using powder diffraction and pair distribution function (PDF) analyses. Intrinsic mechanical properties as well as those of geopolymer composites are summarized for both ceramic, as well as biological reinforcements, in the form of particulates, chopped fibers, chopped strand mat, and weaves.