Geopolymers and geopolymeric materials

Abstract

Spectacular technological progress has been made in the last few years through the development of new materials such as ‘geopolymers’, and new techniques, such as ‘sol-gel’. New state-of-the-art materials designed with the help of geopolymerisation reactions are opening up new applications and procedures and transforming ideas that have been taken for granted in inorganic chemistry. High temperature techniques are no longer necessary to obtain materials which are ceramiclike in their structures and properties. These materials can polycondense just like organic polymers, at temperatures lower than 100 deg. C. This new generation of materials, whether used pure, with fillers or reinforced, is already finding applications in all fields of industry. Some examples: These applications are to be found in the automobile and aerospace industries, non-ferrous foundries and metallurgy, civil engineering, plastics industries, etc.