Review on the durability properties of sustainable alkali activated concrete

Abstract

Portland cement acts as binding material for the aggregates when it hydrates and forms C-S-H gel in conventional concrete and further, cement production growing 5% annually. For 1-ton cement production, a large quantity of energy is required approximately 120–130 electricity units and it emits 0.6–0.75ton CO2 in the atmosphere, which is responsible for the greenhouse effect and 7% pollutants in the atmosphere. This study was done to check the performance of the durability behavior of AAC. However, it is the polymerization process that makes fly ash a binding material in alkali-activated concrete. Calcium hydroxide is produced in the earlier case upon the hydration process of Portland cement, while no C-S-H gel and lime are produced in alkali-activated concrete. Therefore, a futuristic sustainable material that can be alkali-activated concrete requires confirmation of durability when exposed to an aggressive environment. In alkali-activated concrete strength is gained through polymerization and hydration. The study has been undertaken to place data in one place for the convenience of future research and identify the scope of various durability aspects for future research. Various aspects of durability which have been discussed in this paper are sulphate, chloride, acid resistance, and permeability.