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TECHNICAL PAPER
5. CONCLUSIONS 4. barbosa, V.F.F., macKenzie, K.J.D., and Thaumaturgo, C.
(2000). “synthesis and characterisation of materials based
This article, which was not intended to be exhaustive regarding on inorganic polymers of alumina and silica: sodium
the formulation of geopolymers and alkali-activated binders, polysialate polymers”, International Journal of Inorganic
had the following objectives: Materials, 2(4), 309-317.
• make an inventory of the main precursors used, as well as 5. san Nicolas, R., Cyr, m., and Escadeillas G. (2013).
precursor-activator pairs compatible with each other. “Characteristics and applications of flash metakaolins”,
Applied Clay Science, 83-84, 253-262.
• Discuss the effects of the amount of binder and water
in these materials, compared to conventional Portland 6. Pouhet, R. (2015). “Formulation and durability of
cements. metakaolin-based geopolymers”, PhD thesis, Toulouse
University.
• Recall a few principles that can be used in formulation,
distinguishing between binders with low and high calcium 7. murat, m., and Driouche, m. (1988). “Chemical reactivity
levels. of thermally activated clay minerals - Estimation by
dissolution in hydrofluoric acid”, Cement and Concrete
The following conclusions can be drawn regarding the Research, 18, 221-228.
formulation of geopolymers and alkali-activated binders:
8. Cyr, m., Husson, b., and Carles-Gibergues, a. (1998).
• In the first case (that of metakaolin-based or fly ash-based “Détermination, par diffraction des rayons X, de la teneur
geopolymers), it seems difficult for the moment to be en phase amorphe de certains matériaux minéraux”,
satisfied with simply adding fractions of activators relative Journal de physique IV, 8(5), 23-30.
to the precursor, the use of molar ratios being entirely 9. bernal, s.a., Provis, J.L., myers, R.J., san Nicolas, R., and
justified. Van Deventer, J.s. (2015). “Role of carbonates in the
• For the second category (with slag), it is entirely possible chemical evolution of sodium carbonate-activated slag
to simplify the formulation by using the activators in binders”, Materials and Structures, 48, 517-529.
percentage of precursor. In this case, we get a little closer 10. Pouhet, R., and Cyr, m. (2016). “Formulation and
to the formulation of Portland cements. performance of flash metakaolin geopolymer concretes”,
Construction and Building Materials, 120, 150-160.
REFERENCES
11. Pouhet, R., Cyr, M., and Bucher, R., (2019). “Influence of
1. Provis, J., and Van Deventer, J. (2014). “alkali activated the initial water content in flash calcined metakaolin-based
materials: state-of-the-art Report”, RILEm TC 224-aam, geopolymer”, Construction and Building Materials, 201,
springer. 421-429.
2. bsI standards Publication, Pas 8820:2016 - Construction 12. Nguyen, Q.H., Patapy, C., steger, L., Geoffroy, s., and Cyr,
materials - alkali-activated cementitious material and M., (2015). “Alkali activated binders: influence of Portland
concrete – Specification.
cement and sodium silicate on slag reactivity”, 14th
3. shi, C., Roy, D., and Krivenko, P. (2006). “alkali-activated International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement (ICCC
Cements and Concretes”, CRC Press. 2015), beijing, China, October 13-16.
MARTIN CYR is a Professor at Toulouse University (France) and associate Professor at sherbrooke
University (Canada). He is deputy director of the Laboratory for materials and Durability of Construction
(Toulouse, France). His research interests include low-carbon concretes, mineral admixtures, alkali-activated
materials and durability of concrete. He is a member of several RILEm technical committees focused on
sCms and alkali-activated materials (267-TRm, TC 247-DTa, TC 281-CCC and TC 283-Cam). He manages
several projects with around 20 researchers working on the properties of alternative binders in concretes, in
partnership with several industrial groups (including an industrial chair on alkali-activated materials).
Cite this article: Cyr, m. (2020). “Can we Formulate a Geopolymer or an alkali-actived binder as a Portland Cement?” The Indian
Concrete Journal, Vol. 94, No. 7, pp. 5-13.
The IndIan ConCreTe Journal | JulY 2020 13

