Can Geopolymer Materials Be Optimized for Sustainable Building Envelope Applications? A Preliminary Development and Characterization Study

The materials used in the construction industry have a fundamental role in the development and achievement of low-carbon structures. This research aims to develop and characterize innovative and affordable renewable materials that can meet these low carbon requirements for building envelopes and internal element applications. These materials are geopolymers, which are being researched for fire-resistance, nuclear storage, and cement-based structural applications. Geopolymers are commonly fabricated from high-volume waste materials (e.g., fly ash and blast furnace slag) that are stored in landfill and tailings ponds and have the capacity to facilitate the transition toward a more sustainable and energy-efficient built environment while contributing to the circular economy in the building sector. Two geopolymers, a reference and a prototype, were fabricated and characterized in-lab for their thermal and optical properties to assess their performance for use as building envelope materials. Preliminary results suggest that the prototype has potential for use in green, lightweight building applications. Further optimization of the geopolymers’ thermal and optical performances will open new opportunities for the use of this material in buildings.