Functional materials
We develop the optimum recipe for producing functional materials through valorization of industrial or municipal wastes, with outstanding mechanical and thermal properties.
On this purpose the geopolymersation technology is used. The geopolymerization process is exothermic and takes place at atmospheric pressure and temperatures below 100oC. Τhis reaction results in the formation of compact amorphous to semi-crystalline solid materials characterized by a specific three-dimensional polymeric structure.
The geopolymerization process has gained an increased scientific interest during the last decades, mainly due to the large variety of existing solid aluminosilicate raw materials. Among these, industrial minerals, such as kaoline, feldspars, perlite, etc. (and industrial byproducts, such as fired-coal fly ash, alumina red mud, metallurgical slags, building demolition materials, etc. are the most important.
The latter class of potential raw materials is extremely attractive, both because of their low cost and for environmental reasons. Geopolymers possess excellent physicochemical, thermal and mechanical properties, like low density, micro- or nano- porosity, high mechanical strength, notable surface hardness, thermal stability, fire and chemical resistance.
For this reason, geopolymers are often viewed as alternative construction materials with excellent mechanical and unique thermal properties.