Preface

Twenty years ago I decided to conduct postgraduate research in the field of geopolymers (or inorganic polymers). Surprisingly, I did not find enough references or articles on the subject for the literature survey. But during the past twenty years this topic has become a subject of global concern, and there are tens of thousands of publications covering it in various countries of the world. So I thought it was worth editing this book, which focuses on certain aspects of geopolymers and its applications. This book, *Geopolymers and Other Geosynthetics*, deals with the basics of geopolymers as an extension of the rest of the geosynthetics structures. This book contains ten chapters. Chapter 1, the introductory chapter, provides a general introduction to geopolymers and the challenges facing their use on a large scale, as well as studying geopolymers as functional materials that have more than one use. Chapter 2 discusses geopolymers, their synthesis methods, as well as their advanced applications. Chapter 3 summarizes some selected advanced characterization methods of geopolymers, mainly the microstructure, such as SEM, TEM, NMR, and Synchrotrons. Chapters 4 and 5 describe the synthesis of geopolymer bricks using low cost and available precursors such as iron ore tailings, slag sand, slag, and fly ash. Chapter 6 discusses the synthesis of geopolymers using different precursors particularly bauxite, red mud, and wastes. Chapter 7 presents the phase composition, microstructure evolution, and thermal expansion behaviors of the ceramics derived from the geopolymers. Chapters 8, 9, and 10 discuss the geotechnical properties and the geosynthetic structures indirectly related to geopolymers. This book represents the background of the science of geopolymers.

**II**

Method

Remediation

*by Meshari Almutairi*

**Chapter 9 135**

**Chapter 10 149**

Analysis of the Creep and the Influence on the Modulus Improvement Factor (MIF) in Polyolefin Geocells Using the Stepped Isothermal

*by Juan Carlos Ruge, Julian Gonzalo Gomez and Carlos Andres Moreno*

The Assessment Strategy for Selecting and Evaluating Geoenvironmental

**Mazen Alshaaer** Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia

> **Han-Yong Jeon** Inha University, South Korea

**1**

**Chapter 1**

Introductory Chapter:

this group of materials by Prof. Davidovits [1].

**2. Functional geopolymers and their applications**

**2.1 Geopolymers for construction and water treatment**

and their applications are discussed.

Geopolymers

*Mazen Alshaaer*

**1. Introduction**

used in different fields.

of houses [11].

Case Studies of Functional

Geopolymers are a relatively new material [1–5]. Basically, this term is applied to material class that is chemically transformed from low-crystallinity aluminosilicates to three-dimensional inorganic polymers (tectosilicates). The resulting material has properties similar to natural minerals, so it is called artificial rock [3, 6]. Actually these materials exhibit chemical composition and mineralogical structure similar to feldspar, feldspathoid, and zeolites consisting of a polymeric Si–O–Al framework, with a microcrystalline or an amorphous structure. Geopolymers were termed for

The major aim of developing the geopolymers is to find alternatives to portland cement and thus to reduce carbon dioxide emissions during cement processing [7]. But in recent years, there has been an observable development in geopolymers and their applications, which have been used in various fields such as construction, waste management, art, and decoration [6, 8]. The precursors of geopolymers are characterized by the availability, whether earth materials such as kaolinitic soil or waste such as fly ash. Many geopolymeric materials are still under development, but some products are already commercialized and

Although geopolymers have attractive engineering and environmental characteristics, there are some challenges in commercializing these materials [9, 10]. In this chapter, these challenges will be addressed along with introducing the functional geopolymers as one of the effective approaches to commercialize these materials and make them economically feasible. Functional geopolymers are defined as geopolymers with more than one use at a time, such as use in construction and water purification or use in construction and passive cooling

In the following sections, some of the most important functional geopolymers

This research approach is related to the use of geopolymers not only for construction purposes but also for water purification. The major interest is based on
