In-situ cast geopolymer concrete

Curtin University Geopolymer Path

In June 2008 a path was constructed in the grounds of Curtin University using cast-insitu geopolymer concrete. The concrete was mixed and transported in a conventional truck mounted transit mixer. The slab's physical properties will be monitored over the next few years. The following media release describes the demonstration project.

In November 2009 a second path was constructed at Curtin, using locally available materials.

Media Release 24 June 2008:

WA based research centre on the right path

This week saw another step along the path to a low carbon future with the first geopolymer concrete path in Australia laid at the Curtin University of Technology campus in Bentley, Perth, Western Australia.

Geopolymer concrete has a number of desirable properties over ordinary Portland cement based concretes not the least of which is that it produces 80% less Greenhouse Gases.

"This is a very exciting stage in the development of geopolymer concretes for widespread general usage" says Stevan Green, CEO for the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing (CSRP). "With cement and concrete estimated to contribute around 5 to 8 percent of the world’s manmade greenhouse gas emissions, a technology which can produce a superior product

with a fraction of the emissions will be an important contributor to our response to climate change risk."

Geopolymer concretes are produced by reacting aluminate and silicate bearing materials with a caustic activator. Often waste materials such as flyash from power generation or slag/waste materials from iron and metal production can be used, thus leading to a cleaner environment in two ways.

Professor Arie van Riessen from Curtin University said that the demonstration geopolymer path is a result of collaboration between many organisations including CSRP, CSIRO, Curtin University, Rocla, Golden Bay Cement, Boral and the Geopolymer Alliance. Researchers will monitor the 100 square metre path for performance and other demonstration projects are also being planned.

CSRP aims to create new methods to

produce minerals and metals in a way that benefits the community, the environment and industry. It has a vision of sustainable minerals processing and metals production: satisfying the global material needs of society with significantly reduced ecological impacts. To achieve, CSRP aims to find technical solutions for progressively eliminating waste and emissions in the materials cycle, while enhancing business performance and meeting community expectations. CSRP is established and supported under the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centres Program.

For more information: www.geopolymers.com.au or www.csrp.com.au

Media contact: Ms Lisa Laurie (08) 6436 8832 or lisa.laurie@csrp.com.au

WA’s first geopolymer concrete path at Curtin University (photo courtesy CSRP)