Chapter 1

1.1 Introduction
Portland cement concrete (PCC) is a heterogeneous system of solid, discrete,
gradiently sized, inorganic mineral aggregates, usually plutonic or sedimentarycalcareous in origin, embedded in a matrix compounded of synthesized polybasic
alkaline and alkaloidal silicates held in aqueous solution and co-precipitate dispersion
with other amphoteric oxides, this matrix being originally capable of progressive
dissolution, hydration, re-precipitation, gelation and solidification through a
continuous and co-existent series of crystalline, amorphous, colloidal and
cryptocrystalline states and ultimately subject to thermo-allotriomorphic alteration, the
system when first conjoined being plastic during which stage it is impressed to a
predetermined form into which it finally consolidates, thus providing a structure
relatively impermeable and with useful capacity to transmit tensile, compressive, and
shear stresses. In order to prevent the carbon dioxide emissions, a new products were
invented , Geopolymer concrete that been made from the mixture alumina silicate and
alkaline liquids.Lightweight concrete can be defined as a type of concrete which
includes an expanding agent in that it increases the volume of the mixture while giving
additional qualities such as nailbility and lessened the dead weight. Lightweight
concrete maintains its large voids and not forming laitance layers or cement films
when placed on the wall. This research was based on the performance of aerated
lightweight concrete. However, sufficient water cement ratio is vital to produce
adequate cohesion between cement and water. Insufficient water can cause lack of
cohesion between particles, thus loss in strength of concrete. Likewise too much water
can cause cement to run off aggreagate to form laitance layers, subsequently weakens
in strength.

1.2 Problem Statement

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Portland cement production is a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions as an

estimated about 8% of all human-generated atmospheric carbon dioxide worldwide
comes from the concrete industry

Production of portland cement is currently topping 2.6 billions tons per year
worldwide and still growing rapidly 5% annually

1.3 Objective of Study

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To study a new product better than OPC that has the potential to substantially curb the
carbon dioxide emissons

To determine a more durable infrastructure capable and better than ordinary

infrastructures nowadays

To study the chemical mixture by using geopolymerization process can be the agent
that can control the carbon dioxide emissions

1.4 Scope of Study

Composite Polymer concrete is the process where the hardened process of
cementations paste made from alumina silicate such as flyash and alkaline solutions such as

sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH). It also combines waste products
into useful products. The definition for the word polymer is a structure of element that consist
of a lot of monomer chaining that also called Polymerization process. The process to create
the Geopolymer concrete are the alkaline solutions induce the silica and alumina atoms in the
source materials such flyash to dissolve. After dissolving, it will form some sort of gel
formation when being applied by heating. After that the gel binds the aggregates and the
unreacted source materials to form the geopolymer concrete. The aggregate are prepared in
saturated surface dry (SSD) condition, and are kept in plastic buckets with lid. The flyash and
aggregates are first mixed together dry in pan mixer. The liquid component of the mixture is
then added to the dry materials and the mixing continued usually for another 4 minutes. The
fresh concrete could be handled up to 120 minutes without any sign of setting and without any
degradation in the compressive strength. Standard test for workability of a concrete is also
used for the fresh geopolymer concrete that is slump test. The geopolymer concrete can be
applied for future use such as pre-cast concrete, marine structures due to resistance against
chemical attacks and waste containments. The compressive strength of the geopolymer
concrete is about 1.5 times more than that of the compressive strength with the ordinary
portland cement concrete, for the same mix. The properties of the geopolymer concrete also
are it sets at room temperature, long life working before stiffening, impermeable, and higher
resistance to heat and resist all organic solvents.

1.5 Important of Study

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Environment
The chemical mixture between alumina silicate and alkaline liquids can assist in
overcoming the problem of air pollution from the carbon dioxide emssions from the
concrete industry itself

Health
Can prevent diseases such as shortness of breath, asthma, skin irritation caused by dust
mites.

Construction
By using geopolymer concrete, we can produce a more durable infrastructure capable
of design life measured in hundreds of years.