Polymers (Geopolymer), an environmentally friendly and innovative construction material developed at Louisiana Technology University's Trenchless Technology Center (TTC), will be exhibited at the exhibition. organized at the Detroit Science Center.
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Allouche said the display of this type of polymers at the exhibition will attract public attention to this emerging green building technology. If the public is aware that there are more sustainable methods for building bridges and roads, it will cause government agencies to exploit and promote 'greener' technologies. Such influence is essential for new materials, such as polymer cement, to contribute to overcome many of the administrative barriers that exist between laboratories and the construction industry.
Compared with conventional Portland cement, geo-polymer cement has superior properties such as higher friction resistance, better fire resistance (up to 2400oF), high tension and deformation, low shrinkage . Fly ash is used in exhibits at the Detroit Science Center obtained from a coal-fired power plant near Louisiana.
The team hopes that this innovative and green technology will increasingly have commercial applications throughout the construction industry, with applications in the forefront of transport infrastructure.
Allouche said their research team is one of the leading groups in this field and will be a key component to developing and commercializing polymer cement technology in the coming years.
The greatest benefit of polymers is the potential to reduce recirculating greenhouse gases, up to 90% compared to conventional Portland cement. Researchers at TTC continue to study ways to replace Portland cement with mortar made from industrial waste. Some new generation polymer polymers can have a longer life cycle than conventional cement.