Trade Journals for the Concrete Industry

The construction industry is considered one of the most polluting globally due to the significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with it, as well as the use of natural materials. Geopolymers or alkali-activated cements have emerged as an innovative solution to mitigate the negative effects of this industry by replacing the use of Portland cement with industrial waste activated with an alkaline solution. This article presents the results obtained from the industrial-scale production of concrete paving blocks using geopolymers. The use of alternative materials for the development of con- struction materials presents a great opportunity to improve sustainable construction. The use of geopolymers brings both economic and environmental benefits by utilizing waste materials that must otherwise be disposed of in landfills. Materials and products Concrete rectangular paving blocks measuring 20 x 10 x 60 cm were manufactured. The paving blocks consist of two lay- ers of material with different particle sizes in each layer. The manufacturing process of these products involves mixing in two stages: the lower part or base layer of the paving block is mixed separately from the upper part, which is mixed with pigments for decorative purposes, as illustrated in Figure 1. These paving blocks are molded using an automated vibro- compression process, where the two previously mixed layers are overlaid in molds, with the colored upper layer having a thickness less than the other layer. Then, the material is com- pressed under pressure and subjected to vibration.