GeoPer-Digi Project

The increasing concerns regarding climate change and the environmental impact of the construction industry require the development of sustainable materials capable of reducing CO2 emissions and the consumption of non-renewable resources. In this context, geopolymers represent a promising alternative to Portland cement-based materials due to their ability to valorize mineral waste.

The project aims to develop sustainable geopolymer plasters based on local mineral waste and functionalized with perlite in order to obtain lightweight materials with improved thermal insulation properties. The developed materials will be characterized from microstructural, mechanical, physical and thermal perspectives.

The digital transformation component is integrated through the development of an experimental database and the use of statistical analysis methods for composition optimization. The project contributes to circular economy principles, energy-efficient buildings and reindustrialization through the valorization of local resources and technologies with industrial transfer potential.

The methodology combines experimental development with digital optimization tools. Local mineral waste such as fly ash, slag and other aluminosilicate-rich materials will be collected, processed and characterized using XRF, XRD, SEM and EDAX analyses.

Different geopolymer matrices will be developed by optimizing the type of alkaline activator, solid/liquid ratio and curing conditions. Subsequently, perlite will be incorporated into the optimized geopolymer matrix in different proportions to obtain lightweight plasters with controlled porosity and improved thermal insulation behavior.

Experimental results will be integrated into a dedicated database and statistically analyzed using Taguchi and similar methods to establish correlations between composition, microstructure and material performance.