Cleaner, sustainable, and safer: Green potential of alkali-activated materials in current building industry, radiological good practice, and a few tips

• Published in: Construction & building materials Vol. 409; p. 133879
• Main Authors: Tositti, Laura, Masi, Giulia, Morozzi, Pietro, Zappi, Alessandro, Chiara Bignozzi, Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.12.2023
• Subjects: Alkali activated material; Dosimetric index; Geopolymer; High-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry; Natural radionuclides; NORM; NORM; Alkali activated material; Dosimetric index; Geopolymer; High-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry; Natural radionuclides
• ISSN: 0950-0618; 1879-0526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.133879

•Solid industrial wastes were the selected precursors for alkali activated material.•Physico-chemical properties and natural radioactivity of materials were evaluated.•Dosimetric indexes of the precursors, paste and mortars were determined.•It was found that geopolymers (in paste and mortar form) comply to Euratom Directive. Alkali-activated materials were prepared from four typical precursors (coal fly ash, granulated blast furnace slag, metakaolin, and brick waste powder) characterized for granulometry, elemental composition, and microstructure. High-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry was used to determine the activity concentration of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) in all the materials to assess their radiological impact. All the investigated materials have been found to comply with the European dosimetric index (I) according to Directive 2013/59/Euratom. The results suggest the need for an accurate check of radioactivity throughout the mixing phases to prevent I exceedances. The productive chains were also evaluated by principal component analysis.