Geopolymer: Precursor Sources, Properties, Performance Parameters, and Challenges

Ibrahim Wahab Fawole; Jude Ashezua; Mathew Tikpangi Kolo; Ezekiel Babatunde Ogunbode

Geopolymer: Precursor Sources, Properties, Performance Parameters, and Challenges

Abstract

Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is a versatile and widely used material in the civil engineering industry all over the world. However, the use of OPC comes at high economic, environmental, energy, and public health cost. Hence, research dedicated to obtaining green and sustainable alternatives to OPC in the construction industry have become active and of interest to scientist and the public. Geopolymers have been predicted to be a viable and green replacement of OPC in the construction industry based on their properties, functionality, and potentials. This review article delved into the basic raw materials and their sources, synthesis route, and properties of geopolymer as obtained from most recent investigations. These aspects of geopolymer were compared with that of OPC with the objective of ascertaining the environmental friendliness, cost effectiveness, low carbon footprint, performance superiority, among other advantages of geopolymer in contrast to OPC. Although geopolymer precursors could be obtained from agricultural wastes such as rice husk ash and cassava peel ash containing pozzolanic aluminosilicates, industrial by products, and geological formations. The sustainability of using these materials to meet the present global demand of OPC was also highlighted in this study. Although, geopolymer appeared to be an assuring and sustainable replacement to the OPC, there exist challenges in its standardisation and applications. The review concludes by highlighting problems associated with sourcing raw materials for geopolymer production, standardising synthesis method, optimising the production process of diverse precursors, testing, and other problems that can hinder the universal acceptance and active participation of geopolymers in construction industry.

Keywords

Agricultural waste, Alkaline activator, Aluminosilicate, Compressive strength, Geopolymer, Precursor

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Cement Technology

Journal Section

Review

Authors

Ibrahim Wahab Fawole ^*
0009-0004-3165-0732
Nigeria

Jude Ashezua
0009-0006-9285-6894
Nigeria

Mathew Tikpangi Kolo
0000-0002-3225-4262
Nigeria

Ezekiel Babatunde Ogunbode
0000-0002-9076-667X
Nigeria

Early Pub Date

December 31, 2025

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

May 21, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 21, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 1 Number: 1

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA74HZ82PH

APA

Fawole, I. W., Ashezua, J., Kolo, M. T., & Ogunbode, E. B. (2025). Geopolymer: Precursor Sources, Properties, Performance Parameters, and Challenges. Universal Materials and Physics, 1(1), 50-74. https://izlik.org/JA74HZ82PH

AMA

1.Fawole IW, Ashezua J, Kolo MT, Ogunbode EB. Geopolymer: Precursor Sources, Properties, Performance Parameters, and Challenges. Univ. Mater. Phys. 2025;1(1):50-74. https://izlik.org/JA74HZ82PH

Chicago

Fawole, Ibrahim Wahab, Jude Ashezua, Mathew Tikpangi Kolo, and Ezekiel Babatunde Ogunbode. 2025. “Geopolymer: Precursor Sources, Properties, Performance Parameters, and Challenges”. Universal Materials and Physics 1 (1): 50-74. https://izlik.org/JA74HZ82PH.

EndNote

Fawole IW, Ashezua J, Kolo MT, Ogunbode EB (December 1, 2025) Geopolymer: Precursor Sources, Properties, Performance Parameters, and Challenges. Universal Materials and Physics 1 1 50–74.

IEEE

[1]I. W. Fawole, J. Ashezua, M. T. Kolo, and E. B. Ogunbode, “Geopolymer: Precursor Sources, Properties, Performance Parameters, and Challenges”, Univ. Mater. Phys., vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 50–74, Dec. 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA74HZ82PH

ISNAD

Fawole, Ibrahim Wahab - Ashezua, Jude - Kolo, Mathew Tikpangi - Ogunbode, Ezekiel Babatunde. “Geopolymer: Precursor Sources, Properties, Performance Parameters, and Challenges”. Universal Materials and Physics 1/1 (December 1, 2025): 50-74. https://izlik.org/JA74HZ82PH.

JAMA

1.Fawole IW, Ashezua J, Kolo MT, Ogunbode EB. Geopolymer: Precursor Sources, Properties, Performance Parameters, and Challenges. Univ. Mater. Phys. 2025;1:50–74.

MLA

Fawole, Ibrahim Wahab, et al. “Geopolymer: Precursor Sources, Properties, Performance Parameters, and Challenges”. Universal Materials and Physics, vol. 1, no. 1, Dec. 2025, pp. 50-74, https://izlik.org/JA74HZ82PH.

Vancouver

1.Ibrahim Wahab Fawole, Jude Ashezua, Mathew Tikpangi Kolo, Ezekiel Babatunde Ogunbode. Geopolymer: Precursor Sources, Properties, Performance Parameters, and Challenges. Univ. Mater. Phys. [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 1;1(1):50-74. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA74HZ82PH