Development of Geopolymeric Mortar from Metakaolin and Ignimbrite from the Añashuayco Quarries, Peru, for Civil Construction

Alan Ícaro Sousa Morais (), Daniela Krisbéll Ortega Palmeira, Ariane Maria Da Silva Santos Nascimento, Josy Anteveli Osajima, Ramón Raudel Peña Garcia and Fredy Alberto Huamán-Mamani
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Alan Ícaro Sousa Morais: Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Católica San Pablo, Arequipa 04001, Peru
Daniela Krisbéll Ortega Palmeira: Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Católica San Pablo, Arequipa 04001, Peru
Ariane Maria Da Silva Santos Nascimento: Postgraduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering, Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Advanced Materials (LIMAV), Campus Universitário Ministro Petrônio Portella—Ininga, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina 64049-550, PI, Brazil
Josy Anteveli Osajima: Postgraduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering, Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Advanced Materials (LIMAV), Campus Universitário Ministro Petrônio Portella—Ininga, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina 64049-550, PI, Brazil
Ramón Raudel Peña Garcia: Academic Unit of Cabo de Santo Agostinho—UACSA, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco—UFRPE, No. 300—Cohab, Cabo de Santo Agostinho 54518-430, PE, Brazil
Fredy Alberto Huamán-Mamani: Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Católica San Pablo, Arequipa 04001, Peru

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-26

Abstract: The construction industry generates large amounts of waste and high CO 2 emissions, especially from cement production. Sustainable alternatives, such as geopolymers, help reduce these impacts by promoting eco-friendly materials. This study aimed to develop geopolymer mortar using ignimbrite (IG) residues from the Arequipa region, Peru, combined with metakaolin (MK). The raw materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to assess the chemical composition, structure, and morphology. Geopolymeric mortars were synthesized with varying MK/IG ratios while maintaining a fixed fine sand proportion. An activating solution of 9 mol/L NaOH was used with different liquid-to-solid ratios. Geopolymers cured at room temperature for 28 days exhibited lower compressive strength than those dried at 50 °C for 48 h or sequentially at 50 °C for 48 h followed by 90 °C for 12 h. The highest IG-content mixture achieved a compressive strength of 18 MPa, while the MK-based geopolymer reached 12 MPa, both under high-temperature curing. An increase in the SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 molar ratio was also associated with improved mechanical performance, reinforcing the influence of precursor composition on geopolymerization. These results highlight the potential of regional ignimbrite for the production of geopolymer mortar, promoting sustainable and innovative building materials.

Keywords: geopolymer; construction; sustainable materials; waste recycling; environmental impact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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