Development of glass waste and glove former–based geopolymers for carbon emission reduction

Loo, Dun Xue (2025) Development of glass waste and glove former–based geopolymers for carbon emission reduction. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

Exploration of geopolymers as substitutes for regular Portland cement (OPC), which emits a lot of carbon dioxide (CO₂), has been spurred by the growing need for environmentally friendly building materials. This study investigates the feasibility of utilizing glove former waste (GFW) and glass waste (GW) as aluminosilicate precursors in geopolymer production, with the aim of reducing cement dependency and mitigating environmental impacts. Three mix designs were prepared: 100% GFW, 100% GW, and a blended mix containing 50% GFW and 50% GW. The specimens were cured under ambient conditions for 7, 14, and 28 days, with an additional 24 hours of oven curing at 100 °C after 28 days to assess strength enhancement. Compressive strength tests revealed limited early-age performance (0.2–0.4 MPa), but strength improved at 28 days, with the blended mix achieving the highest value of 1.32 MPa, followed by GFW (1.10 MPa) and GW (0.95 MPa). The oven curing process further enhanced strength development, confirming the positive influence of thermal activation. Chemical and environmental analysis indicated that GFW and GW are rich in silica and alumina, making them suitable precursors for geopolymerization, while also offering a pathway to waste valorization and carbon footprint reduction. The findings suggest that GFW and GW can serve as viable alternative raw materials in geopolymer binder systems, contributing to sustainable construction practices and climate change mitigation. Keyword: geopolymer, glass waste, glover former waste, ordinary portland cement, carbon emission Subject area: TA401-492 Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials

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