Potential application of kaolin without calcine as greener concrete: A review

Abstract

Kaolin is a white raw material that has an essential constituent which makes it ideal for industrial applications such as green concrete. Based on a historical review, it appears that green polymeric composites created by using kaolin itself are very limited. Research works carried out in developing other alkali-activated binders, such as fly ash and metakaolin, shows that this new binder based on kaolin is likely to have enormous potential to become an alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete. This paper summarizes current knowledge about alkali-activated binders through a review of previously published work and outlines the potential of kaolin to produce an environmentally friendly, energy-saving, clean technology to conserve the natural environment and resources. These binders are still in the early stages of development; hence, they need further research to become technically and economically viable construction materials. Much work on alkali-activated binders has already been conducted, but much work on kaolin for greener concrete remains to be done. It is hoped that future research in this field will drive a new era of greener materials in the construction industry.