Development of Geopolymer-Based Materials with Ceramic Waste for Artistic and Restoration Applications

Abstract

This contribution presents the preparation and characterization of new geopolymer-based mortars obtained from recycling waste deriving from the production process and the “end-of-life” of porcelain stoneware products. Structural, morphological, and mechanical studies carried out on different kinds of mortars prepared by using several types of by-products (i.e., pressed burnt and extruded ceramic waste, raw pressed and gypsum resulting from exhausted moulds) point out that these systems can be easily cast, also in complex shapes, and show a more consistent microstructure with respect to the geopolymer paste, with a reduced amount of microcracks. Moreover, the excellent adhesion of these materials to common substrates such as pottery and earthenware, even for an elevated concentration of filler, suggests their use in the field of technical-artistic value-added applications, such as restoration, conservation, and/or rehabilitation of historic monuments, or simply as materials for building revetments. For all these reasons, the proposed materials could represent valuable candidates to try to overcome some problems experienced in the cultural heritage sector concerning the selection of environmentally friendly materials that simultaneously meet art and design technical requirements.

Geopolymer Materials for Extrusion-Based 3D-Printing: A Review

“…Moreover, geopolymers can be functionalised, formed as organic–inorganic hybrids, or mixed with other materials to form composites to generate novel materials for cutting-edge technological applications [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ].…”

Sustainable Materials Based on Geopolymer–Polyvinyl Acetate Composites for Art and Design Applications

“…Sodium hydroxide (sigma-Aldrich 98%) in pellets was added to sodium silicate solution under constant mechanical stirring. The prepared solution was then allowed to equilibrate at room temperature for 24 h. The composition of the solution can be expressed as Na 2 O 1.55 SiO 2 12.14 H 2 O in molar ratio [17,29]. Subsequently, the metakaolin was added into the activating solution with a 1.4:1 by weight in a liquid-to-solid ratio and mechanically mixed at 850 rpm for 10 min [17].…”

“…The prepared solution was then allowed to equilibrate at room temperature for 24 h. The composition of the solution can be expressed as Na 2 O 1.55 SiO 2 12.14 H 2 O in molar ratio [17,29]. Subsequently, the metakaolin was added into the activating solution with a 1.4:1 by weight in a liquid-to-solid ratio and mechanically mixed at 850 rpm for 10 min [17]. The composition of the whole geopolymer system (as determined by EDS analysis on the hardened samples) can be expressed as Al 2 O 3 3.48 SiO 2 1.0 Na 2 O 12.14 H 2 O in a molar ratio, referring to a complete geopolymerization process.…”

“…These materials are nowadays considered for their potential use in many applications and industrial fields [10][11][12], such as civil engineering, cements and concretes, automotive and aerospace industries, retrofit of buildings, waste management [13], matrices for hazardous waste stabilization, tooling and moldings, fireproof barriers, [14,15] and, as already mentioned, in art and decoration [16,17]. In terms of applications as cement and concrete materials, they can reduce energy consumption during production, emission of greenhouse gases, and environmental impacts [18][19][20][21].…”

Special Issue: “Recent Developments in Geopolymers and Alkali-Activated Materials”

“…This Special Issue features eight research papers and two review papers covering a spectrum of topics. Ricciotti et al’s [ 1 ] study demonstrates the production of metakaolin geopolymer-based plaster by recycling waste generated in the production process of porcelain stoneware products, with excellent adhesion suitable for the restoration and preservation of artworks. Zue et al [ 2 ] showcase the synthesis of low-temperature C-S-H using the alkali activation of high-carbon biomass fly ash, a challenging material to recycle.…”