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Abstract
For the constantly evolving alkali-activated materials (AAMs), expanding and optimising the raw materials base in accordance with increasing ecological and technical requirements is one of the determining factors for a promising future. Because of developments in inorganic material chemistry, the range of potentially suitable aluminosilicates has changed and expanded continuously throughout the history of AAMs. Recently, new efforts have been undertaken to find more types of adequate alternative aluminosilicate sources and alkali activators, in addition to conventional granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS), fly ash (FA), and metakaolin (MK). This search has led to extensive studies, which have substantially increased understanding of the suitability of various natural sources and wastes for the production of alkali-activated cements (AACs). Recent advances in the design and research of AACs based on several groups of aluminosilicates (non-ferrous slags, ash-form wastes, waste glasses, mining and ceramic wastes, natural rocks, and natural pozzolans) and alkali materials (ashes, waste glasses, chemicals, and alkaline wastes) are reviewed in this paper. By analogy with low-Portland clinker cements, alkali-activated low-GBFS, low-FA, and low-MK (up to 50%) cements incorporated with various alternative aluminosilicates have been found to represent very promising types of AACs in terms of availability of raw materials, engineering and economic performance, and commercialisation.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.