Geopolymers (GP) and alkali-activated materials (AAM) offer a low-energy, low-carbon alternative to conventional Portland cements, but their competitiveness is under threat from increasingly stringent environmental requirements. The raw materials used (siliceous sands, sodium carbonate, kaolin, sodium silicate) generally originate from other industries (food, water treatment, paper, glass) that require high purity, which increases costs, the carbon footprint associated with transport and the scarcity of deposits, thereby reducing the economic appeal of GP/AAM.

However, less pure or alternative materials (activatable clays, quarry fines, biomass or incineration ash, dredging sludge, construction waste) are available locally within the FWVL Interreg region.

The AlSiBuild project will map these resources, propose ready-to-use formulations and pilot demonstrators to prove their suitability for concrete, and disseminate these solutions to a wide audience. Its originality lies in the use of real-world resources, often mixed and adjusted to achieve the appropriate chemical and mineral compositions.

The project aims to take the lead in a promising sector, resolve supply and cost issues, and share best practices so that the sector can adopt these new materials with confidence. The local approach secures supply chains in the face of climate and geopolitical changes; the cross-border approach diversifies resources and enables access to materials with high functional and environmental performance, whilst facilitating the exchange of expertise within the FWVL region

Thanks to their different chemical composition, these new materials offer improved resistance to fire and chemical degradation, excellent mechanical strength from the very outset – which is useful for repairs or emergency interventions – and eliminate the need for marine sand, thereby helping to protect the coastline.

Missions of Materia Nova : Materia Nova is primarily involved in WP6, working on assessing the environmental impact of the solutions developed as part of the project, specifically on the flow inventory, the assessment of transport impacts in the FWVL region, and the environmental impact sheets for the demonstrators.

Contact : benjamine.belloncle@materianova.be

Total Budget : 2.829.853,40 €
FEDER FEDER : 1.697.912,02 €
Materia Nova Budget : 244.029,92 €

Partners : CRIBC (Project leader), Centrale Lille, Université de Mons, Neo-Eco, Université de Ghent, Buildwise, IMT Nord Europe

Associated partners : GreenWin, Circular Concrete Center, CD2E, Cluster Cap Construction, Envirobat Grand Est et TEAM 2

Project website : https://www.interregal2sibuild.org/

Lien Interreg