Building a Sustainable Future with Geopolymer Thermal Insulation: Availability and Opportunities

The primary function of buildings is to offer shelter to their occupants. However, as human needs have increased, occupants now desire comfortable conditions within enclosed spaces, resulting in the consumption of high amounts of energy for heating and cooling appliances. Currently, the energy needs of buildings are primarily optimized through passive design strategies, such as insulation, which can be expensive. The solution to this issue is to provide enclosed spaces without additional insulation layers, where the building envelope material possesses intrinsic insulation characteristics. Geopolymer-based materials are now being considered as a replacement for conventional cement-based materials due to their eco-friendly nature. This chapter focuses on the research insights into the various aspects of insulated products developed using geopolymer technology. It discusses the performance of the insulated geopolymer-based products, which can be achieved through three primary techniques: foaming, creating hollow or cavity spaces, and providing infills. Although the efficacy of these techniques requires further evaluation, promising results have been observed in studies conducted thus far, indicating that the construction industry may adopt insulated geopolymer products in the near future.