INNOVATIVE MATERIALS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The course aims to provide, starting from the materials currently used in the building field, suitable knowledge of new generation materials in favour of green issues and circular economy. In particular, mineralogical, geochemical and physical information will be provided on innovative products, also useful in terms of employment. In the laboratory module, the student will acquire the skills to carry out activities of synthesis, analysis and interpretation of data.

Referring to the "Dublin Descriptors," this course contributes to the development of the following transversal skills:

Knowledge and understanding:

• Inductive and deductive reasoning skills.

• Ability to schematize an industrial problem in terms of environmental impact.

• Ability to apply knowledge:

• Ability to apply acquired knowledge to describe the environmental impact of an industrial materials production line.

• Ability to find solutions to limit the impact according to the principles of sustainability and the circular economy.

Making judgments:

• Critical reasoning skills.

• Ability to identify the most appropriate methods for critically analyzing, interpreting, and processing experimental data.

Communication skills:

• Ability to present a scientific topic orally with appropriate language.

"Information for students with disabilities and/or DSA - To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on educational objectives and specific needs. You can also contact the CInAP (Active and Participatory Integration Center - Services for Disabilities and/or DSA) contact teacher of our Department, Prof. Giorgio De Guidi."

1. National and international legislation on environmental sustainability
2. Examples of negative impacts on the environment of traditional materials
3. Examples of innovative materials developed to date (e.g., graphene)
4. Geopolymers and alkaline activated materials: chemistry, mix design and production; physical and mechanical properties; durability; potential uses. Comparison with traditional materials
5. Theoretical aspects of the main structural characterization methods for the study of alkaline activated geopolymers/materials: XRD, FTIR and NMR
6. Laboratory: Synthesis activity of the alkaline activation process with different precursors, laboratory characterization tests and data interpretation. Analysis of scientific studies and critical evaluation. Life cycle assessment (LCA) of a material.

Lecture notes and publications in scientific journals.

For detailed studies:

1. Alkali-Activated Materials in Environmental Technology Applications. 2022. Tero Luukkonen. Paperback ISBN: 9780323884389
2. Cement Replacement Materials: Properties, Durability, Sustainability. 2014. Ali Akbar Ramezanianpour. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36721-2
3. Handbook of Alkali-Activated Cements, Mortars and Concretes. 2015. Pacheco-Torgal F., Labrincha J. A., Leonelli C., Palomo A., Chindaprasirt P. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2013-0-16511-7 ISBN 978-1-78242-276-1
4. Chemically activated inorganic polymeric geopolymers (Second Edition). 2014. Leonelli C. & Romagnoli M. ISBN 9781291781816
5. Alkali Activated Materials - State-of-the-Art Report, RILEM TC 224-AAM. 2014. Provis J., van Deventer J. S. J. ISBN 9789400776722

Differences between cements, geopolymers and alkaline activated materials

Advantages and versatility of alkaline activated geopolymers/materials

Regulatory aspects regarding environmental sustainability

Description of the synthesis procedure and main characterization techniques for the study of geopolymeric materials