Energy-Efficient geopolymer wall panels: optimizing mechanical, thermal, and acoustic properties for sustainable construction

Abstract The rising demand for sustainable and multifunctional building materials in advanced construction field needs innovative composites that acquires superior mechanical, thermal, and acoustic performance. This study focusses on to analyse the potential of geopolymer composites developed with g...

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Main Authors: Nidhya Rathinavel, Abdul Aleem, Mohamed Ismail
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11783-4
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author Nidhya Rathinavel
Abdul Aleem
Mohamed Ismail
author_facet Nidhya Rathinavel
Abdul Aleem
Mohamed Ismail
author_sort Nidhya Rathinavel
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The rising demand for sustainable and multifunctional building materials in advanced construction field needs innovative composites that acquires superior mechanical, thermal, and acoustic performance. This study focusses on to analyse the potential of geopolymer composites developed with ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), waste foundry sand (WFS), vermiculite, and coir fiber. Five mix designs (M1–M5) were developed with varying combination of WFS (5–25wt%) and vermiculite content (40–20wt%), while maintaining constant liquid-to-binder ratio (L/B = 0.4) and coir fiber content (5wt%). The test findings highlight, impact of the mix design on material performance. In this study, for the sample M1 to M5, densities varied from 1302 to 2032 kg/m³, water absorption reduced from 23 to 9%, compressive strength improved from 6.52 MPa to 20.0 MPa, while flexural strength increased from 2.9 MPa to 7.0 MPa, indicating improved structural integrity with increasing WFS. In addition, thermal conductivity varied from 0.1222 to 0.1652 W/m·K, and sound absorption coefficients (SAC) peaking at 0.41, while noise reduction coefficients (NRC) ranged from 0.23 to 0.10, demonstrating superior thermal and acoustic performance in mixes with higher porosity due to vermiculite. Further, the study emphasis the versatility of geopolymer composites, which can be tailored for specific applications by adjusting the mix proportions. The test findings position geopolymer composites as a promising solution for sustainable, multifunctional building materials in modern construction.
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spelling doaj-art-0caa03adf0bb4628b62a1ba0e5cd57fa2025-08-20T03:46:08ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-11783-4Energy-Efficient geopolymer wall panels: optimizing mechanical, thermal, and acoustic properties for sustainable constructionNidhya Rathinavel0Abdul Aleem1Mohamed Ismail2Engineering Materials Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, PSG Institute of Technology and Applied ResearchEngineering Materials Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, PSG Institute of Technology and Applied ResearchEngineering Materials Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, PSG Institute of Technology and Applied ResearchAbstract The rising demand for sustainable and multifunctional building materials in advanced construction field needs innovative composites that acquires superior mechanical, thermal, and acoustic performance. This study focusses on to analyse the potential of geopolymer composites developed with ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), waste foundry sand (WFS), vermiculite, and coir fiber. Five mix designs (M1–M5) were developed with varying combination of WFS (5–25wt%) and vermiculite content (40–20wt%), while maintaining constant liquid-to-binder ratio (L/B = 0.4) and coir fiber content (5wt%). The test findings highlight, impact of the mix design on material performance. In this study, for the sample M1 to M5, densities varied from 1302 to 2032 kg/m³, water absorption reduced from 23 to 9%, compressive strength improved from 6.52 MPa to 20.0 MPa, while flexural strength increased from 2.9 MPa to 7.0 MPa, indicating improved structural integrity with increasing WFS. In addition, thermal conductivity varied from 0.1222 to 0.1652 W/m·K, and sound absorption coefficients (SAC) peaking at 0.41, while noise reduction coefficients (NRC) ranged from 0.23 to 0.10, demonstrating superior thermal and acoustic performance in mixes with higher porosity due to vermiculite. Further, the study emphasis the versatility of geopolymer composites, which can be tailored for specific applications by adjusting the mix proportions. The test findings position geopolymer composites as a promising solution for sustainable, multifunctional building materials in modern construction.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11783-4Geopolymer; waste material utilizationThermal performanceAcoustic performanceNoise reduction coefficient
spellingShingle Nidhya Rathinavel
Abdul Aleem
Mohamed Ismail
Energy-Efficient geopolymer wall panels: optimizing mechanical, thermal, and acoustic properties for sustainable construction
Scientific Reports
Geopolymer; waste material utilization
Thermal performance
Acoustic performance
Noise reduction coefficient
title Energy-Efficient geopolymer wall panels: optimizing mechanical, thermal, and acoustic properties for sustainable construction
title_full Energy-Efficient geopolymer wall panels: optimizing mechanical, thermal, and acoustic properties for sustainable construction
title_fullStr Energy-Efficient geopolymer wall panels: optimizing mechanical, thermal, and acoustic properties for sustainable construction
title_full_unstemmed Energy-Efficient geopolymer wall panels: optimizing mechanical, thermal, and acoustic properties for sustainable construction
title_short Energy-Efficient geopolymer wall panels: optimizing mechanical, thermal, and acoustic properties for sustainable construction
title_sort energy efficient geopolymer wall panels optimizing mechanical thermal and acoustic properties for sustainable construction
topic Geopolymer; waste material utilization
Thermal performance
Acoustic performance
Noise reduction coefficient
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11783-4
work_keys_str_mv AT nidhyarathinavel energyefficientgeopolymerwallpanelsoptimizingmechanicalthermalandacousticpropertiesforsustainableconstruction
AT abdulaleem energyefficientgeopolymerwallpanelsoptimizingmechanicalthermalandacousticpropertiesforsustainableconstruction
AT mohamedismail energyefficientgeopolymerwallpanelsoptimizingmechanicalthermalandacousticpropertiesforsustainableconstruction