Super cements aka “geopolymers”

Science
Super cements aka “geopolymers”
kriven_acers_2004_mug_drop_mugs.jpg

Think cement is just cement? Not so. These unlovely mugs are nonetheless very special. Prepared from special synthetic aluminosilicate materials called “geopolymers” (Wikipedia) by members of Dr. Waltraud M. Kriven’s research group at The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, these mugs were tested in a special “mug drop” event at the 2004 American Ceramic Society (ACeRS) conference, and supposedly “were impossible to break at even 50ft onto bare concrete” (although the photos clearly show an astroturf-covered floor). Danger Room’s David Hambling recently posted a nice overview of geopolymer technology with an eye towards defense applications. These presentation slides by Dr. Kriven (.pdf) include some actual formulae.

kriven_acers_2004_mug_drop_bounce.jpg

2 thoughts on “Super cements aka “geopolymers”

  1. barleyhollow says:

    Awesome! Ceramics on MAKE. Excellent. Note that the sodium silicate often gets a bit of soda ash added and is called “magic water” in pottery circles, and is used in joining seams in hand built pieces. Check out your pottery supply store for the raw materials.

  2. Gary McNeish says:

    Does anyone sell geopolymer or have the recipe? If so email me:
    garyjmcneish@gmail.com

Comments are closed.

Discuss this article with the rest of the community on our Discord server!
Tagged

I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I am a long-time contributor to MAKE magazine and makezine.com. My work has also appeared in ReadyMade, c't – Magazin für Computertechnik, and The Wall Street Journal.

View more articles by Sean Michael Ragan

ADVERTISEMENT

Maker Faire Bay Area 2023 - Mare Island, CA

Escape to an island of imagination + innovation as Maker Faire Bay Area returns for its 15th iteration!

Buy Tickets today! SAVE 15% and lock-in your preferred date(s).

FEEDBACK