Alkali Activated Materials and Geopolymers: High-End Technical Applications

May 19-23, 2025
Hotel Korpilampi
Espoo, Finland

About This Conference

This is the fourth in a successful series of ECI conferences on the theme of materials produced by alkali or acidic activation of different aluminosilicate,  iron silicate (and other) sources and their applications. The 1st conference in this series was held in Hernstein, Austria in 2015, followed by the 2nd in Tomar, Portugal in 2018. The 3rd one was delayed to 2023 due the pandemic situation and was organized in Cetraro, Italy. All the previous editions have been attended by 50 to 80 participants from at least 20 countries from all over the world. The ECI format, gathering the scientific community in a dedicated location to facilitate networking and strengthen the identity of the group where more expert personalities from all over the globe pass their experience to the younger researchers, serves as a forum for discussions on the valorisation of these cold consolidated materials which can be applied to numerous industrial process. The conference has historically brought together different fields of expertise from academia and industry, providing a knowledge platform to share and discuss the upcoming challenges and opportunities in the world of building materials, sustainable routes to ceramics, facile membrane preparation, etc. After the successful 3rd edition in 2023, we have been encouraged to reduce the time between editions as the number of activities going on worldwide are really numerous. In the present edition we are honoured to welcome high-level speakers from globally recognised organisations and companies.

Previous Conference Program [PDF]

Conference Organization

Conference Co–Chairs

W.M. Kriven
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA

Cristina Leonelli
Universita’ degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy

John L. Provis
Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland

Arie van Riessen
Curtin University, Australia 

Juho Yliniemi
University of Oulu, Finland

International Scientific Committee

Cyril Attwell, ARC Innovations, Benoni, South Africa
Maria Chiara Bignozzi, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Nuno M.C. Cristelo, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Portugal
Paolo Colombo, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
Claudio Ferone, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Naples, Italy
Ana Paula Kirchheim, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
João António Labrincha Batista, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Tero Luukkonen, Oulu University, Oulu, Finland
Angel Palomo, Institute of Construction Science Eduardo Torroja (IETcc), CSIC, Madrid, Spain
Yiannis Pontikes, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
Wouter Schroeyers, Hasselt University, Belgium
Jannie S.J. van Deventer, Zeobond Group, Australia

Conference Sessions

The conference aims to cover a large number of topics, from the scientific and technical relevance of alkali/acid activated materials to their environmental and economic impacts. Researchers in academia as well as in industry are making good progress in the industrial application of ultra-low emissions concrete.

Such types of binders are now feasible technical solutions enabling the application of geopolymers and related materials, to reduce waste and emissions in ceramic and cement manufacturing. New pathways of synthesis have arisen that do not involve the addition of highly concentrated alkaline solutions, and appear more sustainable and affordable. We need to rethink the supply chain of precursor materials, the basic understanding of the microstructure correlation with durability studies and the pathway to additional future commercial applications. Central to this is the ability to identify the opportunities where alkali / acid-activated materials may be the best available solution – and conversely also the applications that are best filled by different types of materials – to provide fit-for-purpose sustainable applications in service of modern society.

Attendees are invited to discuss and share their most updated findings in the fields of:

  • Building materials (including paving, foundations, blocks, pipes, tiles);
  • Exploitation of local and sustainable sources as aluminosilicate or alkali components;
  • Understanding and controlling leaching of alkalis and other potential contaminants from the binder structure;
  • Mechanical characteristics of alkali-activated and geopolymer concretes;
  • International and national standardisation and regulation;
  • Mix formulation and the role of additives in the fresh paste;
  • Novelties in the fabrication of foams, granules, disks, or 3D-printed lattices;
  • Post-fabrication machining of geopolymer components (drilling, cutting, grinding, surface polishing, coating);
  • Modifications of geopolymers (ion exchange, introduction of transition metals, development of composites, addition of organic functional groups to the surface, addition of graphene derivatives, carbon nanotubes, cellulose nanofibers);
  • Sustainable and low-cost provision of activators;
  • Appropriate and accurate durability testing methods and validation of long-term performance;
  • Environmental performance assessment (life cycle inventory data, specific assessment protocols, service life and recyclability in emissions calculations, accurate and realistic benchmarking against established solutions);
  • Application in adsorption of various soluble compounds (toxic metal(loid)s, nutrients, organic dyes, radioisotopes, water hardness, and rare earth elements);
  • Applications in catalysis (heterogeneous catalysts, catalyst supports in oxidative wastewater
  • treatment, air pollution control, chemical processes);
  • Environmental technology and biomedical applications (pH regulating materials for anaerobic digestion, biofilm carrier media for bioreactors, water filtration and disinfection, coating material to develop controlled-release fertilizers, plant substrate, controlled-release drug delivery, antibacterial surfaces);
  • Energy related applications (electrode materials for structural supercapacitors and microbial fuel cells, solid-state battery electrolyte, dielectric materials for antennas).
  • The further success of this conference series will represent a step toward meeting the global material needs of society with significantly reduced energy requirements as well as ecological impacts.

Call for Abstracts

Submission of Abstracts 

One-page abstracts should be submitted as soon as possible and no later than the deadlines noted below. The abstract should include both the significance of the research as well as results that will be discussed to allow a scientific assessment of the work by the organizers. Please indicate if the abstract is for an oral or poster presentation. Only a limited number of oral presentation slots are available. Thus all submissions for oral presentations will be considered for both oral and poster. 

Deadlines

Abstracts for oral presentation extended: February 28, 2025
Abstracts for poster presentations extended: February 28, 2025

Oral Abstract acceptance notification letters by March 31, 2025

All abstracts should be submitted electronically and submissions must follow the template: docx or doc.

Special Issue: IJCES

In addition to the Abstract brochure, a selection of full manuscripts will be published as a special issue of the International Journal of Ceramics Engineering and Science which will publish open access at a reduced publication charge.

For inquiries on the publication charges, please contact Jonathon Foreman, Managing Editor, at jforeman@ceramics.org.

Submit your manuscript at https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ijces.

Special Issue: Open Ceramics

In addition to the Abstract brochure, full manuscripts will be collected in a special issue of the Open Ceramic which will publish open access at REGULAR publication charge.

For any inquiries, please contact Juho Yliniemi (Juho.Yliniemi@oulu.fi), Managing Guest Editor.

Authors are invited to select the correct Special Issue: AAM & Geopolymers submit their manuscripts in the form of full-length articles, review papers and short communications on the portal

https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/open-ceramics

Venue Information

Hotel Korpilampi in Espoo, Finland 

The hotel, located on the shores of Korpilampi Lake in Espoo,Finland, is just 30 minutes from Helsinki city center. The Helsinki-Ventaa Airport is 13.7 miles from the venue. Surrounded by stunning natural scenery, the. Hotel Korpilampi combines modern conference facilities with the peace of nature. Rooms offer either views of lush forests or the tranquil Korpilampi Lake.

The hotel has 160 rooms, each decorated in soothing natural tones, and offers full restaurant services representing modern Scandinavian cuisine. The restaurant prides itself in allergy-friendly food and healthy snacks. The chef has curated an array of delicious dishes using the finest Finnish ingredients, ensuring that every meal is a celebration of local flavors.

All meeting rooms boast air conditioning, advanced AV equipment and high-speed Wi-Fi, ensuring seamless connectivity.

Amenities include a gym and squash court, three saunas (including a smoke sauna by the lake), indoor pool, Jacuzzi, and complimentary parking. One can swim in the clear and clean Lake Korpilampi. There is a sandy beach as well as a walking trail around the lake.

The Hotel Korpilampi (Korpilammentie 5, 02970 Espoo, Finland) is accessible both by bus and taxi. It subscribes to sustainable travel and has been awarded both the Green Key certificate for sustainable hotel operations and the Breeam certificate for sustainable management of the built environment.

Espoo, Finland

Espoo is the second largest city in Finland and part of the Helsinki metropolitan area. It is located just 30 minutes-drive from Helsinki Airport or 15 minutes metro ride from Helsinki City Center. In Espoo one can find outdoors at Nuuksio National Park, 165 Baltic Sea islands, 95 beautiful lakes, 40km of the Waterfront Walkway, delicious cuisine, lovely people, and hidden gem architecture. It is known as a hub of research and development and is recognized for its expansive natural surroundings.

Espoo has been awarded the prestigious Sustainable Travel Finland label by Visit Finland. As one of Finland’s leading destinations for sustainable travel, Espoo invites visitors to explore its beautiful natural landscapes and vibrant urban culture with sustainability in mind.

The city is home to the Aalto University campus and known as a hub of research and development. It is recognized for its expansive natural surroundings including a 58-kilometre shoreline, an archipelago, forests, lakes, and Nuuksio National Park.

Previous Conferences

Geopolymers

May 24-29, 2015
Herrnstein, Austria

Conference Chairs:
Cristina Leonelli, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
Aldo R. Boccaccini, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany
Waltraud M. Kriven, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Arie van Riessen, Curtin University, Australia


Alkali Activated Materials and Geopolymers: Versatile Materials Offering High Performance and Low Emissions

May 27 – June 1, 2018
Tomar, Portugal

Conference Chairs:
John L. Provis, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
Waltraud M. Kriven, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Cristina Leonelli, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
Aldo Boccaccini, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany
Arie Van Riessen, Curtin University, Australia


Alkali Activated Materials and Geopolymers: Sustainable Construction Materials and Ceramics Made Under Ambient Conditions

May 28 – June 2 2023
Cetraro (Calabria), Italy

Conference Chairs:
Waltrude M. Kriven, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Cristina Leonelli, Universita’ degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy
John L. Provis, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
Aldo R. Boccaccini, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany

General Information About ECI

Engineering Conferences International (ECI) is a not-for-profit, global engineering conferences program, originally established in 1962 that provides opportunities for the exploration of problems and issues of concern to engineers and scientists from many disciplines.

The format of the conference provides morning and late afternoon or evening sessions in which major presentations are made. Poster sessions will be scheduled for evening discussion as well. Available time is included during the afternoons for ad hoc meetings, informal discussions, and/or recreation. This format is designed to enhance rapport among participants and promote dialogue on the development of the meeting. We believe the conferences have been instrumental in generating ideas and disseminating information to a greater extent than is possible through more conventional forums.

All participants are expected both to attend the entire conference and to contribute actively to the discussions. The recording/photographing of lectures and presentations is forbidden. As ECI conferences take place in an informal atmosphere, casual clothing is the usual attire.

Smoking is prohibited at ECI conferences and conference functions.

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