AL2SIBUILD

The Al2SiBuild project aims to accelerate the development and adoption of geopolymers (GP) and alkali-activated materials (AAM) as sustainable alternatives to Portland cement-based concretes, reducing CO₂ emissions and energy consumption in the construction sector. To achieve this, the project leverages local resources and secondary raw materials available in the France–Wallonia–Flanders cross-border region (such as activable clays, quarry fines, ash, dredged sludges, construction waste, etc.), replacing more expensive, less available, and environmentally intensive conventional raw materials.

Al2SiBuild will develop a regional resource mapping, ready-to-use formulations, manufacturing processes, and laboratory- and pilot-scale demonstrators to facilitate the transfer of these technologies to construction industry businesses. By strengthening local supply chains and cross-border collaborations, the project will contribute to a more sustainable, resilient, and competitive construction sector, while offering materials with excellent mechanical performance, as well as improved resistance to fire and chemical aggression.

The Interreg Al2SiBuild project brings together academic and industrial partners to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for the construction sector. It aims to create low-environmental-impact materials and processes, strengthen the circular economy, and reduce the carbon footprint of the building industry.

IMT Nord Europe leads the work package focused on the adaptation and characterization of raw materials intended for the formulation of alkali-activated materials (AAM) and geopolymers (GP). The work involves the selection, physicochemical characterization, and optimization of raw materials, as well as flash calcination, to ensure their compatibility with alkali-activation processes and their performance in sustainable construction applications.