ACTIVATION OF WASTE GLASS POWDER WITH SODIUM HYDROXIDE TO PRODUCE ECO-FRIENDLY GEOPOLYMER: GLASSMER

This study investigates the use of waste glass powder from Turkish glass manufacturing as a precursor for sustainable building materials. Cement-free geopolymer elements were produced using only waste glass powder, water, and sodium hydroxide. We measured unit weight, ultrasonic pulse velocity, and compressive, flexural, and splitting-tensile strengths across NaOH dosages; 4% NaOH yielded the best overall performance. The geopolymer samples were compared with traditional building materials (aerated concrete and brick) for density and mechanical strength, demonstrating their potential as a sustainable alternative. In particular, the compressive and tensile strength results show that such materials have the potential to be used as lightweight and durable building elements in the construction industry. The approach also reduces environmental burden and supports the circular economy by valorizing glass waste. The use of geopolymeric materials is seen as a solution to reduce carbon emissions from cement production and support the achievement of global climate goals. Therefore, completely cement-free structural elements, termed 'Glassmer,' were developed. The term “Glassmer,” coined by combining “Glass” and “Polymer,” is used in this study to denote the geopolymeric binder produced entirely from waste glass powder activated with sodium hydroxide. Findings highlight environmental and economic benefits and outline directions for future work.