GEOPOLYMER DEVELOPMENT FROM INDONESIAN LOCAL MATERIALS: A REVIEW
Keywords:
Geopolymer, Indonesian local materials, fly ash, rice husk ash, alkali activation, curing regime, sustainable constructionAbstract
Geopolymers have emerged as promising low-carbon binders capable of utilizing industrial and agricultural by-products as alternatives to ordinary Portland cement. Indonesia presents a strategic context for geopolymer development due to the abundance of coal fly ash from coal-fired power plants and silica-rich agricultural residues such as rice husk ash. This paper provides a comprehensive review of geopolymer development using Indonesian local materials by synthesizing findings from thirty peer-reviewed national and international studies published between 2019 and 2025. The review focuses on precursor characteristics, mix design strategies, alkali activator systems, curing regimes, and reported mechanical, durability, and microstructural performance. Indonesian fly ash is identified as the dominant and most viable geopolymer precursor, although significant variability in chemical composition and reactivity is reported across different sources. Supplementary materials such as rice husk ash and other agricultural by-products can enhance sustainability and silica availability when used in controlled proportions. Curing regime plays a decisive role, with elevated temperature curing accelerating early-age strength development, while ambient curing—more representative of practical construction conditions in Indonesia—results in slower but progressive geo-polymerization. Despite substantial research progress, key challenges remain, including precursor variability, limited long-term durability data under tropical conditions, and the lack of standardized mix design guidelines. This review consolidates dispersed research outcomes into a coherent framework, identifies critical research gaps, and provides direction for advancing geopolymer technology toward reliable and sustainable construction and environmental applications in Indonesia.
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