Scientometric Analysis of Global Research on the Utilization of Geopolymer Composites in Construction Applications

This study conducts a scientometric review on the use of geopolymer mortar and composites in different construction applications. It aims to analyze the findings of past research and reveal the research constituents, development trends, and knowledge gaps. The Scopus database was employed to retrieve the relevant publications, while Bibliometrix was used to conduct the statistical analyses. Results revealed a steady and gradual increase in the number of publications after 2013, as the annual growth rate increased from 23.9% to 45.2% between the timeframes 2003-2013 and 2014-2022, respectively. The analysis highlighted that many authors collaborated on different construction applications of geopolymers regardless of geographic location. Meanwhile, Construction and Building Materials, China, and Universiti Malaysia Perlis were found to be the predominant journal, country, and institution, respectively. The scientometric analysis showed that the most frequently investigated applications for geopolymer mortars and composites were fire resistance, corrosion protection, and repair. Research gaps highlighted that other applications are not as well investigated despite the promising performance of the geopolymer composites, including 3D printing, heavy metals absorption, environmental protection, and underwater applications. Future research is required to assess the use of other alumina and silica-rich binders in geopolymers while also exploring their lifecycle assessment and economic impact.