Zeolite has been successfully synthesized from clay and rice husk ash in the form of powder by using the hydrothermal method with variations in chemical compositions of alkaline solution and the amount of rice husk ash. The clay raw material was obtained from the Sidrap area of South Sulawesi and rice husk ash is obtained from the burning pile of rice husks. Sidrap clay and rice husk ash were activated using an alkaline solution of NaOH and varied rice husk ash and the addition of AlCl3. The addition of AlCl3, an alkaline solution of NaOH and H2O was used in the amount of 25.5 grams and variations of rice husk ash were 2.5 grams and 6.5 grams. Meanwhile, without the addition of AlCl3, an alkaline solution of NaOH and H2O was used for 20.5 grams and variations of rice husk ash from 2.5 grams and 6.5 grams. Then the mixture was then put into an autoclave with a temperature of 100°C for 3 hours. The basic material used in the manufacture of zeolite is carried out by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) characterization to determine the constituent elements of basic material, which showed the content of SiO2 was 45.80 wt% in the clay and 93.40% in the rice husk ash. The crystalline structure of the zeolite formed was characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). It was found the resulting zeolite were identified as Zeolite-Y, Hydrosodalite, and ZSM-5. The microstructure properties of the resulting zeolite were determined by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).

The paper provides an overview of selected scientific articles presenting research carried out in recent years on methods for producing autoclaved aerated concrete. Traditional technologies are briefly presented, together with innovative solutions for the production of low-density and ultra-lowdensity materials. In addition to the presentation of the manufacturing methods themselves, the results of research into the properties of the autoclaved aerated concrete obtained and their dependence on the technology used are also presented. A subjective selection and review of articles covering research into the thermal conductivity of concrete, the technological factors influencing them and the ways in which they can be shaped was also carried out. A significant number of the cited articles do not function in the world scientific circulation due to the language barrier (they are mainly in Ukrainian). In the meantime, they contain interesting research results which can inspire further research into the issues discussed concerning the production technology and the thermal and strength properties of autoclaved aerated concrete, with particular emphasis on lightweight and ultra-lightweight concrete.

Reactive powder concrete (RPC), due to its characteristic composition with reduced water quantity, often below a stoichiometric ratio, the addition of pozzolana usually close to or above 20% of the weight of cement and a significantly reduced inclusion rate compared to normal or high performance concrete, has a different nature of the interfacial transition zone between the micro aggregate grains and the binder matrix. Due to the significant influence of RPC curing conditions on the morphology of the interfacial transition zone, the analysis included composites cured in water of Tmax=20°C, subject to low-pressure steam curing Tmax=90°C and autoclaved at Tmax=250°C. The paper presents a qualitative assessment of the interfacial transition zone in reactive powder concretes with the use of a scanning microscope with the use of linear EDS and quantitative analysis by means of stereological analysis of the image obtained with the use of a BSE detector. The results of the study unequivocally confirm the lack of portlandite crystallisation at the phase interface and the different phase composition in the interfacial transition zone in relation to the mean mass composition.