Joseph Davidovits

Joseph Davidovits (born 23 March 1935) is a French materials scientist known for the invention of geopolymer chemistry. He posited that the blocks of the Great Pyramid are not carved stone but mostly a form of limestone concrete or man-made stone. He holds the Ordre National du Mérite, is the author and co-author of hundreds of scientific papers and conferences reports, and holds more than fifty patents.

Davidovits obtained a Diplôme d'Ingénieur in chemical engineering from Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie, Rennes, France in 1958, and a Dr. rer. nat. in macromolecular chemistry (PhD) from University of Mainz, Germany in 1960. Between 1962 and 1972, he researched in organic polymers for the textile industry in France. In 1964, he received Annual Award from the French Textile Chemical Society for his work on linear organic polymers.

In the aftermath of various catastrophic fires in 1970 in France involving flammable organic plastics, he decided to carry out research into new heat-resistant materials in 1972. The French private research company Cordi (SA) (called later Cordi-Géopolymère SARL), a family owned company, was also created. All publications related to the research from 1972 to 1979 on alumino-silicate solid-state chemistry are pertaining to the patent literature.

The geopolymer concept was created and published in 1979, together with the foundation of the non-profit organization Geopolymer Institute. In 1983, he was appointed as the Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at Barry University, Miami, Florida, and there he founded the Institute for Applied Archaeological Sciences (IAPAS) to study worthwhile ancient technology and advance the clarity of ancient history. Between 1983 and 1989, in collaboration with Lone Star Industries of the United States, a geopolymer cement called PYRAMENT and associated cement blends were developed.

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