Expandable vinyl aromatic polymer granulate comprising a mixture of vinyl aromatic polymer, one or more propellants, and a geopolymer composite derived from geopolymer and comprising athermanous additive,
- wherein the athermanous additive comprises at least one athermanous additive selected from the group consisting of carbon black, petroleum coke, graphitized carbon black, graphite oxides, graphite, graphene, rutiles, chamotte, fly ash, fumed silica, hydromagnesite/huntite mineral, and mineral having perovskite structure, and
- wherein the one or more propellants is present in an amount of 2.0 wt. % to 9.0 wt. % based on total mass of the granulate including the one or more propellants.