• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.251-267
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• 2023

In this paper, an experimental investigation is carried out to assess the inherent self-compacting properties of geopolymer mortar and its impact on flexural strength of thin-walled ferro-geopolymer box beam. The inherent self-compacting properties of the optimal mix of normal geopolymer mortar was studied and compared with self-compacting cement mortar. To assess the flexural strength of box beams, a total of 3 box beams of size 1500 mm × 200 mm × 150 mm consisting of one ferro-cement box beam having a wall thickness of 40 mm utilizing self-compacting cement mortar and two ferro-geopolymer box beams with geopolymer mortar by varying the wall thickness between 40 mm and 50 mm were moulded. The ferro-cement box beam was cured in water and ferro-geopolymer box beams were cured in heat chamber at 75℃ - 80℃ for 24 hours. After curing, the specimens are subjected to flexural testing by applying load at one-third points. The result shows that the ultimate load carrying capacity of ferro-geopolymer and ferro-cement box beams are almost equal. In addition, the stiffness of the ferro-geoploymer box beam is reduced by 18.50% when compared to ferro-cement box beam. Simultaneously, the ductility index and energy absorption capacity are increased by 88.24% and 30.15%, respectively. It is also observed that the load carrying capacity and stiffness of ferro-geopolymer box beams decreases when the wall thickness is increased. At the same time, the ductility and energy absorption capacity increased by 17.50% and 8.25%, respectively. Moreover, all of the examined beams displayed a shear failure pattern.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2022

The production of geopolymer is considered as a cleaner process due to much lower CO₂ emission than that from the production of Portland cement. This paper presents a study of the potential use of recycled steel fibre (RSF) coming from the recycling process of the old tires in geopolymer mortars. Ground expanded perlite (EP) is used as a source of alumino-silicate and sodium hydroxide (NaOH=5, 10, 15, and 20M) is used as alkaline medium for geopolymer synthesis. RSFs were added to the mortar mixtures in four different volume fractions (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% of the total volume of mortar). The unit weight, ultrasound pulse velocity, flexural and compressive strength of expanded perlite based geopolymer mortar (EPGM) mixtures were determined. The microstructures of selected EPGMs were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses. The optimum molarity of sodium hydroxide solution was found to be 15M for geopolymer synthesis by EP. The test results revealed that RSFs can be successfully used for fibre-reinforced geopolymer production.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.45-60
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• 2015

This paper aimed to investigate the effect of MWCNTs on properties of slag Geopolymeric mortar. Geopolymeric matrices containing different MWCNTs concentrations (0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 % by weight of the used binder) were synthesized. The Geopolymer mortar composed of aluminosilicate slag to sand (1:2), while the alumino silicate source binder composed of 50% air cooled slag and 50%water cooled slag both passing a sieve of $90{\mu}m$, while the sand passing a sieve of 1 ml. The materials prepared at water/binder ratios in a range of 0.34-0.39% depending on the added MWCNT, whereas the Gelenium Ace-30 superplasticizer used in the ratio of 1.4-2.2% from the total dry weight for better dispersion of MWCNT under sonication for 15 min. Alkaline activation of the Geopolymer mortar was carried by using of 6% NaOH. Curing was performed under temperature of $40^{\circ}C$ and 100% R.H. Results showed that the addition of MWCNTs enhanced the resulting amorphous geopolymer structure with marked decrease in the drying shrinkage as well as water absorption specially when using 0.1% MWCNT, while further increase in MWCNTs results in agglomeration in MWCNT within the matrix and so hinder the propagation of Geopolymerization reaction and negatively affect the formed geopolymer structure.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.225-242
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• 2015

The current investigation aims to study performance of geopolymer mortar reinforced with Multiwalled carbon nanotubes upon exposure to $200^{\circ}C$ to $1000^{\circ}C$ for 2 hrs. MWCNTs are doped into slag Geopolymer mortar matrices in the ratio of 0.0 to 0.4, % by weight of binder. Mortar composed of calcium aluminosilicate to sand (1:2), however, binder composed of 50% air cooled slag and 50% water cooled slag. Various water / binder ratios in the range of 0.114-0.129 used depending on the added MWCNT, while 6 wt., % sodium hydroxide used as an alkali activator. Results illustrate reduction in mechanical strength with temperature except specimens containing 0.1 and 0.2% MWCNT at $200^{\circ}C$, while further increase in temperature leads to decrease in strength values of the resulting geopolymer mortar. Also, decrease in firing shrinkage with MWCNT up to 0.1% at all firing temperatures up to $500^{\circ}C$ is observed, however the shrinkage values increase with temperature up to $500^{\circ}C$. Further increase on the firing temperature up to $1000^{\circ}C$ results in an increase in the volume due to expansion.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2015.11a
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• pp.7-8
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to investigate the expansion of alkali-activated geopolymer mortar containing reactive aggregate due to alkali-silica reaction. In addition, this study is particularly concerned with the behavior of these alkaline materials in the presence of reactive aggregates. The test method included expansion measurement of the mortar bar specimens and geopolymer compressive strength test. Major results that alkali-activated geopolymer mortars showed expansion due to the alkali-silica reaction. geopolymer mortars is safety for the expansion exhibited less than 0.2% at 14 day.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.237-245
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• 2020

Past research efforts already established geopolymer as an environment-friendly alternative binder system for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and recycled aggregate is also one of the promising alternative for natural aggregates. In this study, an effort was made to produce eco-friendly mortar mixes using geopolymer as binder and recycled fine aggregate (RFA) partially and study the resistance ability of these mortar mixes against the aggressive environments. To form the geopolymer binder, 70% fly ash, 30% ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and alkaline solution comprising of sodium silicate solution and 14M sodium hydroxide solution with a ratio of 1.5 were used. The ratio of alkaline liquid to binder (AL/B) was also considered as 0.4 and 0.6. In order to determine the resistance ability against aggressive environmental conditions, acid attack test, sulphate attack test and rapid chloride permeability test were conducted. Change in mass, change in compressive strength of the specimens after the immersion in acid/sulphate solution for a period of 28, 56, 90 and 120 days has been presented and discussed in this study. Results indicated that the incorporation of RFA leads to the reduction in compressive strength. Even though strength reduction was observed, eco-friendly mortar mixes containing geopolymer as binder and RFA as fine aggregate performed better when it was produced with AL/B ratio of 0.6.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2013

In this study, we investigated the strength development and durability of geopolymer mortar using blast furnace slag only, and admixed with blast-furnace slag and fly ash as cementious materials in oder to develop cementless geopolymer concrete. In order to compare with the geopolymer mortar, the normal mortar using ordinary portland cement was also test. In view of the results, we found out that strength development, the resistance to freezing-thawing of the geopolymer mortar have better than the mortar using ordinary portland cement. Especially, using the combined with blast furnace slag and fly ash develop high strength of above 60 MPa, and improve the resistance of freezing-thawing of approximately 20%, but promote the velocity of carbonation of 2.2~3.5 times.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 2020

Raw perlite is a volcanic alumino-silicate and is used as aggregate in the construction industry. The high silica and alumina contained in the raw perlite allows the production of geopolymer mortar with the help of alkaline solutions. In this study, different geopolymer mortars are obtained by mixing ground perlite (GP), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), water and CEN standard sand and the strength and microstructure of these mortars are investigated. Mortar specimens are placed in the oven 24 hours after casting and kept at different temperatures and times, then the specimens are cured under laboratory conditions until the day of strength tests. After curing, unit weight, ultrasound pulse velocity, flexural and compressive strengths are determined. Experimental results indicate that the mechanical properties of the mortars enhance with increasing oven-curing period and temperatures as well as increasing NaOH molarity. In addition, SEM/EDS and XRD analyses are performed on the mortar specimens and the results are interpreted.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.193-202
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• 2013

Geopolymer mortar compressed blocks were prepared using fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag, silica fume and metakaolin as binders and sand/quarry dust/pond ash as fine aggregate. Alkaline solution was used to activate the source materials for synthesizing the geopolymer mortar. Fresh mortar was used to obtain the compressed blocks. The strength development with reference to different parameters was studied. The different parameters considered were fineness of fly ash, binder components, type of fine aggregate, molarity of alkaline solution, age of specimen, fluid-to-binder ratio, binder-to-aggregate ratio, degree of saturation, etc. The compressed blocks were tested for compression at different ages. It was observed that some of the blocks attained considerable strength within 24 h under ambient conditions. The cardinal aim was to analyze the experimental data generated to formulate a phenomenological model to arrive at the combinations of the ingredients to produce geopolymer blocks to meet the strength development desired at the specified age. The strength data was analyzed within the framework of generalized Abrams' law. It was interesting to note that the law was applicable to the analysis of strength development of partially saturated compressed blocks when the degree of saturation was maintained constant. The validity of phenomenological model was examined with an independent set of experimental data. The blocks can replace the traditional masonry blocks with many advantages.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2015

The critical element for sustainable growth in the construction industry is the development of alternative cements. A new technological process called geopolymerization provides an innovative solution, and the presence of aluminum and silicon oxides in fly ash has encouraged its use as a source material. Many previous investigations have involved curing the binder in a heated environment. To reduce energy consumption during the synthesis of geopolymers, the present study investigated the properties of ambient cured geopolymer mortar at early ages. An experimental program was executed to establish a relationship between the activator composition and the properties of geopolymer mortar in fresh and hardened states. Concentrations of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate were ascertained that are advantageous for constructability and mechanical behavior. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques were also used to characterize the material. Test results indicate that there is potential for the concrete industry to use fly ash based geopolymer as an alternative to portland cement.