• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.510-516
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• 2013

Fly ash is one of the aluminosilicate sources used for the synthesis of geopolymers. The particle size distribution of fly ash and the content of unburned carbon residue are known to affect the compressive strength of geopolymers. In this study, the effects of particle size and unburned carbon content of fly ash on the compressive strength of geopolymers have been studied over a compositional range in geopolymer gels. Unburned carbon was effectively separated in the $-46{\mu}m$ fraction using an air classifier and the fixed carbon content declined from 3.04 wt% to 0.06 wt%. The mean particle size ($d_{50}$) decreased from $22.17{\mu}m$ to $10.79{\mu}m$. Size separation of fly ash by air classification resulted in reduced particle size and carbon residue content with a collateral increase in reactivity with alkali activators. Geopolymers produced from carbon-free ash, which was separated by air classification, developed up to 50 % higher compressive strength compared to geopolymers synthesized from raw ash. It was presumed that porous carbon particles hinder geopolymerization by trapping vitreous spheres in the pores of carbon particles and allowing them to remain intact in spite of alkaline attack. The microstructure of the geopolymers did not vary considerably with compressive strength, but the highest connectivity of the geopolymer gel network was achieved when the Si/Al ratio of the geopolymer gel was 5.0.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.201-218
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• 2018

In this study, the effects of magnesium sulfate on the mechanical performance and the durability of confined and unconfined geopolymer concrete (GPC) specimens were investigated. The carbon and basalt fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) fabrics with 1-layer and 3-layers were used to evaluate the performances of the specimens under static and cyclic loading in the ambient and magnesium sulfate environments. In addition, the use of FRP materials as a rehabilitation technique was also studied. For the geopolymerization process of GPC specimens, the alkaline activator has selected a mixture of sodium silicate solution ($Na_2SiO_3$) and sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH) with a ratio ($Na_2SiO_3/NaOH$) of 2.5. In addition to GPC specimens, an ordinary concrete (NC) specimens were also produced as a reference specimens and some of the GPC and NC specimens were immersed in 5% magnesium sulfate solutions. The mechanical performance and the durability of the specimens were evaluated by visual appearance, weight change, static and cyclic loading, and failure modes of the specimens under magnesium sulfate and ambient environments. In addition, the microscopic changes of the specimens due to sulfate attack were also assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to understand the macroscale behavior of the specimens. Results indicated that geopolymer specimens produced with nano-silica and fly ash showed superior performance than the NC specimens in the sulfate environment. In addition, confined specimens with FRP fabrics significantly improved the compressive strength, ductility and durability resistance of the specimens and the improvement was found higher with the increased number of FRP layers. Specimens wrapped with carbon FRP fabrics showed better mechanical performance and durability properties than the specimens wrapped with basalt FRP fabrics. Both FRP materials can be used as a rehabilitation material in the sulfate environment.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.537-545
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• 2020

In order to reduce the usage of cement slurry in grouting engineering and consume the tunnel excavation waste soil, a new geopolymeric grouting material (GGM) was prepared by combine completely weathered granite (CWG) and blast-furnace slag (BFS), which can be applied to in-situ grouting treatment of completely weathered granite strata. The results showed CWG could participate in the geopolymerization process, and GGM slurry has the characteristics of short setting time, high flowability, low viscosity, high stone rate and high mechanical strength, and a design method of grouting pressure based on viscosity evolution was proposed. By adjusted the content of completely weathered granite and alkali activator concentration, the setting time of GGM were ranged from 5 to 30 minutes, the flowability was more than 23.5 cm, the stone rate was higher than 90%, the compressive strength of 28 days were 7.8-16.9 MPa, the porosity were below 30%. This provides a novel grouting treatment and utilizing excavated soil of tunnels in the similar strata.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.247-257
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• 2021

This study was started to investigate why autoclave curing (AC) specimen showed an improvement in compressive strength after immersion in water for a long time, although AC specimen did not showed a high initial compressive strength unlike our expectations. Distilled water and alkaline solutions were used for immersion and three different curing methods were engaged. It was expected that the compressive strength would be improved after immersion in alkaline solutions; however, there was little difference in compressive strength after 21 day immersion because both new crystallites produced by additional geopolymerization and expansion caused by the alkaline aggregate reaction may prevent the additional improvement in compressive strength. It was concluded that in order to secure the long-term commonality and underwater stability of the geopolymers, it is desirable aging geopolymers while immersing it underwater for more than 21 days after curing using an autoclave.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.68-76
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• 2022

This study was performed to investigate the mechanism of the change in compressive strength of autoclave cured geopolymers. Specimens were immerged in distilled water, 2M, 8M, and 14M alkaline solutions for 3, 7, and 21 days. The change in the specimens immersed in a short period of time was not significant, but the compressive strength of the specimens immersed in the distilled water and 8M alkali solution) for 21 days increased more than twice as much as before immersion because of additional geopolymerization. However, compressive strength decreased due to the alkaline aggregate reaction when alkaline solution was supplied more than a certain level of concentration. Therefore, immersing the specimens for more than 21 days in the distilled water or 8M alkaline solution would be desirable for the improvement of compressive strength of autoclave cured specimens.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.17-26
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• 2016

The experimental investigation aims at developing controlled low strength materials (CLSM) using a self-cementitious fly ash (FA) as a binder and a bottom ash (BA) as a aggregate. The fly ash and bottom ash used in this study were obtained from a circulating fluidized bed combustion boiler (CFBC) which produces relatively high CaO containing fly ash. To find the optimum mixing condition satisfying flow consistency and unconfined compression strength (UCS), the CLSM specimens were prepared under various mixing conditions, including two types of aggregate and different weight fractions between fly ash and aggregate. Additionally, the prepared specimens were evaluated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results of this study demonstrate that the water content satisfying flow consistency ranges from 42% to 85% and the flowability is improved with increasing the fraction of aggregate in whole mixture. The USC ranges from 0.3 MPa to 1.9 MPa. The results of UCS increases with increasing the fraction of aggregate in FA-sand mixtures, but decreases with increasing the fraction of aggregate in FA-BA mixtures. SEM images and XRD patterns reveal that the occurrence of both geopolymerization and hydration. The results of this study demonstrate that CFBC fly ash could be used as an alternative binder of CLSM mixtures.