Effect of Curing Conditions on the Mechanical Properties of Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer without Sodium Silicate Solution

Abstract:

Geopolymer is associated with the alkali activation of materials rich in Si and Al, and alkali activator such as sodium hydroxide is used for the dissolution of raw material with the addition of sodium silicate solution to increase the dissolution process. However, the trend of strength development of geopolymer using sodium hydroxide alone is not well established. This paper presents an evaluation on compressive strength of fly ash–based geopolymer by varying curing time with respect to different curing temperature using sodium hydroxide as the only activator. The samples were cured at room temperature and at an elevated temperature (60°C). Further analysis on the microstructure of geopolymer products cured at 60°C was carried out using Field Emission Scanning Microscopy (FESEM). It can be observed that the compressive strength increased as the curing time increased when cured at room temperature; whereas at elevated temperature, the strength increased up to a maximum 65.28 MPa at 14 days but gradually decreased at longer curing time. Better compressive strength can be obtained when the geopolymer was cured at an elevated temperature compared to curing at room temperature.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 699)
• Pages: 15-19
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.699.15
• Online since: November 2014
• Authors: Rosniza Hanim Abdul Rahim, Khairun Azizi Azizli*, Zakaria Man, Muhd Fadhil Nuruddin
• Keywords: Compressive Strength, Curing Temperature, Curing Time, Fly Ash (FA), Geopolymer

References

[1] D. Panias, I. P. Giannopoulou, T. Perraki, Effect of synthesis parameters on the mechanical properties of fly ash-based geopolymers, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 301 (2007) 246–254.

DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2006.12.064

[2] D. Khale, R. Chaudhary, Mechanism of geopolymerization and factors influencing its development: a review, Journal of Materials Science 42 (2007) 729–746.

DOI: 10.1007/s10853-006-0401-4

[3] D. Dimas, I. Giannopoulou, D. Panias, Polymerization in sodium silicate solutions: a fundamental process in geopolymerization technology, Journal of Materials Science 44 (2009) 3719–3730.

DOI: 10.1007/s10853-009-3497-5

[4] S.J. Lyu, T.T. Wang, T.W. Cheng, T.H. Ueng, Main factors affecting mechanical characteristics of geopolymer revealed by experimental design and associated statistical analysis, Construction and Building Materials 43 (2013) 589–597.

DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.02.033

[5] M. S. Muñiz-Villarreal, A. Manzano-Ramírez, S. Sampieri-Bulbarela, J.R. Gasca-Tirado, J.L. Reyes-Araiza, J.C. Rubio-Ávalos, J.J. Pérez-Bueno, L.M. Apatiga, A. Zaldivar-Cadena, V. Amigó-Borrás, The effect of temperature on the geopolymerization process of a metakaolin-based geopolymer, Materials Letters 65 (2011).

DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2010.12.049

[6] A.M. Fareed, F.N. Muhd, D. Samuel, S. Nasir, Effect of Curing Conditions on Strength of Fly ash-based self-compacting geopolymer concrete, International Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering 3 (2011) 183–186.

[7] A. Mishra, D. Choudhary, N. Jain, M. Kumar, N. Sharda, D. Dutt, Effect of concentration of alkaline liquid and curing time on strength and water absorption 3 (2008) 14–18.

[8] A.M.M. Al Bakria, H. Kamarudin, M. BinHussain, I.K. Nizar, Y. Zarina, A.R. Rafiza, The effect of curing temperature on physical and chemical properties of geopolymers, Physics Procedia 22 (2011) 286–291.

DOI: 10.1016/j.phpro.2011.11.045

[9] K. Komnitsas, D. Zaharaki, Geopolymerisation: A review and prospects for the minerals industry, Minerals Engineering 20 (2007) 1261–1277.

DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2007.07.011

[10] W.I. Wan Mastura, H. Kamarudin, I. Khairul Nizar, A.M. Mustafa Al Bakri, H. Mohammed, The effect of curing time on the properties of fly ash-based geopolymer bricks, Advanced Materials Research 626 (2012) 937–941.

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.626.937