Effect of Perlite Composition on Compressive and Split Tensile Strength of Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete

Abstract:

Geopolymer concrete is an environmentally friendly alternative to cement as it can reduce carbon dioxide gas emissions during the production process. This study uses fly ash, a waste from the combustion of steam power plants, and perlite, a silicate glass rock with high alumina content, as cement replacement materials. Variations of perlite were used in geopolymer concrete mixtures to replace fly ash with percentages of 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%, with a concentration of 12 M, and a Na₂SiO₃/NaOH ratio of 2.5 and AA/PM of 0.5. For the treatment of geopolymer concrete using oven curing method at 80°C for 16 hours. The results showed that variation 4 (fly ash 70% + perlite 30%) had an optimum compressive strength value of 27.145 MPa at the age of 28 days. The optimum split tensile strength value at the age of 28 days also occurred in variation 4 with a value of 3.130 MPa. In addition, variation 1 (100% fly ash + 0% perlite) had the highest slump value of 9.15 cm, while variation 4 (70% fly ash + 30% perlite) had the lowest density value of 2047.014 kg/m³.

• Periodical: Construction Technologies and Architecture (Volume 19)
• Pages: 3-9
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-fL2jXu
• Online since: June 2025
• Authors: Muhammad Sofyan*, Muhammad Aqwam Thariq Arifin, Amry Dasar, Irma Wirantina Kustanrika
• Keywords: Compressive Strength, Geopolymer Concrete, Perlite, Split Tensile Strength

References

[1] M.C.G. Juenger, Advances in alter- native cementitious binders, Cem. Concr. Res. 41 (12) (2010) 1232–1243.

[2] C. Shi , New cements for the 21st century: the pursuit of an alternative to Portland cement, Cem. Concr. Res. 41 (2011) 750–763.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2011.03.016

[3] P. Duxson, Geopolymer technology: the current state of the art, J. Mater. Sci. 42 (9) (2007) 2917–2933.

[4] J. Davidovits, Geopolymers and geopolymeric materials, Therm. Anal. Calorim. 35 (2) (1989) 429–441.

[5] A.F. Abdalqader, Development of greener alkali-activated cement: utilisation of sodium carbonate for activating slag and fly ash mixtures, J. Cleaner Prod. 113 (2016) 66–75.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.12.010

[6] B. Nematollahi, Synthesis of heat and ambient cured one-part geopolymer mixes with different grades of sodium silicate, Ceram. Int. 41 (4) (2015) 5696–5704.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2014.12.154

[7] T. Luukkonen, Comparison of alkali and silica sources in one-part alkali activated blast furnace slag mortar, J. Cleaner Prod. 187 (2018) 171–179.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.03.202

[8] Darma Adis, Studi Experimental Pengaruh Perbedaan Molaritas Aktivator pada Perilaku Beton Geopolimer Berbahan Dasar fly ash, Jurnal Karya Teknik Sipil Vol 7 no 11 (2018).

DOI: 10.5614/jts.2023.30.3.6

[9] Rita Irmawaty, Experimental and analytical study for shear strengthening of reinforced-concrete beams using a prefabricated geopolymer–mortar panel, Case Studies in Construction Materials 17 (2022) e01568.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01568

[10] Fakhruddin, External Shear Strengthening of RC Beams with Anchored Geopolymer Fiber Mortar Panel: An Experimental Study, Materials Science Forum vol 1091 (2023) 93-100.

DOI: 10.4028/p-1tdbui

[11] Nur Fikri Ramdhani Arifin, The Utilization of Geopolymer Mortar as Permanent Formwork in Reinforced Concrete Beam, Materials Science Forum vol 1091 (2023) 143-149.

DOI: 10.4028/p-d8g0ka

[12] D. Setyati Budiningrum, A. Kustirini, B. purnijanto, d. mahasukma, and t. yogha utama, Studi experimental kuat tekan beton geopolimer berbahan dasar fly ash pltu tanjung jati b jepara. Majalah ilmiah pengembangan rekayasa, social dan humaniora (2021).

DOI: 10.32497/bangunrekaprima.v7i2.2997

[13] M. Sofyan, The Effect of Using Linear Low Density Polyethylene ( LLDPE ) Powder and Rice Husk Asn on Compressive Strength and Intital Setting Time of Alkaline-Activated Mortar, Earth and Environmental Science (2021).

DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/921/1/012070

[14] A. El Mir, Durability of self-consolidating concrete containing natural waste perlite powders, Heliyon, vol. 6, no. 1, Jan. (2020) e03165.

DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03165

[15] M. C. Acar, A. İ. Çelik, Production of perlite-based-aerated geopolymer using hydrogen peroxide as eco-friendly material for energy-efficient buildings, Journal of Materials Research and Technology, vol. 24, (2023) p.81–99

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmrt.2023.02.179

[16] ASTM C.33, Standard Specification For Concrete Aggregates, Annual Books Of ASTM Standards, USA (2002)

[17] ASTM C39/C39M, Standard test method for compressive strength of cylindrical concrete specimens. In American Society of Testing and Materials, (2018) Pennsylvania, USA: West Conshohocken.

[18] ASTM C496-96, Standard Test Method for Splitting Tensile Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens, (2017).

[19] ASTM C143/C143M-12, Standard Test Method for Slump of Hydraulic-Cement Concrete, (2015).

[20] A. Aziz, Effect of acidic volcanic perlite rock on physio-mechanical properties and microstructure of natural pozzolan based geopolymers, Case Studies in Construction no. 15 (2021).

DOI: 10.1016/j.cscm.2021.e00712

[21] M. Rajendran, Influence of Perlite and Glass Fiber on the Compressive , Split Tensile and Flexural Strength of Concrete Incorprating Glass Fiber, IJITEE Vol 8 no. 3, (2019) 185–188.

[22] P. Muthupriya, Utilization of Industrial Waste Perlite Powder and Vermiculite in Self Compacting Concrete, IJERTvol. 9, no. 06 (2020) 782–789.

DOI: 10.17577/ijertv9is060528