Optimization of Properties of Geopolymer Materials Using Fly Ash

Abstract:

Concrete is one of the most common building materials in the world, the production of which is associated with large energy costs, as well as greenhouse gas emissions, which negatively affect the planet’s ecosystem. Replacing OPC (ordinary Portland cement) with GPMs (geopolymer materials) makes it possible to reduce this impact significantly. Another advantage of GPMs compared to OPC is that during the production of geopolymers, various production wastes are mainly recycled. This work is devoted to the study of the possibility of regulating the properties of GPMs using FA (fly ash) – waste from the TPPs (thermal power plants) of Georgia. Various methods of ash activation have been developed, which makes it possible to optimize the properties of GPMs obtained on its basis. We intend is to optimize the properties of the GPMs using different FA activation approaches, which will make it possible to improve the physical-mechanical properties of the binder.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 1027)
• Pages: 117-122
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-zp5YJt
• Online since: October 2025
• Authors: Elena Shapakidze*, Marina Avaliani, Marina Nadirashvili, Vera Maisuradze, Ioseb Gejadze, Tamar Petriashvili
• Keywords: Fly Ash (FA), Geopolymer Material (GPM), Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GBFS)

References

[1] J. Davidovits, Carbon-dioxide greenhouse-warming: What future for Portland cement, in: Proc. Emerging Technol. Symp. Cem. Concr. Global Environ., Portland Cem. Assoc., Chicago, 1993, pp.1-21.

[2] P. K. Mehta, Greening of the concrete industry for sustainable development, Concrete Int. 23 (7) (2002) 23-38.

[3] A.L. Tau, E.I. Edoun, Ch. Mbohwa, A. Pradhan, Green cement manufacturing in South Africa through utilization of supplementary cementitious materials – Market assessment, in: Proc. 2nd Australian Int. Conf. Ind. Eng. Operat. Manag., IEOM Soc. Int., Melbourne, 2023, pp.415-428.

DOI: 10.46254/au02.20230102

[4] G. Gaurav, Sh.C. Kandpal, D. Mishra, N. Kotoky, A comprehensive review on fly ash-based geopolymer: A pathway for sustainable future, J. Sustain. Cem. Based Mater. 13 (1) (2024) 100-144.

DOI: 10.1080/21650373.2023.2258122

[5] N. Anil, Compressive strength variation of alkali activated fly ash/slag concrete with different NaOH concentrations and sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide ratios, J. Sustain. Constr. Mater. Technol. 4 (2) (2019) 351-360.

DOI: 10.29187/jscmt.2019.39

[6] A. Palomo, M.W. Grutzeck, M.T. Blanco, Alkali-activated fly ash cement for future, Cem. Concr. Res. 29 (8) (1999) 1323-1329.

DOI: 10.1016/s0008-8846(98)00243-9

[7] F. Vazquez–Rodriguez, N. Elizondo, M. Montes–Gonzalez, C. Gomez–Rodriguez, Y. Gonzalez–Carranza, A.M. Guzman, E.A. Rodriguez, Microstructural and mechanical characteristics of alkali-activated binders composed of milled fly ash and granulated blast furnace slag with μ-limestone addition, Materials 16 (2023) 3818 (1-24).

DOI: 10.3390/ma16103818

[8] D.E. Angulo–Ramirez, W.G. Valencia–Saavedra, R.M. de Gutierrez, Alkali-activated concretes based on fly ash and blast furnace slag: Compressive strength, water absorption and chloride permeability, Ingenieria e Investigacion 40 (2) (2020) 72-80.

DOI: 10.15446/ing.investig.v40n2.83893

[9] S. Arafa, A. Milad, N.I. Yusoff, N. Al-Ansari, Z.M. Yaseen, Investigation into the permeability and strength of pervious geopolymer concrete containing coated biomass aggregate material, J. Mater. Res. Technol. 15 (2021) 2075-2087.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmrt.2021.09.045

[10] Sh. Qaidi, H.M. Najm, S.M. Abed, H.U. Ahmed, H. Al Dughaishi, J. Al Lawati, M.M. Sabri, F. Alkhatib, A. Milad, Fly ash-based geopolymer composites: A review of the compressive strength and microstructure analysis, Materials 15 (20) (2022) 7098 (1-40).

DOI: 10.3390/ma15207098

[11] O.M.M. Elbasir, M.A.M. Johari, Z.A. Ahmad, N.S. Mashaan, A. Milad, The compressive strength and microstructure of alkali-activated mortars utilizing by-product-based binary-blended precursors, Appl. Mech. 4 (3) (2023) 885-898.

DOI: 10.3390/applmech4030046

[12] X. Gang, S. Xianming, Characteristics and applications of fly ash as a sustainable construction material: A state-of-the-art review, Resour. Conser. Recyc. 136 (2018) 95-109.

[13] B.G. Kutchko, A.G. Kim, Fly ash characterization by SEM–EDS, Fuel 85 (17/18) (2006) 2537-2544.

DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2006.05.016

[14] S. Kumar, R. Kumar, Mechanical activation of fly ash: Effect on reaction, structure and properties of resulting geopolymer, Ceram. Int. 37 (2) (2011) 533-541.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2010.09.038

[15] K. Kato, Y. Xin, T. Hitomi, T. Shirai, Surface modification of fly ash by mechano-chemical treatment, Ceram. Int. 45 (1) (2019) 849-853.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2018.09.254

[16] A. Fernandez–Jimenez, I. Garcia–Lodeiro, O. Maltseva, A. Palomo, Mechanical-chemical activation of coal fly ashes: An effective way for recycling and make cementitious materials, Front. Mater. 6 (2019) 51 (1-12).

DOI: 10.3389/fmats.2019.00051

[17] A.M. Kalinkin, E.V. Kalinkina, E.A. Krugliak, A.G. Ivanova, Synthesis of geopolymers incorporating mechanically activated fly ash blended with alkaline earth carbonates: A comparative analysis, Minerals 14 (6) (2024) 726 (1-13).

DOI: 10.3390/min14070726

[18] L. Parfenova, V. Bozylev, A. Shvedov, M. Vysotskaya, Modes and methods for activation ash waste thermal power plants, Bull. Polotsk State Univ. F 8 (2016) 57-60.

[19] E. Shapakidze, M. Avaliani, M. Nadirashvili, V. Maisuradze, I. Gejadze, T. Petriashvili, Preparation of geopolymer materials based on activated fly ash, in: Proc. 12th Int. Sci.-Tech. Conf. Adv. Petrol. Gas Ind. Petrochem., Lviv Polytech. Natl. Univ., Lviv, 2024, pp.173-176.

DOI: 10.52340/ns.2020.06