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Alkali-activated materials such as geopolymers are currently receiving a lot of attention because of their potential to be used as binders for concrete with advantageous engineering properties and reduced manufacturing CO2 emissions. Knowledge of the durability of steel in these concretes and related properties of alkali-activated materials is a prerequisite for their application as building materials, if they are to be used for steel reinforced elements. However, to date only limited data exists on this topic. The present contribution focuses on durability-related transport properties of geopolymer-based mortars (as model systems for concrete). We report results of accelerated carbonation, rapid chloride migration (RCM) and air permeability measurements as well as porosity data for fly ash-based geopolymer mortars, including mixes containing ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS). In addition, we report polarization resistance data and corrosion potential vs. time curves for carbon steel bars embedded in two of the fly ash-based geopolymer mortars and a CEM I-based mortar (as reference).
Despite comparable total porosities, the carbonation depths, the chloride migration coefficients and the air permeabilities of the mortars differed significantly. In general, the addition of GGBFS to the binders improved the performance (decreased transport coefficients); however, this was not found to be true for the air permeability in all cases. This latter effect can be explained by drying damage of the C-(A-)S-H gel in GGBFS-containing binders. On the other hand, low transport coefficients can also be achieved by optimization of the binder formulation without the addition of GGBFS, which is also reflected in the material’s air permeability. Thus, there exists no simple correlation between air permeability (of harshly dried mortars) and durability-related transport coefficients for the studied alkali-activated materials.
The corrosion potential vs. time curves in combination with polarization resistance values reveal that the steel reinforcement in geopolymer mortars assumed a passive state. However, this happened considerably later than for steel in CEM I-based mortars. The free corrosion potential of carbon steel reinforcement in the geopolymer mortars had different values than the free corrosion potential values for the CEM I-based mortar for both the active and the passive state; possible reasons for this behavior are discussed.
Many African countries face serious problems associated with the rapid growth of urban Population and the resulting demand for affordable building materials. In search for appropriate Solutions to improve the Situation, the “LightSHIP” project was initiated, whose aims were to identify the required product specifications, to evaluate possible approaches and ultimately to develop new Building materials for East Africa. It was concluded that these materials should be produced in Africa mainiy from local raw materials; prefabricated, easily transportable construction elements are to be preferred. It is therefore reasonable to focus on artificial stones and partition boards. To be Independent of imported cement, it is suggested to make use of volcanic rocks, which are abundant in East African countries, for lime-pozzoian binders and geopolymers in the production of these construction elements. Future research activities should thus concentrate on assessment of the applicability of available volcanic rocks, the influence of their properties on the resulting binders and the design of appropriate binder-reinforcement-filler Systems.
A silica residue from waste treatment of chlorosilane production was used together with solid sodium aluminate to test its applicability for the production of one-part geopolymers. The blend was activated with water and cured at 70 °C. The degree of reaction and strength were determined after 1, 3, and 7 days. The reaction products were analyzed by XRD and SEM/EDX. Until the third day of curing the degree of reaction of the residue reached 51 % and the strength was 8.9 MPa. The reaction product was identified as geopolymer containing zeolite A. Thus, the results confirmed that the residue may be used in the production of geopolymers. However, after 3 days of curing no further progress of reaction was observed and the strength slightly decreased, which was attributed to changes in the structure of the geopolymeric gel. It was further observed that even harsh vacuum drying left some water (presumably zeolitic water and surface hydroxyl groups) in the geopolymer.
One-part geopolymers, synthesized from three different silica sources and sodium aluminate, were investigated regarding their microstructure and the evolution of their compressive strength on curing at slightly elevated temperatures. The effect of thermal treatment was studied up to 1000 °C and for the investigation of the chemical durability specific samples were treated with sulfuric acid (H2SO4, pH = 1).
Depending on the silica feedstock, different degrees of reaction were observed. One of the silicas had a significantly higher reactivity. For two of the silicas, significant amounts of zeolites occurred as reaction products besides geopolymeric gel, whereas the more reactive silica source lead to the formation of a rather fully condensed geopolymeric network.
The composites indicated promising behavior on heating in so far as no distinct shrinkage step occurred in the temperature range of dehydration. Up to 400 °C the residual strength of those mixes increased. Above 800 °C the samples underwent new phase formation. After exposure to sulfuric acid (pH 1; 70 d) specimens showed a residual compressive strength of about 77 % of the reference, indicating high acid resistance.
Geopolymers are promising alkali activated materials with a wide range of possible applications like heat-resistant coatings and adhesives or concretes with lower C02 emissions than conventional Portland cement-based systems. Conventional ("two-part") geopolymers are synthesized by an activation of aluminosilicate feedstocks like metakaolin or blast furnace slags with highly alkaline solutions like sodium hydroxide solutions and/or water glass solutions.
A more recent approach are so called one-part geopolymers, where the alkaline activator is provided in solid form, so that only water has to be added to initiate the geopolymerisation reaction. The handling of alkaline solutions is avoided, which possesses several advantages compared to conventional geopolymers, in particular regarding safety and health issues, and, thus, it improves economic and social acceptance of these binders. However, the new formulations are less exhaustively studied and the knowledge about conventional geopolymers cannot simply be transferred to this new class of binders.
This contribution presents the results of structural and compressive strength investigations on cured andhigh-temperature treated silica-based one-part geopolymer-zeolite composites. The specimens weresynthesized from two different silica sources, sodium aluminate and water. The phase content as well asthe compressive strength of the cured composites varied depending on the starting mix-design and thesilica feedstock. Besides geopolymeric gel, A-type zeolites and hydrosodalites were the major reactionproducts. One of the silica feedstocks yielded significantly higher compressive strength (19 MPa), whilethe other one appears to cause less variation in phase content. Strength testing indicated an improvementon heating up to
200–400 °C (28 MPa) followed by a moderate decrease up to 700 °C. Above 700 °C the sys-tems underwent new phase formation and shrinkage (volume decrease) deformations. After exposureat 1000 °C the different mixes consisted of a mix of several stuffed silica phases, almost pure hexago-nal nepheline or amorphous phase. Depending on the mix-design, the onset temperature of the hightemperature phase transformations varied.
One-part geopolymers offer advantages over conventional geopolymers with regard to handling and storage of feedstocks. However, they often suffer from a low degree of reaction, a high amount of crystalline byproducts, and consequently low strength. In this study, one-part geopolymers were produced from rice husk ash (RHA) and sodium aluminate, and investigated by XRD, ATR-FTIR, SEM and compressive strength testing. The compressive strength of the material was 30 MPa, i.e. significantly higher than for comparable one-part geopolymers. This is attributed to an almost complete reaction of the RHA and the absence of crystalline byproducts (zeolites) in the hardened geopolymer.
Properties of alkali-activated mortars with salt aggregate for sealing structures in evaporite rock
(2021)
Concrete structures for sealing of tunnels in the host rock are an essential part of systems for nuclear waste storage. However, concretes based on blended cements or magnesium oxychloride cements, which are commonly considered for this application, can deteriorate severely due to a significant heat of hydration and associated deformation and cracking. Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) offer a potential solution to this problem because of their low heat release during hardening. To explore their suitability for the construction of sealing structures in evaporite rock, various AAMs with salt aggregate were studied regarding fresh properties, heat release, mechanical properties and microstructure. The heat of reaction of the AAMs was up to 55% lower than that of a blended cement designed for sealing structures, indicating significant benefits for the intended application. Other relevant properties such as mechanical strength and permeability depended strongly on the mix-design of the AAMs and curing conditions.