Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
  • Publication
    Effect of the sintering mechanism on the crystallization kinetics of geopolymer-based ceramics
    (MDPI, 2023)
    Nur Bahijah Mustapa
    ;
    ;
    Andrei Victor Sandu
    ;
    ;
    Ovidiu Nemes
    ;
    ;
    Petrica Vizureanu
    ;
    Christina Wahyu Kartikowati
    ;
    Puput Risdanareni
    This research aims to study the effects of the sintering mechanism on the crystallization kinetics when the geopolymer is sintered at different temperatures: 200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C, 800 °C, 1000 °C, and 1200 °C for a 3 h soaking time with a heating rate of 5 °C/min. The geopolymer is made up of kaolin and sodium silicate as the precursor and an alkali activator, respectively. Characterization of the nepheline produced was carried out using XRF to observe the chemical composition of the geopolymer ceramics. The microstructures and the phase characterization were determined by using SEM and XRD, respectively. The SEM micrograph showed the microstructural development of the geopolymer ceramics as well as identifying reacted/unreacted regions, porosity, and cracks. The maximum flexural strength of 78.92 MPa was achieved by geopolymer sintered at 1200 °C while the minimum was at 200 °C; 7.18 MPa. The result indicates that the flexural strength increased alongside the increment in the sintering temperature of the geopolymer ceramics. This result is supported by the data from the SEM micrograph, where at the temperature of 1000 °C, the matrix structure of geopolymer-based ceramics starts to become dense with the appearance of pores.
  • Publication
    Development of geopolymer ceramic as a potential reinforcing material in solder alloy: short review
    (IOP Publishing, 2020)
    Nadiah ‘Izzati Zulkifli
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    ; ;
    Andrei Victor Sandu
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    ;
    Nowadays, the consumption of lead-free solder has been widely used around the world since the utilization of SnPb solder has been banned and restricted by European Union. Variety of studies have been conducted by the researchers to find an alternative to replace the usage of SnPb such as SnCu, SAC, SnAg and etc. However, the development of plain lead-free solder was declared to provide low mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties in terms of interfacial intermetallic compound and wettability towards its solder joint compare to the traditionally monolithic SnPb solder alloy. Mostly, previous studies stated that addition of some additives such as ceramic particles (Si 3 N 4, TiO 2, SiC, NiO and etc) may improves the solder joint reliability. At the same time, no major studies were done using geopolymer ceramic as reinforcing agent in plain matrix alloy. Therefore, this paper reviews the fabrication process of multiple geopolymer-based ceramic such as fly ash, kaolin, and slag as reinforcement in solder alloy. The development process includes the processing method of geopolymer ceramic and the characterization of geopolymer ceramic as reinforcing material consist of; i) chemical composition, and ii) phase identification.
  • Publication
    Densification behavior and mechanical performance of Nepheline geopolymer ceramics: preliminary study
    (Springer, 2023)
    Nur Bahijah Mustapa
    ;
    ; ; ;
    Andrei Victor Sandu
    ;
    Christina Wahyu Kartikowati
    ;
    Puput Risdanareni
    ;
    Wan Hasnida Wan Mohamed Saimi
    Nepheline geopolymer ceramics have emerged as a promising sustainable alternative to traditional cementitious materials in various applications. As the sintering mechanism plays a crucial role in the densification and mechanical performance of ceramics, therefore, in this paper, a preliminary study was conducted to examine the effects of densification towards mechanical properties of geopolymer-based nepheline ceramics upon sintering. The said innovative geopolymer technology can convert raw materials of aluminosilicate activating with alkaline activator into ceramic-like materials requiring low temperatures. The experimental procedure includes the synthesis of nepheline geopolymer ceramics through the geopolymerization method, then sintered at different temperatures to explore the sintering behavior and its impact on the materials’ microstructure and mechanical performance. The densification behavior of nepheline geopolymer ceramics during sintering was analyzed by evaluating the changes in density, shrinkage, and porosity. The microstructural evolution and are determined by using SEM. The relationships between sintering conditions, microstructure, and mechanical performance were investigated to understand the underlying mechanisms affecting the material’s strength and durability. The geopolymer exhibited its highest flexural strength of 54.93 MPa when sintered at 1200 ℃, while the lowest strength of 6.07 MPa was observed at a sintering temperature of 200 ℃. The findings demonstrate a positive correlation between the sintering temperature and the flexural strength of the geopolymer ceramics, indicating that higher temperatures lead to increased strength. Ultimately, this knowledge can facilitate the broader utilization of nepheline geopolymer ceramics as sustainable materials in various engineering and construction applications.
  • Publication
    Effect of the sintering mechanism on the crystallization kinetics of Geopolymer-Based ceramics
    ( 2023)
    Nur Bahijah Mustapa
    ;
    ; ; ;
    Andrei Victor Sandu
    ;
    Ovidiu Nemes
    ;
    Petrica Vizureanu
    ;
    Christina W. Kartikowati
    ;
    Puput Risdanareni
    This research aims to study the effects of the sintering mechanism on the crystallization kinetics when the geopolymer is sintered at different temperatures: 200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C, 800 °C, 1000 °C, and 1200 °C for a 3 h soaking time with a heating rate of 5 °C/min. The geopolymer is made up of kaolin and sodium silicate as the precursor and an alkali activator, respectively. Characterization of the nepheline produced was carried out using XRF to observe the chemical composition of the geopolymer ceramics. The microstructures and the phase characterization were determined by using SEM and XRD, respectively. The SEM micrograph showed the microstructural development of the geopolymer ceramics as well as identifying reacted/unreacted regions, porosity, and cracks. The maximum flexural strength of 78.92 MPa was achieved by geopolymer sintered at 1200 °C while the minimum was at 200 °C; 7.18 MPa. The result indicates that the flexural strength increased alongside the increment in the sintering temperature of the geopolymer ceramics. This result is supported by the data from the SEM micrograph, where at the temperature of 1000 °C, the matrix structure of geopolymer-based ceramics starts to become dense with the appearance of pores.
      3  24
  • Publication
    Geopolymer-based nepheline ceramics: effect of sintering profile on morphological characteristics and flexural strength
    ( 2022) ; ; ;
    Phakkhananan Pakawanit
    ;
    Petrica Vizureanu
    ;
    Arman Shah Abdullah
    ;
    Andrei Victor Sandu
    ;
    Fakhryna Hannanee Ahmad Zaidi
    The focus of this study is the fabrication of innovative and sustainable ceramic-based geopolymer with improved low temperatures performances. Kaolin was mixed with liquid sodium silicate (Na₂SiO₃) and 12M of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution using alkali activator ratio of 0.24 and solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:1 to synthesize kaolin geopolymer. The effect of the sintering profile on the microstructure, pore evolution and flexural strength were investigated. The heating exposure aided consolidation and created a fairly uniform microstructure, resulting in a smooth surface texture. In comparison to the unheated geopolymer, 3D pore distribution showed a significant increase in the range size of ~30 µm with the appearance of isolated and intergranular pores. The flexural strength at 1200 °C with a heating rate of 5 °C/min and was increased by 146.4% to 85.4 MPa, as compared to the heating rate of 2 °C/min. The sintering process has an impact on the final microstructure formation thus improving the characteristic of geopolymer-based nepheline ceramic.
      3  42
  • Publication
    Potential of soil stabilization using Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) and fly ash via geopolymerization method: a review
    ( 2022)
    Syafiadi Rizki Abdila
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    ; ;
    Dumitru Doru Burduhos Nergis
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    ; ;
    Andrei Victor Sandu
    ;
    Petrica Vizureanu
    Geopolymers, or also known as alkali-activated binders, have recently emerged as a viable alternative to conventional binders (cement) for soil stabilization. Geopolymers employ alkaline activation of industrial waste to create cementitious products inside treated soils, increasing the clayey soils’ mechanical and physical qualities. This paper aims to review the utilization of fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS)-based geopolymers for soil stabilization by enhancing strength. Previous research only used one type of precursor: fly ash or GGBFS, but the strength value obtained did not meet the ASTM D 4609 (<0.8 Mpa) standard required for soil-stabilizing criteria of road construction applications. This current research focused on the combination of two types of precursors, which are fly ash and GGBFS. The findings of an unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test on stabilized soil samples were discussed. Finally, the paper concludes that GGBFS and fly-ash-based geo-polymers for soil stabilization techniques can be successfully used as a binder for soil stabilization. However, additional research is required to meet the requirement of ASTM D 4609 standard in road construction applications, particularly in subgrade layers.
      22  1
  • Publication
    Effect of sintering mechanism towards crystallization of geopolymer ceramic - a review
    (MDPI, 2023-05-31)
    Nur Bahijah Mustapa
    ;
    ; ; ;
    Nuttawit Wattanasakulpong
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    Ovidiu NemeÈ™
    ;
    Andrei Victor Sandu
    ;
    Petrica Vizureanu
    ;
    Ioan Gabriel Sandu
    ;
    Christina W. Kartikowati
    ;
    Puput Risdanareni
    Globally, there is an increasing need for ceramic materials that have a variety of applications in the environment, for precision tools, and for the biomedical, electronics, and environmental industries. However, in order to obtain remarkable mechanical qualities, ceramics have to be manufactured at a high temperature of up to 1600 °C over a long heating period. Furthermore, the conventional approach presents issues with agglomeration, irregular grain growth, and furnace pollution. Many researchers have developed an interest in using geopolymer to produce ceramic materials, focusing on improving the performances of geopolymer ceramics. In addition to helping to lower the sintering temperature, it also improves the strength and other properties of the ceramics. Geopolymer is a product of polymerization involving aluminosilicate sources such as fly ash, metakaolin, kaolin, and slag through activation using an alkaline solution. The sources of the raw materials, the ratio of the alkaline solution, the sintering time, the calcining temperature, the mixing time, and the curing time may have significant impacts on the qualities. Therefore, this review aims to study the effects of sintering mechanisms on the crystallization of geopolymer ceramics, concerning the strength achieved. A future research opportunity is also presented in this review.
      8  25
  • Publication
    Chemical distributions of different Sodium Hydroxide molarities on fly ash/dolomite-based geopolymer
    ( 2022) ; ; ;
    Andrei Victor Sandu
    ;
    Petrica Vizureanu
    ;
    Omrane Benjeddou
    ;
    Afikah Rahim
    ;
    Masdiyana Ibrahim
    ;
    Ahmad Syauqi Sauffi
    Geopolymers are an inorganic material in an alkaline environment that is synthesized with alumina–silica gel. The structure of geopolymers consists of an inorganic chain of material and a covalent-bound molecular system. Currently, Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) has caused carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions which causes greenhouse effects. This analysis investigates the impact on fly ash/dolomite-based-geopolymer with various molarities of sodium hydroxide solutions which are 6 M, 8 M, 10 M, 12 M and 14 M. The samples of fly ash/dolomite-based-geopolymer were prepared with the usage of solid to liquid of 2.0, by mass and alkaline activator ratio of 2.5, by mass. After that, the geopolymer was cast in 50 × 50 × 50 mm molds before testing after 7 days of curing. The samples were tested on compressive strength, density, water absorption, morphology, elemental distributions and phase analysis. From the results, the usage of 8 M of NaOH gave the optimum properties for the fly ash/dolomite-based geopolymer. The elemental distribution analysis exposes the Al, Si, Ca, Fe and Mg chemical distribution of the samples from the selected area. The distribution of the elements is related to the compressive strength and compared with the chemical composition of the fly ash and dolomite.
      1  18