Heah Cheng Yong
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Preferred name
Heah Cheng Yong
Official Name
Heah, Cheng Yong
Alternative Name
Yong, Heah Cheng
Yong, H. C.
Heah, Cheng Yong
Heah, C. Y.
Cheng-Yong, Heah
Cheng Yong, Heah
Main Affiliation
Scopus Author ID
54402789500
Researcher ID
S-7139-2019

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Effect of Sodium Aluminate on the Fresh and Hardened Properties of Fly Ash-Based One-Part Geopolymer

2022-01-01 , Wan-En O. , Yun-Ming L. , Heah Cheng Yong , Ho Li Ngee , Mohd. Mustafa Al Bakri Abdullah , Shee-Ween O. , Sandu A.V.

The one-part geopolymer binder was synthesis from the mixing of aluminosilicate material with solid alkali activators. The properties of one-part geopolymers vary according to the type and amount of solid alkali activators used. This paper presents the effect of various sodium metasilicate-to-sodium aluminate (NaAlO2/Na2SiO3) ratios on fly ash-based one-part geopolymer. The NaAlO2/Na2SiO3 ratios were set at 1.0 to 3.0. Setting time of fresh one-part geopolymer was examined through Vicat needle apparatus. Mechanical and microstructural properties of developed specimens were analysed after 28 days of curing in ambient condition. The study concluded that an increase in NaAlO2 content delayed the setting time of one-part geopolymer paste. The highest compressive strength was achieved at the NaAlO2/Na2SiO3 ratio of 2.5, which was 33.65 MPa. The microstructural analysis revealed a homogeneous structure at the optimum ratio. While the sodium aluminium silicate hydrate (N-A-S-H) and anorthite phases were detected from the XRD analysis.

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Sintered and unsintered pressed fly ash geopolymer: A comprehensive study on structural transformation in nitric and sulfuric acid

2024-09-15 , Shee-Ween O. , Heah Cheng Yong , Liew Yun Ming , Ho Li Ngee , Wei-Hao L. , Mohd. Mustafa Al Bakri Abdullah , Wei-Ken P. , Yong-Jie H. , Pin-Hsun L.

Acidic attacks contribute to the degradation of cementitious materials, diminishing the structural service life and increasing the requirement for maintenance of the structure. To address the limited understanding of the impact of the sintering process on the acid resistance of pressed geopolymer, an investigation and comparison of the acid resistance of room-cured (RPG) and sintered (SPG) pressed geopolymer was performed. Specimens were immersed in 3 % and 8 % nitric (HNO3) and sulfuric (H2SO4) acids for 7 and 28 days. Despite the higher sorptivity, SPG demonstrated better mechanical strength retention than that of RPG. Specifically, the compressive strength of SPG after 3 % of HNO3 immersion for 28 days increased (+14.2 %), surpassing the control specimen, while RPG experienced a 14.5 % strength drop. The strength increment in SPG was due to the further geopolymerization during acid immersion. In RPG, a new crystalline phase of NaNO3 was observed after immersion in 8 % HNO3 for 28 days. In contrast, SPG showed no evidence of NaNO3 formation, indicating lower reactivity with HNO3 compared to RPG. Additionally, both RPG and SPG exhibited gypsum formation after immersion in H2SO4. The presence of gypsum induced crack formation in RPG, whereas SPG, with its intensive cross-linked structure, effectively compensated for gypsum expansion, preventing crack formation. This finding is crucial for practical applications where exposure to aggressive acids is a concern, as it provides a method to enhance the acid resistance of geopolymer structures.

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Durability of natural fiber-reinforced alkali-activated composites

2023-01-01 , Heah Cheng Yong , Liew Yun Ming , Mohd. Mustafa Al Bakri Abdullah , Shee-Ween O. , Yong-Jie H. , Hui-Teng N. , Yong-Sing N. , Wan-En O. , Jia-Ni L. , Hoe-Woon T.

Durability and sustainability is essential serviceability concern for alkali-activated composites used in construction. The incorporation of natural fibers in alkali-activated materials is beneficial considering its availability, low density, and acceptable mechanical performances. There are two types of natural fibers which are plant and animal fibers. The plant fiber composes of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, pectin, and waxy substances. The durability of natural fiber-reinforced alkali-activated composites influences by several factors including type and content of fiber, dispersion and size of fiber, fiber modification, fiber moisture content, fiber alkaline degradation, and fiber mineralization. Besides, this chapter indicates the durability of natural fiber-reinforced alkali-activated composites in terms of crack resistance and toughness, high-temperature resistance, wet/dry cycles, freeze-thaw cycles, chemical resistance, and carbonation resistance.

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Evaluation of flexural properties and characterisation of v10-mm thin geopolymer based on fly ash and ladle furnace slag

2021-11-01 , Yong-Sing N. , Liew Yun Ming , Heah Cheng Yong , Mohd. Mustafa Al Bakri Abdullah , Chan L.W.L. , Hui-Teng N. , Shee-Ween O. , Wan-En O. , Yong-Jie H.

The formulation and flexural properties of thin fly ash geopolymers with thickness of merely 10 mm and replacement of ladle furnace slag to fly ash in thin geopolymer were presented. The formulation was discussed in terms of NaOH molarity, solid aluminosilicates-to-liquid alkali activator (S/L) mass ratio, and alkali activator (Na2SiO3/NaOH) mass ratio. Thin fly ash geopolymers with flexural strength and Young's modulus of 6.2 MPa and 0.14 GPa, respectively, were obtained by using 12 M NaOH, S/L ratio of 2.5 and Na2SiO3/NaOH ratio of 4.0. A high Na2SiO3/NaOH ratio was implemented for thin geopolymer synthesis to produce a more viscous slurry which helped to retain the shape of a thin geopolymer. The incorporation of ladle furnace slag up to 40 wt.% reported an increment of 26% in flexural strength up to 7.8 MPa as compared to pure fly ash geopolymers and the stiffness was increased to 0.19 GPa. Denser microstructure with improved compactness was observed as the ladle furnace slag acted as the filler. New crystalline phases of calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H) were formed and coexisted with the geopolymer matrix, which consequently enhanced the flexural strength of thin fly ash geopolymer. This proved that the ladle furnace slag has the potential to be utilised in geopolymer synthesis and will enhance the flexural properties of thin geopolymers. The flexural performance of thin geopolymers in this study was considerably good as the thin geopolymers exhibited comparatively similar flexural strengths, but a higher strength/thickness ratio as compared to geopolymers with thickness greater than 40 mm.

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Microwave absorption function on a novel one-part binary geopolymer: Influence of frequency, ageing and mix design

2024-05-10 , Yong-Jie H. , Heah Cheng Yong , Liew Yun Ming , Mohd. Mustafa Al Bakri Abdullah , Yeng-Seng L. , Wei-Hao L. , Pakawanit P. , Shee-Ween O. , Hoe-Woon T. , Cheng-Hsuan H.

This paper presents an innovative application of a one-part geopolymer for microwave absorption. The influences of frequency, ageing time and mixing formulations on the mechanical, dielectric, and microwave-absorbing performance of the one-part binary geopolymer using fly ash and ladle furnace slag were investigated. The mixing formulations included alkali activators-to-aluminosilicate sources, sodium metasilicate-to-sodium hydroxide, and water-to-binder ratios. The results demonstrated that the dielectric constant decreased while the dielectric loss and loss tangent increased and remained constant with increasing frequency. The geopolymers have the highest dielectric values at an early age and diminish with ageing time. These resulted in the geopolymers having excellent microwave absorption (50 – 80%) at high-frequency levels and later ages. A higher water content resulted in higher porosity, reducing mechanical strength but enhancing microwave absorption. An optimal water content must be attained to achieve dual mechanical strength and microwave absorption performance.

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Acid-resistance of one-part geopolymers: Sodium aluminate and carbonate as alternative activators to conventional sodium metasilicate and hydroxide

2023-11-10 , Wan-En O. , Liew Yun Ming , Heah Cheng Yong , Mohd. Mustafa Al Bakri Abdullah , Ho Li Ngee , Pakawanit P. , Wei Ken P. , Khalid M.S. , Md Razi H. , Lee W.H. , Tan Soo Jin , Shee-Ween O. , Yong-Jie H.

In this study, the durability of one-part geopolymers (OPGs) made from high calcium fly ash is assessed by investigating their resistance to acid attacks. The predominant use of less environmentally sustainable sodium metasilicate (Na2SiO3) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in OPG, along with the limited understanding about the influence of solid alkali activators on OPG's acid resistance propelled the investigation and comparison of acid resistance of OPGs activated using both conventional activators and potential alternatives like sodium aluminate (NaAlO2) and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3). The OPGs developed were exposed to sulphuric acid (H2SO4) solution for 28 days. The MH sample (activated with Na2SiO3 and NaOH) was vulnerable to acid attack, with a 66% compressive strength drop after 5% H2SO4 solution exposure, due to high sorptivity. In contrast, the MA sample (activated with Na2SiO3 and NaAlO2) demonstrated excellent acid resistance, with only a 32% strength reduction, attributed to its Al-rich hydrated gel. The MC sample (activated with Na2SiO3 and Na2CO3) exhibited a 41% strength reduction, where the formation of calcite reduced extensive ion exchange, gradually mitigated deterioration. The residual compressive strength of MA and MC samples increased by 7% and 9% from 7 to 28 days of immersion in 5% H2SO4 solution, respectively. The NaAlO2 and Na2CO3 are potential activators for OPG, serving as alternative construction materials to OPC and traditional geopolymers in acidic environments.

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Microwave-absorbing building materials: Assessing thickness and antenna separation in fly ash-ladle furnace slag one-part geopolymer

2024-06-15 , Yong-Jie H. , Heah Cheng Yong , Liew Yun Ming , Mohd. Mustafa Al Bakri Abdullah , Yeng-Seng L. , Wei-Hao L. , Pakawanit P. , Ern-Hun K. , Shee-Ween O.

This paper aims to examine the effect of thickness (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mm) and antenna separation (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mm) on microwave absorption ability of fly ash-ladle furnace slag one-part geopolymer. The one-part geopolymers exhibited a dense structure with a good compressive strength of 39.2 MPa, which satisfies the minimum requirement for structural building (>28.0 MPa). The geopolymers had good dielectric properties with a low dielectric constant and increased dielectric loss and loss tangent, subsequently contributing to the microwave absorption properties. The microwave absorption ability increased from 60.0% to >80.0% at an optimal thickness of 100.0 mm and antenna separation of 20.0 mm. The presence of calcium-silicate-hydrate (C–S–H) refined the microstructure and enhanced the microwave absorption performance. This work offered an optimal thickness and antenna separation to maximize the microwave absorption ability, which is crucial for reducing microwave interference and preventing public exposure in regions with widespread deployment of Wi-Fi and 5G networks.

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Interaction of silica fume on flexural properties of 10 mm-thickness geopolymers based on fly ash and ladle furnace slag under the thermal conditions

2023-06-15 , Yong-Sing N. , Liew Yun Ming , Heah Cheng Yong , Mohd. Mustafa Al Bakri Abdullah , Rojviriya C. , Khalid M.S. , Shee-Ween O. , Wan-En O. , Yong-Jie H.

Studies regarding the properties of geopolymers with silica fume addition at elevated temperature exposure were rarely reported. This paper evaluates the effect of silica fume inclusion on the flexural and thermal performance of geopolymers based on fly ash (FA) and ladle furnace slag (LFS) with thickness of merely 10 mm. Fly ash/slag (FS) geopolymer was prepared by mixing FA and LFS using a weight ratio of 60:40 with an alkali activator (sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide). Silica fume (1, 2, 3, and 4 wt%) was added to prepare FSF geopolymers. The geopolymers were then subjected to the elevated temperature up to 1100 °C after 28-days of curing. Higher flexural strength of 9.1 MPa was achieved in unexposed FSF geopolymers with 3 wt% silica fume addition as compared to unexposed FS geopolymers (7.8 MPa). Flexural strength degraded with higher silica fume content of 4 wt%. Heat treatment significantly improved the flexural strength of geopolymers. Both FS and FSF3 geopolymers had increased strength of 208.9% to 24.1 MPa at 1100 °C and 192.3% to 26.6 MPa at 1000 °C, respectively as compared to the unexposed specimen. The inclusion of silica fume with extreme fineness improved the interconnectivity of the geopolymer matrix, densifying the geopolymer structure and thus enhancing the thermal resistance of geopolymers. However, the dense matrix with low flowability of FSF3 geopolymers could not sustain the high thermal stress and caused strength degradation and crack formation at a high temperature of 1100 °C. Even so, the flexural strength of 1100 °C heat-treated FSF3 geopolymer was 13.2% higher than the unexposed specimen. This demonstrated that silica fume could be incorporated in enhancing the thermal resistance and high strength achievement in geopolymers.

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Green development of fly ash geopolymer via casting and pressing Approaches: Strength, Morphology, efflorescence and Ecological Properties

2023-09-22 , Shee-Ween O. , Heah Cheng Yong , Liew Yun Ming , Mohd. Mustafa Al Bakri Abdullah , Ho Li Ngee , Pakawanit P. , Suhaimi Khalid M. , Hazim Bin Wan Muhammad W. , Wan-En O. , Yong-Jie H. , Yong-Sing N. , Hui-Teng N.

The high liquid content of cast geopolymer not only limits its strength development and durability but also leads to high energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Thus, a study of the cast and pressed geopolymer was performed. The geopolymers were cured for 1, 7 and 28 d before testing and characterizations. With the incorporation of pressure compaction, higher bulk density (2158–2227 kg/m3) was recorded for pressed geopolymer in comparison to cast geopolymer (1842–1854 kg/m3). The dense matrix in pressed geopolymer improved the inter-particle contact, increasing the 28 d degree of reaction to 39.7%, higher than that of cast geopolymer (33.0%). This feature was proved by SEM micrographs wherein the pressed geopolymer was well-compacted and denser in microstructure, with less unreacted/partially reacted fly ash and pores. The compressive and flexural strengths of pressed geopolymer reached 114.2 and 29.9 MPa after 28 d, higher than that of cast geopolymer (60.0 and 6.2 MPa, respectively). The strength reduction of pressed geopolymer (31.7%) after the accelerated efflorescence test was lower than that of cast geopolymer (60.2%). The ecological analysis inferred that pressed geopolymer was ecologically superior to the casting method in terms of embodied energy (EE) and embodied carbon dioxide emission (ECO2), in which 50% and 59% of reductions are acquired. Besides, the embodied carbon index (ECI) of pressed geopolymer was about 21% of cast geopolymer.

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Strength optimization and key factors correlation of one-part fly ash/ladle furnace slag (FA/LFS) geopolymer using statistical approach

2023-01-01 , Yong-Jie H. , Heah Cheng Yong , Liew Yun Ming , Mohd. Mustafa Al Bakri Abdullah , Yeng-Seng L. , Ern-Hun K. , Shee-Ween O. , Wan-En O. , Hui-Teng N. , Yong-Sing N.

The utilization of ladle furnace slag (LFS) in one-part geopolymer technology has not been reported. The study of the cause-and-effect relationship between the mixing ratio is therefore important. The present work optimized one-part fly ash (FA)/LFS geopolymer with 33 full factorial design using variance analysis (ANOVA) to predict the key engineering properties of the one-part geopolymer with satisfactory precision. Three factors, which are alkali activator to aluminosilicate sources (AA/AS), sodium metasilicate to sodium hydroxide, Na2SiO3 to NaOH (SM/SH) and water to binder (W/B) ratios, were considered. The AA/AS, W/B and interrelationship between AA/AS and W/B ratios were the most significant factors influencing the key engineering properties. The one-part geopolymer with AA/AS, SM/SH and W/B ratios of 0.20, 5.0 and 0.25 were concluded as an optimal response to achieve a good compressive strength of 38.8 MPa after 28 days. The microstructural and phase analysis indicated that the LFS participated moderately in geopolymerization reaction with the formation of calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H) and sodium aluminate silicate hydrate (N-A-S-H). The optimized one-part FA/LFS geopolymer met the minimum requirement of ASTM C1157 (>28.0 MPa) for a functional construction binder. The outcome of the paper offers a guideline to the construction industry to maximize the use of LFS to prepare green construction binder.

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