Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
  • Publication
    Effect of sodium hydroxide molarity on physical, mechanical and thermal conductivity of metakaolin geopolymers
    In the present work, the effect of different sodium hydroxide (NaOH) molarity (6M, 8M, 10M, 12M and 14M) on the physical, mechanical and thermal conductivity of metakaolin geopolymers (MkGPs) was investigated. Geopolymers were prepared by activating the metakaolin with a mixture of NaOH with sodium silicate (Na2SiO3). The products obtained were characterized after 28 days of curing. The density, porosity, compressive strength and thermal conductivity (TC) were determined. In general, the NaOH molarity has a significant effect on the compressive strength of the MkGPs. The highest compressive strength was 14.6 MPa achieved with 10M of NaOH solution. The thermal conductivity of MkGPs measured in this work was low in the range between 0.71-0.97 W/mK. NaOH molarity had a significant effect on compressive strength but a marginal effect on thermal conductivity of MkGPs. The thermal conductivity was mainly affected by the bulk density and thus the total porosity. The results showed that the geopolymer can be considered to be used as the thermal insulating material.
  • Publication
    Evaluation of the effect of silica fume on amorphous fly ash geopolymers exposed to elevated temperature
    ( 2021)
    Ong Huey Li
    ;
    ; ;
    Ridho Bayuaji
    ;
    ; ; ;
    Ng Hui Teng
    ;
    Marcin Nabiałek
    ;
    Bartlomiej Jeż
    ;
    Ng Yong Sing
    The properties of amorphous geopolymer with silica fume addition after heat treatment was rarely reported in the geopolymer field. Geopolymer was prepared by mixing fly ash and alkali activator. The silica fume was added in 2% and 4% by weight. The geopolymer samples were cured at room temperature for 28 days before exposed to an elevated temperature up to 1000 °C. The incorporation of 2% silica fume did not cause significant improvement in the compressive strength of unexposed geopolymer. Higher silica fume content of 4% reduced the compressive strength of the unexposed geopolymer. When subjected to elevated temperature, geopolymer with 2% silica fume retained higher compressive strength at 1000 °C. The addition of silica fume in fly ash geopolymer caused a lower degree of shrinkage and expansion, as compared to geopolymer without the addition of silica fume. Crystalline phases of albite and magnetite were formed in the geopolymer at 1000 °C.
  • Publication
    Cold-pressed fly ash geopolymers: effect of formulation on mechanical and morphological characteristics
    ( 2021)
    Ong Shee-Ween
    ;
    ;
    Lynette Wei Ling Chan
    ;
    ; ; ;
    Ooi Wan-En
    ;
    Ng Yong-Sing
    ;
    This research uses low alkali activator content and cold pressing technique for fly ash-based geopolymers formation under room temperature condition. The geopolymers were prepared using four different parameters: fly ash/alkali activator ratio, sodium hydroxide concentration, sodium silicate/sodium hydroxide ratio and pressing force. The results indicated that the compressive strength (114.2 MPa) and flexural strength (29.9 MPa) of geopolymers maximised at a fly ash/alkali activator ratio of 5.5, a 14 M sodium hydroxide concentration, a sodium silicate/sodium hydroxide ratio of 1.5 and a pressing force of 5 tons (pressing stress of 100.0 MPa and 155.7 MPa for compressive and flexural samples, respectively). The degree of reaction (40.1%) enhanced the structure compactness with minimum porosity. The improved mechanical properties confirmed that a high strength pressed geopolymer could be formed at low alkali activator content without the aid of temperature.
  • Publication
    Silica bonding reaction on fly ash based geopolymer repair material system with incorporation of various concrete substrates
    ( 2022) ;
    Ikmal Hakem A. Aziz
    ;
    Warid Wazien Ahmad Zailani
    ;
    ; ;
    Andrei Victor Sandu
    ;
    Loke Siu Peng
    This paper presents an experimental investigation on the mechanical properties and microstructure of geopolymer repair materials mixed using fly ash (FA) and concrete substrates. An optimal combination of FA and concrete substrate was determined using the compressive test of geopolymer mortar mixed with various concrete substrate classes. It was found that the contribution of (C35/45) concrete substrates with the FA geopolymer mortar increases the 28-day bonding strength by 25.74 MPa. The microstructure analysis of the samples using scanning electron microscopy showed the denser structure owing to the availability of high calcium and iron elements distribution. These metal cations (Ca2+ and Fe3+) are available at OPC concrete substrate as a result from the hydration process reacted with alumina-silica sources of FA and formed calcium aluminate silicate hydrate (C-A-S-H) gels and Fe-bonding linkages
  • Publication
    Effect of sodium aluminate on the fresh and hardened properties of fly ash-based one-part geopolymer
    ( 2021)
    Ooi Wan-En
    ;
    ; ; ; ;
    Ong Shee-Ween
    ;
    Andrei Victor Sandu
    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.
  • Publication
    Thermal resistance variations of fly ash geopolymers : Foaming responses
    This paper presents a comparative study of the characteristic of unfoamed and foamed geopolymers after exposure to elevated temperatures (200–800 °C). Unfoamed geopolymers were produced with Class F fly ash and sodium hydroxide and liquid sodium silicate. Porous geopolymers were prepared by foaming with hydrogen peroxide. Unfoamed geopolymers possessed excellent strength of 44.2 MPa and degraded 34% to 15 MPa in foamed geopolymers. The strength of unfoamed geopolymers decreased to 5 MPa with increasing temperature up to 800 °C. Foamed geopolymers behaved differently whereby they deteriorated to 3 MPa at 400 °C and increased up to 11 MPa at 800 °C. Even so, the geopolymers could withstand high temperature without any disintegration and spalling up to 800 °C. The formation of crystalline phases at higher temperature was observed deteriorating the strength of unfoamed geopolymers but enhance the strength of foamed geopolymers. In comparison, foamed geopolymer had better thermal resistance than unfoamed geopolymers as pores provide rooms to counteract the internal damage.
  • Publication
    Correlation between pore structure, compressive strength and thermal conductivity of porous metakaolin geopolymer
    This paper investigates the effect of mixing parameters (that are, alkali concentration, AA ratio, and MK/ AA ratio) on the thermal conductivity of metakaolin geopolymers. The combination effect of foaming agent (H2O2) and surfactant (Tween 80) on the physical properties, compressive strength, and pore characteristic was also elucidated. Results showed that metakaolin geopolymer with maximum compressive strength of 33 MPa, bulk density of 1680 kg/m3 , porosity of 18% and thermal conductivity of 0.40 W/mK were achieved with alkali concentration of 10 M, AA ratio of 1.0 and MK/AA ratio of 0.8. Gradation analysis demonstrated that AA ratio was the strength determining factor. Whilst, thermal conductivity was dependent on the MK/AA ratio. Adding H2O2 and surfactant produced geopolymer foam with acceptable compressive strength (0.4–6 MPa). The geopolymer foam had bulk density of 471–1212 kg/m3 , porosity of 36–86% and thermal conductivity of 0.11–0.30 W/mK. Pore structure, size, and distribution were governed by H2O2 and surfactant dosages that have a great impact on the compressive strength. Narrower pore distribution and smaller pore diameter were achieved when both foaming agent and surfactant were used instead of foaming agent alone. The pore size and distribution varied to a greater extent with varying H2O2 contents. Surfactant illustrated distinct pore stabilizing effect at low H2O2 (<0.75 wt%) which diminished at high H2O2 content. In terms of thermal conductivity, even with increasing porosity at high H2O2 and surfactant content, the thermal conductivity did not show substantial reduction due to the interconnected pores as a result of pore coalescence
  • Publication
    Comparative mechanical and microstructural properties of high calcium fly ash one-part geopolymers activated with Na2SiO3-anhydrous and NaAlO2
    ( 2021)
    Ooi Wan-En
    ;
    ; ; ; ; ;
    Ong Shee-Ween
    ;
    Ng Hui-Teng
    ;
    Ng Yong-Sing
    ;
    ;
    Long-Yuan Li
    This paper investigates the effect of varying solid alkali activators on the fresh and hardened properties and microstructural changes of one-part geopolymers (OPGs). Single and binary solid alkali activators were used to activate high calcium fly ash. The alkali activators were either solely sodium metasilicate (Na2SiO3) or a combination of sodium aluminate (NaAlO2) and sodium metasilicate (Na2SiO3). The OPG activated with anhydrous Na2SiO3 achieved an excellent 28-day compressive strength of 83.6 MPa while OPG activated with NaAlO2 and Na2SiO3 attained a compressive strength of 45.1 MPa. The Na2SiO3-activated OPG demonstrated better fluidity than the OPG activated with NaAlO2 and Na2SiO3 due to the thixotropic behaviour caused by the NaAlO2. The Na2SiO3-activated OPG consisted of sodium-calcium aluminium silicate hydrate ((N,C)-A-S-H) gel phase, while the OPG activated with NaAlO2 and Na2SiO3 comprised of the coexistence of sodium aluminium silicate hydrate (N-A-S-H) and calcium aluminium silicate hydrate (C-A-S-H) gel phases. Regardless of the distinctive properties, the OPGs are adequate for building materials applications.