Now showing 1 - 10 of 13
  • Publication
    Near-Infrared (NIR) Silver Sulfide (Ag₂S) Semiconductor Photocatalyst Film for Degradation of Methylene Blue Solution
    ( 2023-01-01)
    Mubarokah Z.R.
    ;
    ; ; ; ;
    Błoch K.
    ;
    Nabiałek M.
    ;
    Baltatu M.S.
    ;
    Sandu A.V.
    ;
    Vizureanu P.
    A silver sulfide (Ag2S) semiconductor photocatalyst film has been successfully synthesized using a solution casting method. To produce the photocatalyst films, two types of Ag2S powder were used: a commercialized and synthesized powder. For the commercialized powder (CF/comAg2S), the Ag2S underwent a rarefaction process to reduce its crystallite size from 52 nm to 10 nm, followed by incorporation into microcrystalline cellulose using a solution casting method under the presence of an alkaline/urea solution. A similar process was applied to the synthesized Ag2S powder (CF/syntAg2S), resulting from the co-precipitation process of silver nitrate (AgNO3) and thiourea. The prepared photocatalyst films and their photocatalytic efficiency were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). The results showed that the incorporation of the Ag2S powder into the cellulose films could reduce the peak intensity of the oxygen-containing functional group, which indicated the formation of a composite film. The study of the crystal structure confirmed that all of the as-prepared samples featured a monoclinic acanthite Ag2S structure with space group P21/C. It was found that the degradation rate of the methylene blue dye reached 100% within 2 h under sunlight exposure when using CF/comAg2S and 98.6% for the CF/syntAg2S photocatalyst film, and only 48.1% for the bare Ag2S powder. For the non-exposure sunlight samples, the degradation rate of only 33–35% indicated the importance of the semiconductor near-infrared (NIR) Ag2S photocatalyst used.
      2
  • Publication
    Improvements of Flexural Properties and Thermal Performance in Thin Geopolymer Based on Fly Ash and Ladle Furnace Slag Using Borax Decahydrates
    ( 2022-06-01)
    Ng Yong-Sing
    ;
    ; ; ;
    Pakawanit P.
    ;
    Vizureanu P.
    ;
    Khalid M.S.
    ;
    Ng Hui-Teng
    ;
    Hanh Yong-Jie
    ;
    Nabiałek M.
    ;
    Pietrusiewicz P.
    ;
    Garus S.
    ;
    Sochacki W.
    ;
    Śliwa A.
    This paper elucidates the influence of borax decahydrate addition on the flexural and thermal properties of 10 mm thin fly ash/ladle furnace slag (FAS) geopolymers. The borax decahydrate (2, 4, 6, and 8 wt.%) was incorporated to produce FAB geopolymers. Heat treatment was applied with temperature ranges of 300◦C, 600◦C, 900◦C, 1000◦C and 1100◦C. Unexposed FAB geopolymers experienced a drop in strength due to a looser matrix with higher porosity. However, borax decahydrate inclusion significantly enhanced the flexural performance of thin geopolymers after heating. FAB2 and FAB8 geopolymers reported higher flexural strength of 26.5 MPa and 47.8 MPa, respectively, at 1000◦C as compared to FAS geopolymers (24.1 MPa at 1100◦C). The molten B2O3 provided an adhesive medium to assemble the aluminosilicates, improving the interparticle connectivity which led to a drastic strength increment. Moreover, the borax addition reduced the glass transition temperature, forming more refractory crystalline phases at lower temperatures. This induced a significant strength increment in FAB geopolymers with a factor of 3.6 for FAB8 at 900◦C, and 4.0 factor for FAB2 at 1000◦C, respectively. Comparatively, FAS geopolymers only achieved 3.1 factor in strength increment at 1100◦C. This proved that borax decahydrate could be utilized in the high strength development of thin geopolymers.
      1
  • Publication
    Alkaline-Activation Technique to Produce Low-Temperature Sintering Activated-HAp Ceramic
    ( 2023-02-01) ; ;
    Jamil N.H.
    ;
    Mohamad H.
    ;
    ;
    Sandu A.V.
    ;
    Vizureanu P.
    ;
    Baltatu M.S.
    ;
    Sukmak P.
    The fabrication of hydroxyapatite (HAp) ceramics prepared by existing conventional sintering requires high-temperature sintering of 1250 °C to 1300 °C. In this paper, the activated metakaolin (MK)/HAp specimens were prepared from varied mix design inputs, which were varied solid mixtures (different amounts of MK loading in HAp) and liquid-to-solid (L/S) ratios, before being pressed and sintered at 900 °C. Phase analysis, thermal analysis, surface morphology, and tensile strength of the specimens were investigated to study the influences of the Al, Si, Fe, Na, and K composition on the formation of the hydroxyapatite phase and its tensile strength. XRD analysis results show the formation of different phases was obtained from the different mix design inputs HAp (hexagonal and monoclinic), calcium phosphate, sodium calcium phosphate silicate and calcium hydrogen phosphate hydrate. Interestingly, the specimen with the addition of 30 g MK prepared at a 1.25 L/S ratio showed the formation of a monoclinic hydroxyapatite phase, resulting in the highest diametrical tensile strength of 12.52 MPa. Moreover, the increment in the MK amount in the specimens promotes better densification when sintered at 900 °C, which was highlighted in the microstructure study. This may be attributed to the Fe2O3, Na2O, and K2O contents in the MK and alkaline activator, which acted as a self-fluxing agent and contributed to the lower sintering temperature. Therefore, the research revealed that the addition of MK in the activated-HAp system could achieve a stable hydroxyapatite phase and better tensile strength at a low sintering temperature.
      2
  • Publication
    Preparation of Fly Ash-Ladle Furnace Slag Blended Geopolymer Foam via Pre-Foaming Method with Polyoxyethylene Alkyether Sulphate Incorporation
    ( 2022-06-01)
    Ng Hui-Teng
    ;
    ; ; ;
    Rojviriya C.
    ;
    Razi H.M.
    ;
    Garus S.
    ;
    Nabiałek M.
    ;
    Sochacki W.
    ;
    Abidin I.M.Z.
    ;
    Ng Yong-Sing
    ;
    Śliwa A.
    ;
    Sandu A.V.
    This paper uses polyoxyethylene alkyether sulphate (PAS) to form foam via pre-foaming method, which is then incorporated into geopolymer based on fly ash and ladle furnace slag. In the literature, only PAS-geopolymer foams made with single precursor were studied. Therefore, the performance of fly ash-slag blended geopolymer with and without PAS foam was investigated at 29–1000 °C. Unfoamed geopolymer (G-0) was prepared by a combination of sodium alkali, fly ash and slag. The PAS foam-to-paste ratio was set at 1.0 and 2.0 to prepare geopolymer foam (G-1 and G-2). Foamed geopolymer showed decreased compressive strength (25.1–32.0 MPa for G-1 and 21.5–36.2 MPa for G-2) compared to G-0 (36.9–43.1 MPa) at 29–1000 °C. Nevertheless, when compared to unheated samples, heated G-0 lost compressive strength by 8.7% up to 1000 °C, while the foamed geopolymer gained compressive strength by 68.5% up to 1000 °C. The thermal stability of foamed geopolymer was greatly improved due to the increased porosity, lower thermal conductivity, and incompact microstructure, which helped to reduce pressure during moisture evaporation and resulted in lessened deterioration.
      1
  • Publication
    Geopolymer-Based Nepheline Ceramics: Effect of Sintering Profile on Morphological Characteristics and Flexural Strength
    ( 2022-09-01)
    Rosmisuhani Ahmad
    ;
    ; ;
    Pakawanit P.
    ;
    Vizureanu P.
    ;
    Abdullah A.S.
    ;
    Sandu A.V.
    ;
    Ahmad Zaidi F.H.
    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.
      2
  • Publication
    Mechanical Performance, Microstructure, and Porosity Evolution of Fly Ash Geopolymer after Ten Years of Curing Age
    This paper elucidates the mechanical performance, microstructure, and porosity evolution of fly ash geopolymer after 10 years of curing age. Given their wide range of applications, understanding the microstructure of geopolymers is critical for their long-term use. The outcome of fly ash geopolymer on mechanical performance and microstructural characteristics was compared between 28 days of curing (FA28D) and after 10 years of curing age (FA10Y) at similar mixing designs. The results of this work reveal that the FA10Y has a beneficial effect on strength development and denser microstructure compared to FA28D. The total porosity of FA10Y was also lower than FA28D due to the anorthite formation resulting in the compacted matrix. After 10 years of curing age, the 3D pore distribution showed a considerable decrease in the range of 5–30 µm with the formation of isolated and intergranular holes.
      1
  • Publication
    Preparation of Carbon Nanotubes/Alumina Hybrid-Filled Phenolic Composite with Enhanced Wear Resistance
    Hybrid fillers can be produced via various methods, such as physical mixing and chemical modification. However, there is a limited number of studies on the effect of hybridisation on the mechanical performance of hybrid filler-reinforced polymer composites, especially in the context of wear performance. This study investigated the wear resistance of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/alumina hybrid-filled phenolic composite, where two hybrid methods were used to produce the CNTs/alumina hybrid filler. The CNTs/alumina (CVD hybrid) was synthesised using the chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method, whereas the CNTs-/alumina (physically hybrid) was prepared using the ball milling method. The CNTs/alumina hybrid filler was then used as a filler in the phenolic composites. The composites were prepared using a hot mounting press and then subjected to a dry sliding wear test using a pin-on-disc (POD) tester. The results show that the composite filled with the CVD hybrid filler (HYB composite) had better wear resistance than the composite filled with physically hybrid filler (PHY composite) and pure phenolic. At 5 wt%, the HYB composite showed a 74.68% reduction in wear, while the PHY composite showed a 56.44% reduction in wear compared to pure phenolic. The HYB composite exhibited the lowest average coefficient of friction (COF) compared to the PHY composite and pure phenolic. The average COF decreased with increasing sliding speeds and applied loads. The phenolic composites’ wear and average COF are in the order HYB composite < PHY composite < pure phenolic under all sliding speeds and applied loads.
      2
  • Publication
    Preparation of Fly Ash-Ladle Furnace Slag Blended Geopolymer Foam via Pre-Foaming Method with Polyoxyethylene Alkyether Sulphate Incorporation
    ( 2022-06-01)
    Ng Hui Teng
    ;
    ; ; ;
    Rojviriya C.
    ;
    Razi H.M.
    ;
    Garus S.
    ;
    Nabiałek M.
    ;
    Sochacki W.
    ;
    Abidin I.M.Z.
    ;
    Ng Yong Sing
    ;
    Śliwa A.
    ;
    Sandu A.V.
    This paper uses polyoxyethylene alkyether sulphate (PAS) to form foam via pre-foaming method, which is then incorporated into geopolymer based on fly ash and ladle furnace slag. In the literature, only PAS-geopolymer foams made with single precursor were studied. Therefore, the performance of fly ash-slag blended geopolymer with and without PAS foam was investigated at 29–1000 °C. Unfoamed geopolymer (G-0) was prepared by a combination of sodium alkali, fly ash and slag. The PAS foam-to-paste ratio was set at 1.0 and 2.0 to prepare geopolymer foam (G-1 and G-2). Foamed geopolymer showed decreased compressive strength (25.1–32.0 MPa for G-1 and 21.5–36.2 MPa for G-2) compared to G-0 (36.9–43.1 MPa) at 29–1000 °C. Nevertheless, when compared to unheated samples, heated G-0 lost compressive strength by 8.7% up to 1000 °C, while the foamed geopolymer gained compressive strength by 68.5% up to 1000 °C. The thermal stability of foamed geopolymer was greatly improved due to the increased porosity, lower thermal conductivity, and incompact microstructure, which helped to reduce pressure during moisture evaporation and resulted in lessened deterioration.
      1
  • Publication
    Near-Infrared (NIR) Silver Sulfide (Ag2S) Semiconductor Photocatalyst Film for Degradation of Methylene Blue Solution
    ( 2023-01-01)
    Mubarokah Z.R.
    ;
    ; ; ; ;
    Błoch K.
    ;
    Nabiałek M.
    ;
    Baltatu M.S.
    ;
    Sandu A.V.
    ;
    Vizureanu P.
    A silver sulfide (Ag2S) semiconductor photocatalyst film has been successfully synthesized using a solution casting method. To produce the photocatalyst films, two types of Ag2S powder were used: a commercialized and synthesized powder. For the commercialized powder (CF/comAg2S), the Ag2S underwent a rarefaction process to reduce its crystallite size from 52 nm to 10 nm, followed by incorporation into microcrystalline cellulose using a solution casting method under the presence of an alkaline/urea solution. A similar process was applied to the synthesized Ag2S powder (CF/syntAg2S), resulting from the co-precipitation process of silver nitrate (AgNO3) and thiourea. The prepared photocatalyst films and their photocatalytic efficiency were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). The results showed that the incorporation of the Ag2S powder into the cellulose films could reduce the peak intensity of the oxygen-containing functional group, which indicated the formation of a composite film. The study of the crystal structure confirmed that all of the as-prepared samples featured a monoclinic acanthite Ag2S structure with space group P21/C. It was found that the degradation rate of the methylene blue dye reached 100% within 2 h under sunlight exposure when using CF/comAg2S and 98.6% for the CF/syntAg2S photocatalyst film, and only 48.1% for the bare Ag2S powder. For the non-exposure sunlight samples, the degradation rate of only 33–35% indicated the importance of the semiconductor near-infrared (NIR) Ag2S photocatalyst used.
      2
  • Publication
    The Suitability of Photocatalyst Precursor Materials in Geopolymer Coating Applications: A Review
    Today, the building and construction sector demands environmentally friendly and sustainable protective coatings using inorganic coating materials for safe, non-hazardous, and great performance. Many researchers have been working on sustainable solutions to protect concrete and metal infrastructures against corrosion and surface deterioration with the intention of introducing green alternatives to conventional coatings. This article presents a review of developments of geopolymer pastes doped with different types of photocatalyst precursors including factors affecting geopolymer properties for enhancing coating with photocatalytic performance. Photodegradation using geopolymer photocatalyst has great potential for resolving harmless substances and removing pollutants when energized with ultraviolet (UV) light. Although geopolymer is a potentially new material with great properties, there has been less research focusing on the development of this coating. This study demonstrated that geopolymer binders are ideal precursor support materials for the synthesis of photocatalytic materials, with a significant potential for optimizing their distinctive properties.
      2