In this paper, the thermal performance of ground-granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) geopolymers is investigated. The geopolymers were prepared with sodium-based alkali activator and exposed to elevated temperature (200 to 1000°C) after 28 d of curing at room temperature. The unexposed geopolymers exhibited excellent compressive strength of 95 MPa. The compressive strength reduced to 8·9 MPa at 800°C and increased to 19·8 MPa at 1000°C. The strength regained by 122·5% as compared to the residual strength at 800°C. The crack reduction and partial melting in geopolymers treated at 1000°C signifies crack healing at elevated temperature, which in turn increases the compressive strength. In addition, the formation of crystalline phases of gehlenite (Ca2Al2SiO), mayenite (Ca12Al14O33) and larnite (Ca2SiO4) filled the geopolymer matrix and formed an ordered structure. This further enhanced the strength and high-Temperature stability of GGBFS geopolymers.
