Influence of sintering temperature of kaolin, slag, and fly ash geopolymers on the microstructure, phase analysis, and electrical conductivity
Journal
Materials
ISSN
1996-1944
Date Issued
2021
Author(s)
Nur Nadiah Izzati Zulkifli
Anna Przybył
Częstochowa University of Technology
Paweł Pietrusiewicz
Częstochowa University of Technology
Ikmal Hakem Aziz
Dariusz Kwiatkowski
Częstochowa University of Technology
Marcin Gacek
Częstochowa University of Technology
Marek Gucwa
Częstochowa University of Technology
Jitrin Chaiprapa
Synchrotron Light Research Institute
DOI
10.3390/ma14092213
Handle (URI)
Abstract
This paper clarified the microstructural element distribution and electrical conductivity changes of kaolin, fly ash, and slag geopolymer at 900 °C. The surface microstructure analysis showed the development in surface densification within the geopolymer when in contact with sintering temperature. It was found that the electrical conductivity was majorly influenced by the existence of the crystalline phase within the geopolymer sample. The highest electrical conductivity (8.3 × 10−4 Ωm−1) was delivered by slag geopolymer due to the crystalline mineral of gehlenite (3Ca2Al2SiO7). Using synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence, the high concentration Ca boundaries revealed the appearance of gehlenite crystallisation, which was believed to contribute to development of denser microstructure and electrical conductivity.
Subjects
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