Geopolymer

Balaji A +918056822019 balaji280191@hotmail.com

Abstract

For centuries, since the discovery of OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement) the construction industry has been using it as a major construction material due to its

material that has been found and it is analogous to cement in its properties. Geopolymers are materials that are obtained by alkali activation of natural pozzoloans or pozzoloans, which has binding properties. They are considered eco-friendly as their production does not involve any CO2 emission and has been used widespread in the construction industry recently. Many of its special properties such as rapid hardening and gain in strength at early stages and resistance to chemicals etc. have attributed to its use as a new construction material. But it has its own limitations as a binding material when compared to ordinary

extraordinary properties as a good binder on the addition of water, development of strength with time and its outstanding durability on exposure to atmospheric conditions. But everything has its own good and bad, so is the case with OPC. It is considered to be a serious atmospheric pollutant. Studies have shown that one ton of carbon dioxide gas is released into the atmosphere for every ton of Portland cement manufactured. The so called blended cements using ingredients such as fly ash, silica fume and metakoalin etc. helped in suppressing the CO2 emissions, but the world is still in need of some other new technology to bring down the global warming. Scientists have involved in

Portland cement in strength, application and durability. Studies have been carried out in this field and the following are discussed in this paper. The raw materials involved in the geopolymerization process and the

conceptual model of the process have been discussed. Structural characterization of the geopolymeric material has been explained. Blending the geopolymers with OPC has 1 / 10

synthesizing new materials of construction without increasing the carbon level in the atmosphere. Geopolymer is one such

attributed to the mechanical strength and it has been studied. The properties of lowcalcium fly ash based geopolymer concrete have been discussed. Works on geopolymer composites resulting in fire resistant

aluminosilicate materials like clays, ashes, natural pozzoloans (solidifies upon alkali activation). They are considered as ecofriendly materials as their production do not involve any decomposition of limestone which contributes to the CO2 emission. The aluminosilicate materials on activation by an alkali solidify to a material which possesses a 3-D network of aluminate and silicate units with charge balancing cations. Geopolymer binders are two

materials has been studied. Studies have shown that geopolymers have proven to be an excellent material for retrofitting works and immobilizes toxic waste materials within its matrix. Studies revealed that the additions of natural alkali (potassium or pozzoloans

sodium aluminosilictaes)

helped in substantially reducing the alkaliaggregate reaction and it has been discussed. The special properties of the geopolymeric binders are enhanced by the calcination of these materials and its various effects have been studied. Studies all around the world have been carried out considering this as a future material and as a replacement of cement and still research are going on these materials to improve their properties. Introduction Geopolymers are inorganic binders whose name was coined by Davidovitis in 1970s. The prefix geo was to symbolize the relationship of the binders to geological materials i.e. natural stone/minerals. They are formed by the alkali activation of readily available natural or industrial byproducts of

component systems that consists of the following, Reactive solid component

contains SiO2 and Al2O3 Alkaline activation solution

When the above two components comes in contact with each other, hardening results due to the formation ranging of an from

aluminosilicate

network

amorphous to crystalline. Geopolymers varies from the OPC in many aspects such as strength, durability etc. Properties of geopolymers Resistance to chemicals( in particular acids) High density, low permeability Rapid hardening with high ultimate strengths 2 / 10

 Temperature stable Ability to bind toxic chemicals Ecological construction material

aluminate

and

silicate

species.

The

dissolution of solid particles at the surface resulting in the liberation of aluminate and silicate into the solution has always been assumed to be the mechanism responsible for the conversion of solid particles during geopolymerization. The species released by dissolution are incorporated into the aqueous phase, which may already contain silicate present in the activating solution. The complex mixture of silicate, aluminate and aluminosilicate species is thereby formed. Dissolution of amorphous aluminosilicates is rapid at high pH, and this quickly creates a supersaturated aluminosilicate solution. In concentrated solutions this results in the formation of a gel, as the oligomers in the aqueous phase form large networks by condensation. This process releases the water that was nominally consumed during dissolution and it resides within the pores in the gel. This type of gel structures is known as bi-phasic, with aluminosilicate binder and water forming the two phases. The time for

(low CO2 emission) Raw materials Theoretically any material composed of silica and aluminium can be used to synthesize geopolymeric binders. But

practically, only few materials have been used in the manufacturing of geopolymers so far and those materials are listed below: (a) kaolinitic clays (b) metakaolin (c) fly ashes (d) blast furnace slag (e) mixtures of fly ashes and slag (f) mixtures of fly ahses and metakoalin (g) mixtures of slag and metakoalin (h) mixtures of slag and red mud (i) mixtures of fly ashes and noncalcined materials like kaolin and stilbite Geopolymerisation process The geopolymerization process follows a simple mechanism of transformation of a solid aluminosilicate source into a synthetic alkali aluminosilicate. The dissolution of the solid aluminosilicate source by alkaline hydrolysis (consuming water) produces 3 / 10

the supersaturated aluminosilicate solution to form a continuous gel varies accordingly with the raw material processing conditions and solution composition and synthesis condition. After gelation the system

continues to rearrange and reorganize, as the connectivity of the gel network increases,

resulting

in

the

three-dimensional commonly

more durable which makes it a strong reason to go for OPC as a construction material. One possible method is to blend the geopolymers in various proportions with OPC and its constituent minerals C3S, -C2S and C3A thereby reducing the environmental impact of OPC, while retaining its possible durability contribution. The composition of the designated mix was provided below in Table 1. At high alkalinity strength was essentially independent of the calcium source mineral. The interaction chemistry in the presence of gypsum which is added to the batch to prevent flash setting, between aluminosilicate geopolymers are complex. So the interaction of individual cement minerals with geopolymers were studied and then compared with the standard OPCgeopolymer mixture. Borate has been added to retard the formation of geopolymer (as they fight for silicon), so that they do not interfere the formation of C-S-H gel resulting in high compressive strengths. The replacement of sodium by potassium as

aluminosilicate

network

attributed to geopolymers. Analysis and study The analysis of the microstructure of geopolymers can be done depending upon the structural changes that occurs when subjected to certain treatment methods. Usually the interaction studies are done using NMR/XRD or FTIR techniques and the microstructure is studied using the SEM. The thermal treatment of aluminosilicate materials causes changes in the structure with an increase of amorphous phase. For that kind of structural change XRD analysis is not appropriate, so those changes are currently assessed by infrared emission spectra analysis (FTIR). Another good technique to detect structural changes is the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Blending with OPC Geopolymers obtain rapid hardening and strength than OPC. But considering their long term strength, they have not proved effective due to the development or

charge balancing cations contributes towards the strength. After 28 days, the compressive tests have been conducted and the results have been shown in Fig. 1. The sodium geopolymer matrix displays high

formation of zeolites hindering geopolymer as a replacement of OPC. On the other hand OPC gains more strength with time and it is

compressive strength and the strength of OPC is in the typical range for cement

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mortar at 28 days. But the strength of composite of these two materials has been found to be lower than their individual. The C3S paste has very low compressive strength but on blending with the geopolymer matrix the strength has increased. The omission of KOH from the sodium-geopolymer mixture synthesis has decreased the strength. The addition of sodium tetraborate to the OPCgeopolymer mixture has shown a very high compressive strength.

Immobilization of toxic wastes Land filling has been used widely as a way of processing wastes that has been produced by various industries all around the world. But physical stabilization of wastes is becoming a environmental and social

necessity. The concept of sustainability is to recycle and reuse the materials as opposed to landfilling and discarding the wastes. Geopolymerisation has proved to meet the above necessities of recycling and reusing of waste materials. The technology of

geopolymerisation has been applied to some cement related products which can be bought commercially and mixed with toxic wastes to be used in construction. Research in this field with the purpose of finding solutions for two major objectives 1. Immobilization efficiency of the material 2. The physical properties of the product should be stable not only to encapsulate wastes materials but also to make the product suitable for further suitable building applications. Most waste materials such as fly-ash, contaminated soil, mine tailings and even building wastes contain large amounts of silica and alumina for geopolymerisation reactions. In most of the cases only a small amount of the silica and alumina present on Fig. 1 the surfaces is appropriate to take part in the reaction for the whole mixture to solidify 5 / 10

with the immobilization of toxic wastes within. This makes a marked difference from the Portland cement systems where additional additives have to be added in order to bring the immobilization of waste materials. Thus geopolymerisation process has been found to be an efficient way of immobilizing waste materials and serving the environment in a better manner. Effect of calcinations The substitution of fly ash or metakoalin by different amounts of Ca(OH)2 enhances the special property of concrete. The special properties are mainly influenced by the kind of reaction and the reaction product. The acidic resistance of concrete made out of OPC is low, while it is high for the geopolymer composition (as mentioned in Table 2) were mixed in a Hobart mixer for 10 minutes. The samples were then placed in plastic moulds (25mm dia and 50mm long) which were capped before curing at varying temperatures. The cured samples are then de-moulded after 3 days. Compressive strengths of the samples were measured after 7 days using Instron-5500R testing machine. The uncertainty in the measurement was taken as the standard deviation of the compressive strength of the least four samples. The test results were then analyzed

from Fig. 2. The slow hardening of fly ash can be shortened by the addition of Ca(OH)2. In the beginning the mixtures with a low calcium content performed worse compared to the pure ash, but after time of hardening these blends reached a higher strength than samples with high calcium content. The matrix became more dense and compact with the increase in calcium content. The addition of high amounts of calcium hydroxide to fly ash develops early strength only, but at lower amounts they performed at later stages as well. The acid resistance of the binders have not been affected much by the calcium content, probably due to the remarkable amount of zeolite phases even at high calcium contents where both zeolitic phases and C-S-H phases coexists as reaction product.

Table 2

6 / 10

1000o C. The polymer is durable and they do not undergo any degradation when exposed to UV light. Investigations have shown that geopolymer composite is non-combustible while all other organic polymer composites support flaming combustion. Applications Materials Fig. 2 generated by the alkaline

activation of metakoalin and/or fly ashes constitute a unique family if materials of mixed nature and characteristics including

Retrofitting and fire resisting properties Retrofitting has been for structures that have been damaged and earlier steel plates were used for that purpose because of its ease of application. Recently high strength carbon, glass and aramid composite plates have been promoted as a better alternative to steel plates. The major disadvantage of using a composite plate is its lack of resistance to fire and degradation under UV radiation leading to long term durability problems. But the major drawback of using this is with the organic polymers that are used to attach these fabrics to concrete. The use of inorganic polymers called the geopolymers is incorporated into these works. The major advantage of using the inorganic polymers is their ability to withstand temperature up to

rapid development of mechanical strength, fire resistance, dimensional stability, acid resistance, excellent adherence to aggregates and reinforcements, etc. in the case of geopolymers derived from fly ash, the cost of material is generally lower than OPC by a factor of about 10-30%. Further the

characteristics properties of geopolymers shows promising than the OPC. However in general the geopolymers derived from metakoalin require too much water (increase in porosity) and are too soft to be of much material importance in construction

applications. They may be used of major importance in applications such as

adhesives, coatings and hydro ceramics. Geopolymer concrete derived from fly ash may develop high compressive strength in the first few hours and the interfaces formed

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between the binder phase and the aggregate are characterized by the same dense and compact microstructure as found in bulk of the material. The use of these materials allows for the design for shrinkage cuts and controlled cracking. The geopolymers finds its use in precast industry as a major construction material. The ability of the geopolymers to withstand a temperature of around 1000 C makes them a fire resisting material and they find their use in
o

The reactivity is linked to the material structure, being higher for higher amorphous content. The use of recommended Si/Al molar ratios, based on zeolite chemistry is also required to achieve high strength and durability. When the geopolymers are being blended with OPC, the replacement of sodium by potassium as the charge

balancing cations and the addition of borate to retard the formation of geopolymers, thereby enhancing the formation of C-S-H gel contributes towards the long term strength which is not obtained in concretes made out of only geopolymers. The use of calcium hydroxide showed that it leads to an increase in mechanical strength. Fly ash based geopolymers on high amount of calcination exhibited early stage strength only while low amount of calcination helped in bringing out the later stage performance of concrete. Geopolymers based on

retrofitting works. The hardening reaction can be considerably accelerated by heat and so the hardening process can be controlled with a high precision. For majority of solids e.g., metakoalin and fly ash suitable for use, binder pastes with thixotropic properties are characteristic and hence these properties should have a positive effect on concrete processed by presses. Conclusion The mechanical strength of alkali-activated binders depends upon the structural

metakoalin showed development of strength when an optimum amount of calcium is added. The acidic resistance of

conditions of aluminosilicate materials. Higher mechanical strength is attained in mixes subjected to calcination such as fly ashes, blast furnace slag and metakoalin. As it happens in pozzoloanic reactivity, alkaliactivation reactivity depends on the

geopolymeric binders does not depend much on the amount of calcination because both the zeolitic phases and C-S-H phases coexist as reaction product. So far,

investigations about alkali-activated binders allow concluding that apart from reactive prime materials such as metakoalin, or

amorphous content of silica and aluminium.

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industrial by-products such as fly ashes and slag, also other several aluminosilicate minerals could be subjected to alkali activation. Geopolymers have proven useful in attaching the fabrics to the concrete for retrofitting works because of their ability to withstand very high temperature. Their ability to immobilize toxic wastes within them supporting the concept of

Outlook The application technology of geopolymers is still in its infancy. Individual examples of application and lab scale tests prove to be effective of their utilization in construction industry. A possible stumbling block for the establishment of these binders is the large number of feasible raw materials and mix compositions with extremely varying

sustainability has made them as a new material for the construction industry. However, it must be noticed that studies have been done using highly pure samples and it is not expected that less pure or even waste minerals has the same reactivity. That way, future research about the activation of alkali-activation of aluminosilicate mineral wastes is needed. From the standpoint of future application of geopolymer as

properties. Some initial constituents are probably not available in the required quantity, quality or price. Several research teams around the world are working further on the development this a of this material for

considering

future

scope

construction industry without making a carbon footprint over the world we live in. References [1] J.Temujin, A. van Riessen, R.Williams, Influence of calcium compounds on the mechanical properties of fly ash geopolymer pastes. [2] J.G.S. van Jaarsveld, J.S.J. van Deventer, The potential use of geopolymeric materials to immobilize toxic metals. [3] Fernando Pacheco-Torgal, Joao CastroGomes, Said Jalali, Alkali-activated binders: A review. Part 2. About materials and binders manufacture. 9 / 10

cementitious material, attention should be drawn to the compatibility, under certain working conditions, between the C-S-H gel and the geopolymer gel. Such compatibility may be the key to the future development of more environment friendly, economical, durable and higher performing binding materials cement. other than todays Portland

[4] Jonathan Tailby, Kenneth J.D.Mackinzie , Structure and mechanical properties of aluminosilicate geopolymer composites with Portland cement and its constituent minerals. [5] Ana Maria Fernandez Jiminez, Eric E. Lachowski, A. Palamo, Donald E. Macphee, Microstructural characterization of alkaliactivated PFA matrices for waste

immobilization. [6] Richard E. Lyon, Usman Sorathia, P.N. Balaguru and Andrew FOden, Joseph

Davidovits and Michael Davidovics, Fire response composites. of Geopolymer structural

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Details of author Category of the Paper: UG Discipline: Construction Management and Methods Name: Balaji A Sex (M/F): M Title of the paper: Geopolymer College: National institute of Technology (NIT),Trichy. Number of papers submitted: -nilAddress: Room no.:32, Garnet-C Boys Hostel, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli-620015. Tamil Nadu. Email id: balaji280191@hotmail.com Contact No.: +918056822019