Mechanical and acoustic absorption properties of lightweight fly ash/slag-based geopolymer concrete with various aggregates

Acoustic absorption and thermal insulation play a key role in modern buildings to make living comfortable and energy-saving. This paper aims to study the workability, physical and mechanical properties, thermal conductivity, and acoustic absorption of modified geopolymer concrete (GPC) with various types of lightweight aggregates (LWA) such as extruded polystyrene foam beads waste (EPS), vermiculite, or lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA). The mixtures of geopolymer concrete have been modified by substituting for the ordinary aggregates (dolomite) by volume with various ratios of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% for each type of LWA. Besides, the mechanisms of specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and mapping. The results illustrated that the compressive strength values range between 8.5 and 47.50 MPa. The hardened density of concrete was between 1500 and 2450 kg/m³, and thermal conductivity was between 0.45 and 1.16 W/m.K. Geopolymer concrete was considered an acoustic absorption and thermally insulating material. Geopolymer concrete was considered an acoustic absorption and thermally insulating material. EPS, vermiculite, and LECA will be beneficial for applications in lightweight geopolymer concrete due to their capability to reduce weight and excellent thermal conductivity, and the property of improving acoustic absorption. The mechanical results indicated that 25% LECA was the best compared with the ratios of other LWA and gained 35.0, 2.7, and 4.3 MPa of compressive, splitting tensile and flexural strength, respectively. It had positive workability; the thermal conductivity was 1.1 W/m.K, and hardened density was decreased to 10% compared to the control. In addition, LECA is considered the superior and suitable material for acoustic absorption compared with other aggregates.     

Thin fly ash/ ladle furnace slag geopolymer: Effect of elevated temperature exposure on flexural properties and morphological characteristics

The flexural properties and thermal performance of 10 mm-thin geopolymers made from fly ash and ladle furnace slag were evaluated before and after exposure to elevated temperatures (300 °C, 600 °C, 900 °C, 1100 °C and 1150 °C). Class F fly ash was mixed with liquid sodium silicate (Na₂SiO₃) and 12 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution using aluminosilicate/activator ratio of 1:2.5 and Na₂SiO₃/NaOH ratio of 1:4 to synthesise thin fly ash (FA) geopolymers. 40 wt% of ladle furnace slag was partially replacing fly ash to produce fly ash/slag-based (FAS) geopolymers. Thermal treatment enhanced the flexural strength of thin geopolymers. In comparison to the unexposed specimen, the flexural strength of FA geopolymers at 1150 °C and FAS geopolymers 1100 °C was increased by 161.3% to 16.2 MPa and 208.9% to 24.1 MPa, respectively. A more uniform heating was achieved in thin geopolymers which favoured the phase transformation at high temperatures and contributed to the substantial increase in flexural strength. The joint effect of elevated temperature exposure and the incorporation of ladle furnace slag further improved the flexural strength of thin geopolymers. The calcium-rich slag refined the pore structure and increased the crystallinity of thin geopolymers which aided in high strength development.     

Synthesis and adsorption performance of fly ash/steel slag-based geopolymer for removal of Cu (II) and methylene blue

In order to realize the value-added resource utilization of solid waste, geopolymer particle adsorbents were prepared at low temperatures using silica-aluminum-rich fly ash and steel slag powders as raw materials. In order to investigate the mechanism of their adsorption of dyes and heavy metal ions from wastewater, the effects of steel slag/fly ash ratio, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration of methylene blue (MB) and Cu²⁺ solution, adsorption time and temperature on the adsorption performance of the fly ash/steel slag-based geopolymer adsorbents were investigated, systematically. Results presented that the adsorption capacities of MB and Cu²⁺ were 33.30 and 24.15 mg/g, and the removal efficiencies were 99.90% and 96.59% with the dosages of 3 and 4 g/L geopolymer adsorbents (steel slag/fly ash ratio of 20 wt.%), respectively. The adsorption processes of MB and Cu²⁺ on the adsorbents were in accordance with the proposed pseudo-second-order and Langmuir isotherm models, which mainly included physical and chemical adsorption mechanisms. The adsorption was a spontaneous endothermic process. The fly ash/steel slag-based geopolymer had good removal ability for dyes and heavy metal ions, and it could maintain good adsorption performance after three cycles of regeneration. It had potential application in wastewater treatment.     

Production of ceramic glass foam of low thermal conductivity by a simple method entirely from fly ash

Ceramic glass foam/foams (CGF) from two different F-class fly ashes were produced via a well-known simple conventional sintering method using sodium silicate (Na₂SiO₃) as a foaming and fluxing agent. The research aimed to understand the effects of each fly ash, Na₂SiO₃ ratio, and sintering conditions on the properties and microstructure to produce a commercial CGF of low thermal conductivity. The chemical composition of fly ash from the thermal power plants of Tunçbilek and Seyitömer were quite similar but had different melting temperatures and microstructures. While the foam structure was successfully obtained at 1100 °C with 30 wt.% Na₂SiO₃ from Tunçbilek fly ash, a similar structure was obtained at 1150 °C from the Seyitömer fly ash. The effects of Na₂SiO₃ content and sintering temperature on the properties and microstructure of the CGF from the Tunçbilek fly ash of a lower melting point, in particular, were investigated systematically. The optimal sintering temperatures were determined to be 1200, 1150, and 1100 °C at the highest fly ash ratios of 90, 80 and 70 wt.%, respectively. The CGF were produced with 69.76–75.43% porosity, 0.55–0.69 gr/cm³ bulk density, 3.2–5.35 MPa compressive strength and 0.10–0.21 W/(m K) of low thermal conductivity. XRD results showed that optimal CGF samples mainly contained spinel, quartz and hematite crystal phases and amorphous phase. In this research, a thermal insulation material was successfully produced using an industrial waste completely with a well-known simple method. It is thought that this will contribute beneficially to the environment and the economy.     

Effect of high temperature on the mechanical properties of hierarchical porous cenosphere/geopolymer composite foams

A hierarchical porous cenosphere/geopolymer composite foam (FHCs/KGP) was fabricated by the simultaneous incorporation of O₂ pore from hydrogen peroxide and cenosphere filler addition. Effects of both H₂O₂ content and high-temperature treatment on the microstructure, porosity and strength of porous FHCs/KGP foams were investigated systematically. The obtained FHCs/KGP foams showed typical amorphous structure and desirable porosity from 65 to 82%. The composites could crystallize in situ to FHCs/leucite foams above 1000℃. Compression strength of the FHCs/leucite foams showed a maximum value of 5 ± 0.3 MPa when treated at 1000°C. The improvement of mechanical properties for the composite foams was attributed to crack deflection, fractured microspheres and the good bond between the FHCs and matrix. This study could open opportunities to employ cellular foams as alternatives in structure and filtration applications.     

Mechanical,thermal, morphological,and curing properties of geopolymer filled natural rubber composites

The main objective of this work was to investigate influence of natural rubber (NR) types on mechanical, thermal, morphological, and curing properties together with relaxation behavior of geopolymer filled NR composites with and without bis(triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide (TESPT) silane coupling agent. Three alternative types of NR: unmodified NR, and epoxidized NR with 25 (ENR-25) or 50 mol % epoxide (ENR-50) were exploited. Rubber compounds filled with GP particles were prepared in an internal mixer at 60 °C and 130–150 °C for the ones with and without TESPT, respectively. It was found that incorporation of GP significantly affected cure characteristics and mechanical properties of the rubber composites. That is, decreasing cure time was observed from 11.6, 3.2, and 7.0 min in gum NR, ENR-25, and ENR-50 to 6.9, 2.1, and 5.0 min in NR/GP, ENR-25/GP, and ENR-50/GP compounds, respectively. Furthermore, the ENR-25/GP and ENR-50/GP composites showed finely dispersed GP particles which indicate high filler–rubber interactions. The in situ silanization with TESPT in rubber composites enhanced the mechanical properties of NR/GP and ENR-25/GP composites but no such enhancement was found in the ENR-50/GP composite. This matched the observations of Payne effect, maximum tan δ, and stress relaxation properties of the composites. We found that the ENR-25/GP composites exhibited the best overall properties. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47346.     

Effects of high-temperature exposure on properties of lightweight geopolymer foams incorporating diatomite powders

A kind of metakaolin-based geopolymer foams incorporating diatomite powders (GKGP) with open cellular was presented by addition of diatomite powder via hydrogen peroxide method. Impacts of high-temperature exposure on the microstructure, pore structure, and mechanical properties of the GKGP samples were investigated. The GKGP foams achieved a typical amorphous phase structure at room temperature. Open porosity of the samples reached approximately 74%. After high-temperature exposure treatment, the KGP matrix is basically transformed into leucite crystal phase. The compression strength of the leucite foams was also enhanced with increasing temperature to 1200℃ (9.28 MPa). The lightweight foamed GKGP samples with high open porosity might have great potential for membranes and industries, etc.     

胶凝材料对地质聚合物混凝土的 抗冻融循环性能的影响

地质聚合物混凝土（GPC）能最大限度地减少自然资源的消耗。粉煤灰和矿粉的配合比对于GPC的性能具有较大影响。本研究制备了普通硅酸盐混凝土（OPC）、全粉煤灰配方及部分矿粉代替FA制备的地质聚合物混凝土GPC-0、GPC-10、GPC-20、GPC-30（矿粉：0、10%、20%和30%）,对比不同GPC的冻融后的性能,即重量变化,抗压强度损失,相对动态弹性模量损失。结果表明：矿粉含量最高的GPC-30的质量损失率小和抗压强度高,远优于其他地质聚合物混凝土。利用共振频率测试（RFT）的无损检测方法测定动态弹性模量,表明矿粉基比全粉煤灰CPC具有更好的抗冻融性。粉煤灰的含量越高,矿粉的含量越低,养护制备出的混凝土的力学性能退化就越大,并得出GPC的实用性能以及不同比例配方,这为今后的试验和工程应用提供数据和理论支持。     

Synthesis and mechanical properties of lightweight hybrid geopolymer foams reinforced with carbon nanotubes

A lightweight hybrid geopolymer foams reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was exploited by adding the CNTs into geopolymeric matrix through hydrogen peroxide method. The synergistic effects of nanotubes and foaming agent on the phase evolution, microstructure, and mechanical properties were investigated. After introduction of nanotubes, the geopolymer foams reinforced with CNTs (CNTs/KGP) still showed amorphous structure. Porosity of the foams increased with the H₂O₂ content and decreased with the increase in CNTs content. The addition of CNTs (1-9 wt%) in foams refined the distribution of pore size from 523 to 352 μm. Compression strength of the CNTs/KGP samples elevated with the increasing content of CNTs, which was contributed to the crack propagation and bridging of CNTs in foams. The CNTs/KGP foams with considerable porosity show potential applications in adsorption, filtration, membrane supports, other industries, etc     

Experimental research on the dynamic compressive properties of lightweight slag based geopolymer

The present study aims at preparing lightweight slag based geopolymer (LW-SG) and studying its mechanical properties under dynamic and quasi-static loads. Firstly, three LW-SG with different densities were prepared by replacing the slag with expanded perlite (EP). Secondly, the density, wave velocity and pore structure of LW-SG with different EP contents were tested. Thirdly, the mechanical properties under quasi-static and dynamic loads were compared. Finally, the effects of the strain rate and EP content on the mechanical properties and failure modes of LW-SG were discussed. The results showed that with the EP contents increase, the dry density and longitudinal wave velocity gradually decreased, while the porosity increased. In addition, the quasi-static compressive strength and elastic modulus of LW-SG increased with curing ages, but decreased with EP contents increased. The dynamic compressive strength, dynamic increase factor, strain energy density and damaged degree of LW-SG all showed an increasing tendency with the strain rates increase, which exhibits an obvious strain rate dependence. Under the same strain rate, the dynamic compressive strength and strain energy density decreased with the EP contents increase, while the damaged degree increased with the EP contents increase.     

Studies on thermal degradation kinetics and dielectric properties of polyether imide foam/nanosilica-based nanocomposites

ABSTRACT

In this paper, polyether imide (PEI) having properties such as a high glass transition temperature of 216°C, high heat resistance, high flame resistance, low smoke generation and a high melting point within the range of 400°C, having low thermal conductivity and low dielectric constant was chosen to be a polymeric foam. Water vapor-induced phase separation method was used to prepare PEI foams. PEI foams were reinforced with nano-silica (weight 1, 3 and 5%) in order to alter the dielectric properties, thermal conductivity and degradation kinetics of foamed polymer. The tested samples showed a reduction in dielectric constant than that of solid PEI but at a higher loading, it showed a higher value due to threshold percolation and a reduction in thermal conductivity was observed for foamed PEI. From thermogravimetric analysis, we can conclude that PEI with 3% filler loading showed better thermal stability compared to other PEI foam compositions.     

Synthesis and thermal behavior of inorganic–organic hybrid geopolymer composites

Inorganic geopolymer potassium aluminosilicate was prepared at room temperature by the reaction of kaolin, potassium silicate, and potassium hydroxide solution and was dispersed in situ into an epoxy matrix by various proportions to fabricate novel inorganic–organic hybrid geopolymer composites. The formation of inorganic geopolymer with respect to time was monitored by X‐ray diffraction and FT‐IR analysis and confirmed that 30 min is required to complete the geopolymerization. When geopolymers were properly mixed at different ratios with organic polymers such as epoxy and cured, these hybrid polymers exhibit significant thermal stability. Pure kaolin was also incorporated into the epoxy matrix to compare the change in chemical and thermal properties. Cone calorimetry results showed about 27% decreased in rate of heat release (RHR) on addition of 20% pure kaolin. However, about 57% of RHR was decreased on addition of only 20% geopolymer. Evaluation of CO₂ and CO were found to be minimum 2.0 and 0.7 kg/kg, respectively, for hybrid geopolymer composites compared to very high yield for epoxy at 3.5 kg/kg after 200 s of ignition. The current study shows that due to the high thermal stability of hybrid geopolymer composites, the novel hybrid geopolymer composites have the ability to be potential candidates to use in practical application where fire is of great concern. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 112–121, 2005     

Eggshells as agro-industrial waste substitute for CaCO3 in glass foams: A study on obtaining lower thermal conductivity

In this work, discarded glass bottles (GB) and eggshells (ES) were used to produce foam glass designed for thermal insulation. The literature on the thermal conductivity of foam glasses produced with eggshells is sparse. This material was used as pore-forming agent at 3% and 5% weight fractions to obtain a foam glass with low thermal conductivity. Homogenized powders were uniaxially pressed, and the compacts were fired at three temperatures (800, 850, and 900°C). Raw materials were characterized by chemical analysis and particle size distribution. The foam glasses were characterized by their porosity, phases, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity. The best insulating properties were obtained for the composition containing 5 wt% ES fired at 800°C. This sample displayed a porosity of 91.4% while its thermal conductivity was of 0.037 W/m.K, with a compressive strength of 1.12 ± 0.38 MPa. Crystalline phases were observed in samples fired at 850 and 900°C as a result of the devitrification process. The final properties of the materials are comparable to those of commercial foam glasses obtained from non-renewable, more expensive raw materials, a great indicator that the studied compositions could be used as an environmentally friendly substitute.     

Utilization of fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag as an alternative silica source in reactive powder concrete

Reactive powder concrete (RPC) is an ultra high strength cement-based material. Cement and silica fume (SF) content of RPC are generally rather high compared to the conventional concrete. The aim of this study is to decrease the cement and SF content of RPC using with fly ash (FA) and/or ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS). The effect of these mineral admixtures on compressive strength of RPC has been investigated under autoclave curing. In the first stage, the effect of autoclave time and SF content on compressive strength was determined. In the second stage, SF was gradually decreased and cement was replaced with FA and/or GGBFS at different proportions. The microstructure was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Test results indicate that, the utilization of FA and/or GGBFS in RPC is possible without significant mechanical performance loss. SEM micrographs revealed the tobermorite having different morphology.     

Thermal conductivity of several geopolymer composites and discussion of their formulation

We fabricated 50.8-mm cube-shaped samples of metakaolin geopolymer (GP) composites with various additives chosen to increase or decrease the thermal conductivity of the composite. Sodium-based GP (NaGP) and GP composites were more conductive than potassium-based GP (KGP) composites for a given phase fraction of filler, but the maximum amount of filler phase was higher with KGP due to the lower viscosity of the KGP mixture. The highest thermal conductivity achieved was about 8 W/m K by KGP + 44-vol% graphite flakes, whereas NaGP + 27 vol% graphite flakes reached 4.7 W/m K. The thermal conductivity was strongly affected by the moisture remaining in the composite, which appeared to have a greater effect at higher filler content. On the other hand, the size of alumina particles (6, 40, or 120 μm) did not have any apparent effect on thermal conductivity for the same filler content. Larger particles caused less change in mixture viscosity, though, thus permitting incorporation of higher filler phase fractions and therefore higher thermal conductivity.     

Influence of preheating of fly ash precursors to produce geopolymers

This study has been focused on the effect of pretreatment of FA and POFA after geopolymerization on the mechanical properties. The aim of this work was to simplify the pretreatment that it can easily industrial be applied, using existing technology. Previous work has shown that a reduction in particle size increases the mechanical properties. However, this method involves a milling process which is not applicable for a wide industrial application. Hence, FA and POFA particles have been heated to 300°C, 500°C, and 800°C but applying different pretreatments: (i) predried at 110°C (reference sample); (ii) as received; (iii) prewetted; (iv) prewetted and later quenched in cold water. It was found that during the treatment the particle size increased due to thermal stress cracking. During fast heating, trapped pore water cannot be removed as fast as it evaporates and hence the particles crack. This increase in particle size caused an increase in compressive strength. In addition, heating to 300°C and 500°C caused a dehydroxylation of FA and POFA. This dehydroxylation resulted in a higher initial reactivity, reducing the setting time and improved mechanical strength.     

Mechanical and thermal properties of phenolic/glass fiber foam modified with phosphorus‐containing polyurethane prepolymer

Phenolic foam exhibits outstanding flame, smoke and toxicity properties, good insulation properties and low production costs. However, the brittleness and pulverization of phenolic foam have severely limited its application in many fields. In this study, a novel phosphorus‐containing polyurethane prepolymer (DOPU) modifier was firstly synthesized, and then the foaming formula and processing of toughening phenolic foam modified with DOPU and glass fiber were explored. The structure and reactive behavior of prepolymer and phenolic resin were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The effects of DOPU and glass fiber on the apparent density, compressive strength, bending strength and water absorption were investigated. The results suggested that the apparent density, compressive strength and bending strength of modified phenolic foam tended to increase irregularly with increasing content of DOPU. The addition of DOPU led to lower water absorption of glass fiber‐filled foam. Thermal stability and flame retardancy were examined using thermogravimetric analysis and limiting oxygen index (LOI) tests. It was found that foam with 3% DOPU and 0.5% glass fiber added exhibited good thermal stability and high char yields. The LOI value of modified phenolic foams decreased with increasing DOPU content, but it still remained at 41.0% even if the amount of modifier loaded was 10 wt%. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Mechanical and microstructural evolutions of fly ash/slag-based geopolymer at high temperatures: Effect of curing conditions

Designing a building material with excellent heat resistance is crucial for protection against catastrophic fires. Geopolymer materials have been investigated as they offer better heat resistance than traditional cement owing to their ceramic-like properties. Curing temperature and conditions are crucial factors that determine the properties of geopolymers, but their impacts on the heat resistance of geopolymers remain unclear. This study produced geopolymers from fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag by using sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide solutions as alkaline solutions. To examine the effect of curing conditions on the high-temperature performance of geopolymer, four different curing conditions, namely, heat curing (70 °C for 24 h), ambient curing (20 °C), water curing, and the combination of heat and water curing (70 °C for 24 h followed by water curing), were applied. At 28 d, the specimens were subjected to high temperatures (500 °C, 750 °C, and 950 °C), and their mechanical and microstructural evolutions were studied. The results revealed that the curing condition significantly affects the properties of the unexposed geopolymer; the effect on its high-temperature performance is insignificant. Furthermore, all the specimens could maintain adequate compressive strength after exposure to the maximum temperature of 950 °C, promising the use of geopolymer for structural applications.     

Mechanical properties and thermal stability of rice husk ash filled epoxy foams

Mechanical properties and thermal stability of epoxy foams filled with white and black rice husk ash were studied. Epoxy foams were prepared from a commercial system and filled with different amounts of both the ashes (0, 6.8, 12.8, 18.0, and 22.7 wt %). The incorporation of both the ashes modified the final morphology of the foam, decreasing the average cell size and increasing the number of cells per volume unit. For all filler percentages used, the specific modulus and strength results showed that the white ash is more effective as reinforcing agent than the black ash. The initial degradation temperature was not affected by the content and type of ash used as the filler. The integral procedure decomposition temperature, weight loss, and char residue results were related to the ash type and atmosphere used in the thermogravimetric analysis. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006     

Production and thermomechanical characterization of wool–geopolymer composites

Load‐bearing and thermal insulating wool waste/geopolymer composites with fire‐resistant properties were produced and characterized. Two formulations, with different amounts of wool fibers, corresponding in the final composites to about 23 vol% and 31 vol%, were tested. The composites exhibited an average density of 1.0 g/cm³, with a thermal conductivity of 0.2 W/mK, and compressive and flexural strength around 9 and 5 MPa, respectively. The flexural strength and fracture behavior were improved by the presence of the fibers, which promoted the onset of a toughening mechanism in the material. Results showed that a geopolymer matrix loaded with 23 vol% of wool fibers is suitable as flame‐resistant barrier, as reaction to fire is in class A2 (UNI‐EN 13501‐1), and as insulating structural partition in buildings because it ensures a consistent load‐bearing ability coupled with thermal insulating properties, similarly to other man‐made fiber products, with a considerable gain in terms of cost and environmental impact.