Effect of manufacturing process on the mechanisms and mechanical properties of fly ash-based geopolymer in ambient curing temperature

The manufacturing process of geopolymer cement generally uses alkaline solutions mixed with alumina-silicate prime materials to form a cement paste. Other factors may be set up for the designated experiment, e.g., material constituents, activator’s concentration and curing regimes. One of the latent factors influencing the properties of geopolymer, which has received less attention, is a mixing method. General mixing and separate mixing processes, which have been previously studied, were synthesized as controlled procedures and compared with another alternative new mixing method called the pre-dry mixing process. The results have shown that the pre-dry mixing process provided high potential heat liberation, which could prove beneficial for curing purposes. It is confirmed that the proper mixing order leads to better results, especially for any of the alkaline-activated cementitious binders. With more practicality in field application, by just adding water, this process could be developed and applied in ambient temperatures.