Strength Development and Durability of Metakaolin Geopolymer Mortars Containing Pozzolans under Different Curing Conditions

This study presents the strength development and durability of heat and non-heat-cured geopolymer mortars (GMs) produced using metakaolin (MK), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), silica fume (SF), ground calcined perlite (GCP), raw perlite (RP), potassium hydroxide (KOH), sodium metasilic...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Burak Işıkdağ, Mohammad Rahim Yalghuz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-06-01
Series:Minerals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/7/857
_version_ 1797588107409752064
author Burak Işıkdağ
Mohammad Rahim Yalghuz
author_facet Burak Işıkdağ
Mohammad Rahim Yalghuz
author_sort Burak Işıkdağ
collection DOAJ
description This study presents the strength development and durability of heat and non-heat-cured geopolymer mortars (GMs) produced using metakaolin (MK), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), silica fume (SF), ground calcined perlite (GCP), raw perlite (RP), potassium hydroxide (KOH), sodium metasilicate (Na<sub>2</sub>SiO<sub>3</sub>), standard sand, and tap water. An optimal combination of MK with various pozzolans and constant solid/liquid and alkaline activator ratios were determined. It was found that the GMs, including MK and GGBFS with a 1.45 solid/liquid ratio and 2.0 alkaline activator ratio, resulted in compressive strength at 88 MPa. Analysis of GMs was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), EDX (Energy Scattered X-ray Spectrophotometer), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). According to the results obtained, mainly alumino-silicate-based formation, potassium from KOH solution, and calcium from GGBFS were determined. The SEM images showed that the grains with high silica content, approximately 6–7 µm in size, are quartz crystals and embedded in the gel structure. The heat-cured GMs were exposed to MgSO<sub>4</sub>, Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>, and HCl solutions for the durability tests. The strength of the heat-cured GMs was higher than the non-heat-cured GMs, and the durability of the heat-cured GMs was found as sufficient. The use of pozzolans in GMs resulted in improvements in terms of strength and durability.
first_indexed 2024-03-11T00:48:07Z
format Article
id doaj.art-a7e22edba5404eff8636d441870946ff
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2075-163X
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-11T00:48:07Z
publishDate 2023-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Minerals
spelling doaj.art-a7e22edba5404eff8636d441870946ff2023-11-18T20:37:56ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2023-06-0113785710.3390/min13070857Strength Development and Durability of Metakaolin Geopolymer Mortars Containing Pozzolans under Different Curing ConditionsBurak Işıkdağ0Mohammad Rahim Yalghuz1Department of Construction, Porsuk Vocational School, Eskişehir Technical University, Eskişehir 26140, TurkeyDepartment of Civil Engineering, Eskişehir Technical University, Eskişehir 26555, TurkeyThis study presents the strength development and durability of heat and non-heat-cured geopolymer mortars (GMs) produced using metakaolin (MK), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), silica fume (SF), ground calcined perlite (GCP), raw perlite (RP), potassium hydroxide (KOH), sodium metasilicate (Na<sub>2</sub>SiO<sub>3</sub>), standard sand, and tap water. An optimal combination of MK with various pozzolans and constant solid/liquid and alkaline activator ratios were determined. It was found that the GMs, including MK and GGBFS with a 1.45 solid/liquid ratio and 2.0 alkaline activator ratio, resulted in compressive strength at 88 MPa. Analysis of GMs was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), EDX (Energy Scattered X-ray Spectrophotometer), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). According to the results obtained, mainly alumino-silicate-based formation, potassium from KOH solution, and calcium from GGBFS were determined. The SEM images showed that the grains with high silica content, approximately 6–7 µm in size, are quartz crystals and embedded in the gel structure. The heat-cured GMs were exposed to MgSO<sub>4</sub>, Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>, and HCl solutions for the durability tests. The strength of the heat-cured GMs was higher than the non-heat-cured GMs, and the durability of the heat-cured GMs was found as sufficient. The use of pozzolans in GMs resulted in improvements in terms of strength and durability.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/7/857pozzolansgeopolymersstrengthdurabilitymicrostructure
spellingShingle Burak Işıkdağ
Mohammad Rahim Yalghuz
Strength Development and Durability of Metakaolin Geopolymer Mortars Containing Pozzolans under Different Curing Conditions
Minerals
pozzolans
geopolymers
strength
durability
microstructure
title Strength Development and Durability of Metakaolin Geopolymer Mortars Containing Pozzolans under Different Curing Conditions
title_full Strength Development and Durability of Metakaolin Geopolymer Mortars Containing Pozzolans under Different Curing Conditions
title_fullStr Strength Development and Durability of Metakaolin Geopolymer Mortars Containing Pozzolans under Different Curing Conditions
title_full_unstemmed Strength Development and Durability of Metakaolin Geopolymer Mortars Containing Pozzolans under Different Curing Conditions
title_short Strength Development and Durability of Metakaolin Geopolymer Mortars Containing Pozzolans under Different Curing Conditions
title_sort strength development and durability of metakaolin geopolymer mortars containing pozzolans under different curing conditions
topic pozzolans
geopolymers
strength
durability
microstructure
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/7/857
work_keys_str_mv AT burakisıkdag strengthdevelopmentanddurabilityofmetakaolingeopolymermortarscontainingpozzolansunderdifferentcuringconditions
AT mohammadrahimyalghuz strengthdevelopmentanddurabilityofmetakaolingeopolymermortarscontainingpozzolansunderdifferentcuringconditions