Enhancement of Properties of Fly Ash Geopolymer Paste with Low NaOH Concentrations Using a Pressing Approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46604/aiti.2024.14516Keywords:
compressive strength, geopolymers, low molar, pressing approachAbstract
Geopolymers are widely recognized as an eco-friendly alternative material. However, the impact of pressing stresses and low NaOH concentrations on their properties remains underexplored. This research aims to investigate the effects of pressing stresses on unit weight, porosity, water absorption, and compressive strength of high-calcium fly ash geopolymer paste with low NaOH concentrations. The low NaOH concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 M, pressing stresses of 10, 20, and 30 MPa, and liquid-to-binder ratios of 0.10, 0.12, 0.14, 0.16, 0.18, and 0.20 by weight are used. The specimens of geopolymer paste are oven-dried at 60°C for 24 hours before evaluation. The testing results show that the compressive strength of casted geopolymer paste is between 2 to 15 MPa, with higher compressive strength associated with lower porosity. The water absorption rate is between 11% and 21% by weight, which has a higher water absorption rate as the porosity increases.
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