Synthesis and characteristics of local fly ash based geopolymers mixed with natural aggregates

Abstract

Global industrialization generates large amount of waste which strongly affects the depositing areas and the living creatures from the surroundings. In the same time, the construction sector meets an exponential development process, resulting in materials and construction areas increase. Therefore, the need of new materials was felt worldwide. One solution that knew a rapid development, especially in this sector, was to obtain new eco-friendly materials through a mechanism called geopolymerization. True this powerful chemical reaction between a waste, rich in aluminum and silicon, and a strong alkaline solution, a tetragonal structure of Al-O-Si is obtained that possess properties comparable to those of Portland cement-based concrete. In the present paper the effect of aggregates on local fly ash based geopolymers is analyzed from the structure and mechanical properties point of view. According to this study, the aggregates strongly influence the density, compression strength and flexural strength at any age of samples.