The Effect of Activator to Binder Ratio on the Compressive Strength of Fly Ash Based Geopolymer Mortar in Sulphate Environment

Abstract

One of the significant characteristic material needed to consider is durability. Sulphate ion contained in soil is one of aggressive agents that could cause degradation of concrete members which led to loss of compressive strength. The current research is to elaborate the effect of activator to binder ratio on the compressive strength of the fly ash based geopolymer mortar in the sulphate environment. Two different types of geopolymer mortar were casted i. e. mortar made of 100% fly ash and mortar contained 95% fly ash + 5% slaked lime. The fly ash used in this research is classified as F fly ash from the Mpanau power plant the variation of activator to binder ratio of 0. 40; 0. 50; and 0. 60, and water/solid ratio variations of 0. 32, 0. 34 and 0. 36. The composition of sulfuric acid was by 5% of the sample volume. Geopolymers mortar compressive strength test is conducted on the immersed samples in a solution of 5% sulfuric acid with age of 0, 7, 14, 28, 56, and 84 days, respectively. The compressive strength test results showed that the highest compressive strength of geopolymers mortar (resistant to sulfuric acid attack) was geopolymers mortar made from fly ash with activator to binder ratio 0. 60, water / solid ratio 0. 32, and percentage of lime to binder 5% at the age of 84 days.