9 III March 2021

https://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2021.33282
 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.429
Volume 9 Issue III Mar 2021- Available at www.ijraset.com

Geopolymer Concrete Preparation

Methodology
Dhashrath P1, Pruthvisagar2
Assistant Professor, Gopalan School of Architecture and Planning, Bangalore - 48

Abstract: As a construction material, most commonly used material all over the world is concrete which is produced by Ordinary
Portland cement and aggregates mixed with water. OPC is the most widely used binder material in concrete. The amount of OPC
approximately present in concrete is 10% - 20% by mass of concrete. Production of OPC is creating the environmental problems
over the decades.
The production of Portland cement worldwide is increasing 9% annually. Portland cement produces almost 1.5 billion tones of
greenhouse gas annually or about 7% of total greenhouse gas emissions to the earth’s atmosphere. Approximately to produce 1
ton of OPC 1 ton of CO2 is released to the environment. Due to this environmental issue, research on alternative binder material
evolved.
It is important to find an alternative material which will liberate less carbon to atmosphere than cement. Industrial waste
products like Fly ash and GGBS can be converted in to concrete through Geopolymer.
Keywords: Geopolymer, Ultrafine GGBS, Flyash

I. INGREDIENTS OF GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE (GPC)

Ingredients required for production of Geopolymer concrete are:
1) Binding source materials
2) Aggregates consisting both fine and coarse aggregates
3) Alkaline Activator solution

A. Binding Materials
Cementatious materials used in this Geopolymer concrete are

1) Ultra-fine GGBS: During the production of iron in blast furnace by heating iron ore, limestone and coke up to 1500oC two
materials are evolved. These are molten iron and molten slag. Molten iron is lighter in mass and hence molten iron floats on top
surface. The molten slag mainly consists of silicates and alumina along with some oxides from limestone. The slag obtained in
blast furnace is in molten state. It is first cooled through high pressure water jets if not large crystals may be formed. The final
granulated material obtained almost contains 95% non-crystalline calcium-aluminosilicates. These granulated particles are
further processed by drying and grinding to very fine powder which is called Ultra-fine GGBS or Alcofine.
2) GGBS: GGBS is a slag obtained during the manufacture of iron in blast furnace. Slag obtained is processed to form fine
material which is called GGBS. Usually fineness varies from 300 to 350 m2/kg.
3) Fly Ash: Fly ash is a binding material used as replacement with cement. Fly ash is obtained from thermal power plants during
burning of coal. Fly ash as lighter in weight as hence it is carried out with flue gases which is later collected and stored in silos.
Fineness varies from 450 to 550 m2/kg.

B. Alkali Activators
Alkali activators are the combination of alkaline silicate solution and alkaline hydroxide solution. Sodium-based solutions were used
in the present work because it is very less expensive compared to Potassium-based solutions.
1) Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)
2) Sodium Silicate (Na2SiO3)

C. Superplasticizer
Superplasticizer is used to increase the workability of the Geopolymer concrete. Superplasticizer used in this project work was
AURO MIX 400 Plus, which is a high range admixture. Amount of plasticizer added was 1.5% by mass of cementatious material.

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 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.429
Volume 9 Issue III Mar 2021- Available at www.ijraset.com

II. TESTING OF SPECIMENS

A. Compressive Strength

Oven curing of cubes

Compressive strength of geopolymer cubes are obtained for both ambient curing and oven curing. The above figure 3.8 shows the
oven curing of cubes. Specimens are kept in oven for 24 hours at a temperature of 60oC later specimens are removed from the oven
and cured under room temperature. Compressive strength is tested on CTM of 2000KN capacity load. Compressive strength is
tested on 1, 3, 7, 28 and 56 days.

B. Water Permeability

Water Permeability setup

Water permeability is an experiment to know the permeability of water through only top surface under constant pressure for 3 days.
Cubes of 150mm size has to place as shown in figure and tight the bolts. Water as to be passed through the pipes under 5 bar
pressure continuously. After 3 days the cubes are spliced in to two half’s and depth of penetration of water is marked and maximum
penetration is noted.

C. Sorptivity

Preparation for Sorptivity test

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 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.429
Volume 9 Issue III Mar 2021- Available at www.ijraset.com

Sorptivity Test

Sorptivity is the measure of unidirectional flow of water without any external pressure. The experiment is carried out according to
ASTM. To avoid the evaporation specimen is covered with tape. Initial weight of each specimen with the cover is noted. These
specimens are placed in water and water depth should not be more than 5mm as shown in figure. Weight of the samples are noted at
regular intervals and absorption value is calculated as below.
I = Mt / (axd)
Where, I = Absorption
Mt= change in mass at time t
a = Exposed area of the specimen in mm2
d = Density of water in g/mm3

D. Abrasion Resistance

Abrasion Test

Abrasion is the calculation of wear in the concrete. This is very useful in the road designing and even in commercial building.
Abrasion test is carried out according to IS 1237-1980. The specimen is cut to the dimension 7.06 x 7.06 cm so that area of
specimen is 50 cm2. Then specimens are dried in oven for 24 hours at 110oC then initial weight is noted. Specimen is placed in
abrasion testing machine as shown in figure and for every 22 revolution 20 gm of abrasive powder is added. And for every 22
revolution the specimen is rotated to 90o clockwise and again same procedure is followed for 10 times. Latter final weight and
thickness is noted and abrasion value is calculated.
( )
T=
Where,
T = Average loss in thickness mm
W1 = Initial mass in gm
W2 = Final mass in gm
V = Volume of specimen in mm3
A = Surface area in mm2

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 International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor: 7.429
Volume 9 Issue III Mar 2021- Available at www.ijraset.com

E. Acid and Sulphate Attack

Sample placed in H2SO4 and Sodium Sulphate

Oven dried cubes are used after the curing period of 28 days for both Acid and Sulphate attack. Initial weight of cubes is recorded.
Specimens are immersed in 5% concentrated H2SO4 for Acid attack and 5% Sodium sulphate for Sulphate attack. Specimens are
placed in solution for 28 days and specimens are oven dried to remove the water content and final weight is recorded. Percentage
loss in weight is calculated.

REFERENCES
[1] Davidovits, J., Global warming impact on the cement and aggregates industries, World Resource Review, 6(2) (1994) 263-278.
[2] Berry, M., D. Cross, and J. Stephens, Changing the environment: An alternative "green" concrete produced without Portland cement in World of Coal Ash
(WOCA), Lexington, KY, USA, 2009.
[3] Law, D.W., et al., Durability assessment of alkali activated slag (AAS) concrete, Materials and Structures, 45 (2012) 1425-1437.
[4] Neville, A.M., Properties of Concrete, 5th ed, Harlow, England; New York: Pearson, 2011.
[5] Davidovits, J., Geopolymers. New Inorganic polymeric new materials, Journal of Thermal Analysis, 37 (1991) 1633-1656.
[6] Davidovits, J., Properties of geopolymer cements in First International Conference on Alkaline Cements and Concretes, Scientific Research, Kiev, Ukraine,
1994.
[7] Bakharev, T., J.G. Sanjayan, and Y.B. Cheng, Alkali activation of Australian slag cements, Cement and Concrete Research, 29 (1999) 113-120.
[8] Taling, B. and J. Brandstetr, Present state and future of alkali activated slag concretes, American Concrete Institute, 114 (1989) 1519-1546.

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