New Sustainable Solutions in the Construction Industry
The general aim of this book is to make significant contributions in understanding and deciphering the mechanisms of the realization of the alkali-activated fly ash-based geopolymer concrete.
Portland cement based concrete is the most versatile, durable and reliable building material. Unfortunately, the production of Portland cement is environmentally unfriendly. An interesting alternative is provided by alkali-activated geopolymer materials (AAGM).
This book focuses on fly ash-based alkali-activated geopolymer concrete, its production and characteristic properties. The re-use of waste materials and industrial by-products, such as fly ash, is not only economically of interest but also helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The carbon footprint of these materials is much lower than that of concrete using ordinary Portland cement. They thus offer new sustainable solutions to the construction industry. The book references 132 original resources and includes their direct web link for in-depth reading.
Table of Contents
i) Introduction
ii) Acknowledgement
1. Global Perspectives on the Production of Industrial By-Products in the Context of “Circular Economy”
2. Retrospective Regarding Research in the Field of Alkali-Activated Geopolymer Materials
2.1. Geopolymers and geopolymerisation - chemical characteristics
2.2. Geopolymers and geopolymerization - mechanical characteristics
2.3. Types of alkaline activators used in the synthesis of geopolymers
2.4. Alkali-activated geopolymer materials mix-design
2.4.1. Properties of the alkaline activator
2.4.2. Heat curing procedures
2.5. Properties of alkali-activated geopolymer materials
2.5.1. Mechanical properties of alkali-activated geopolymer materials
2.5.2. Durability of alkali-activated geopolymer materials
2.5.3. Remarks
2.6. Factors influencing alkali-activated geopolymer materials
2.6.1. Physical and chemical properties of fly ash
2.6.2. Alkaline activator and heat treatment properties
2.6.3. Mixing procedure
2.7. Alkali-activated geopolymer materials applications
3. Raw Materials Used in the Production of Alkali-Activated Geopolymer Materials
3.1. Why alkali-activation?
3.2. Portland cement and fly ash
3.2.1. Fly ash for cement
3.2.2. Fly ash for construction industry
3.2.3. Fly ash as type II addition for concrete
3.2.4. General conditions for producing fly ash
4. Development of Alkali-Activated Geopolymer Binder
4.1. General principles for the production of alkali-activated geopolymer materials
4.2. Alkali-activated fly ash-based geopolymer paste - raw materials characteristics
4.2.1. Fly ash (FA)
4.2.2. Alkaline activator (AA)
4.3. Alkali-activated fly ash-based geopolymer paste technology
4.4. Alkali-activated fly ash-based geopolymer paste characteristics
4.4.1. Alkali-activated geopolymer paste mixtures (AAGP)
4.4.2. Physical-mechanical properties of the alkali-activated geopolymer paste mixtures
4.4.3. Technological and mix-design influences on the performance of alkali-activated geopolymer binder
4.4.3.1. Influence of age on the compressive strength
4.4.3.2. Influence of the alkaline activator to fly ash ratio (AA/FA) on the compressive strength
4.4.3.3. Influence of the alkaline activators ratio (Na2SiO3/NaOH) on the compressive strength
4.4.3.4. Influence of the molar concentration of the NaOH solution on the compressive strength
4.4.3.5. Interdependence between molar concentration of NaOH solution and water in the mixture
4.4.3.6. Fly ash type influence on the compressive strength
4.4.3.7. Influence of fly ash physical properties on the compressive strength
4.4.4. Microscopic evaluation of alkali-activated geopolymer paste mixtures
5. Development of Alkali-Activated Fly Ash-Based - Geopolymer Concrete
5.1. Raw materials characteristics
5.2. Alkali-activated fly ash-based geopolymer technology
5.3. Alkali-activated fly ash-based geopolymer concrete mixtures
5.4. Alkali-activated fly ash-based geopolymer physical-mechanical properties
5.4.1. Fresh-state properties
5.4.2. Apparent density
5.4.3. Flash setting
5.4.4. Physical-mechanical properties of the alkali-activated geopolymer concrete mixtures
5.4.5. Microscopic evaluation
5.5. Technological and mix-design influences on the performance of alkali-activated geopolymer concrete
5.5.1. Influence of the molar concentration of the NaOH solution on the compressive strength
5.5.2. Influence of NaOH type on the compressive strength of AAGC mixtures
5.5.3. Influence of Na2SiO3/NaOH ratio on the compressive strength of AAGC mixtures
6. Research Regarding Alkali-Activated Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete Applications
6.1. Alkali-activated fly ash-based geopolymer panels
6.2. Alkali-activated fly ash-based geopolymer paving blocks
6.3. Legislative framework on the possibility of using alkali-activated geopolymer paving blocks
7. Conclusions and Final Remarks
7.1 References
7.2 List of Symbols
7.3 About the Authors
Author
PhD Eng Adrian Lăzărescu is a Scientific Researcher at N.I.R.D. URBAN-INCERC, Cluj-Napoca Branch, Romania and PhD in Civil Engineering, granted at Technical University of Cluj-Napoca in the field of alkali activated geopolymer materials. His main interest is to study the possibility of producing this type of material using Romanian local materials, with the aim to assess the possibility of using fly ash as raw material in the production of innovative, new-alternative materials in the civil engineering field. Together with the team co-authors, the author was a member in several National Projects which targeted the use of industrial by-products in the production of alternative materials, within the Circular Economy and Sustainable Development principles. Also, within the research team of N.I.R.D. URBAN-INCERC, the author participated in extensive research programs on the development of cementitious materials with self-healing properties of microcracks (ECC – Engineered Cementitious Composites with Self-Healing Properties), self-healing cementitious materials, alternative thermal insulation products based on sheep wool and has coordinated numerous in-situ NDT and destructive investigations of buildings, respectively research on the quality of materials and products used in the construction industry.
PhD Eng Henriette Szilagyi is a Senior Researcher and also the Manager of N.I.R.D. URBAN-INCERC, Cluj-Napoca Branch, Romania. A renowned practitioner in the field of concrete technology, her main research involves special concrete (self-compacting concrete, ultra-high-performance concrete, lightweight concrete, concrete with waste and by-products such as recycled glass, fly ash, recycled plastic and other innovative cementitious materials) and mortars, cements, admixtures, additives, building materials. She has published extensively on many aspects regarding concrete technology and sustainable development in the construction industry. She is Associate professor at Technical University Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Civil Engineering; she also mentoring students in research projects, guidance for MSc Dissertation, PhD Thesis.
PhD. Eng Cornelia Baeră is a Scientific Researcher at N.I.R.D. URBAN-INCERC, Timișoara Branch, Romania. Her main research interests involve the topic of high-performance concrete and mortars (Fibre reinforced concrete, Concrete with self-healing properties, Concrete with mineral additions, green concrete, Engineered cementitious composites (ECCs), etc.). The doctoral studies were performed at T.U. Cluj-Napoca, when she worked as a researcher at INCD URBAN-INCERC Cluj-Napoca Branch together with the team co-authors. Currently, her research interests extended towards the topic of Management in Production and Transportation, at Research Center in Engineering and Management, Politehnica University of Timișoara.
PhD Eng Andreea Hegyi is a Scientific Researcher at N.I.R.D. URBAN-INCERC Cluj-Napoca Branch, Romania. Her main research interests involve studies regarding the durability of cementitious composites using hot-dip galvanized rebars, the development of ecological materials for the construction industry, studies regarding the parametric evaluation of self-cleaning cementitious composites using nano-TiO2 particles and the development of alternative thermal insulation materials based on sheep wool. Her expertise in research on the quality of materials and products used in the construction industry has opened new perspectives in studying new and alternative construction materials which comply with current legislation and further improving of existing ones in the field by addopting alternative solutions and by creating a “bridge” between traditional and modern construction materials.
