Physical-Mechanical Behavior of Metakaolin Based Geopolymer Systems Reinforced with Stainless Steel Fibers
L.R. Caballero, M.D.M. Paiva, E.M.R. Fairbairn, R.D.T. Filho
Abstract. Geopolymers are a promising alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) binders in the manufacture of concrete, as their synthesis generates much less greenhouse gas emissions. Geopolymer binders are subject to drying shrinkage, which can be controlled by decreasing the water to cement ratio and adding inert materials to produce mortars. These systems are also brittle in nature and, therefore, it is important to investigate the fiber reinforcement efficiency under tensile loading. This study is based on typical metakaolin-based geopolymer pastes and mortars, activated with sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide. The aim of the study is to evaluate two metakaolin batches with different contents of crystalline phases, the addition of a fixed natural sand content and different contents of stainless steel fibers and their effect on the physical-mechanical performance of the composites. The geopolymer networks were confirmed by XRD and FTIR characterizations. Microstructure results showed that the geopolymer composites formed a dense and uniform base matrix, with no microvoids and very little Na2CO3 efflorescence. Metakaolin-based geopolymer pastes and mortars presented typical mechanical properties, with uniaxial compressive strengths ranging from 33 to 50 MPa and flexural tensile strength ranging from 3.4 to 10.0 MPa. Finally, the geopolymer binders exhibit similar physical-mechanical performances, despite the crystalline content of the metakaolin. Pure and reinforced geopolymer systems display overall superior mechanical performance, when compared to OPC matrices, especially regarding the maximum strain at failure, suggesting that these systems are suitable to replace OPC systems in structural applications.
Keywords
Geopolymer, Geopolymer Mortar, Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer Composite, Metakaolin, Mechanical Properties
Published online , 18 pages
Copyright © 2018 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: L.R. Caballero, M.D.M. Paiva, E.M.R. Fairbairn, R.D.T. Filho, ‘Physical-Mechanical Behavior of Metakaolin Based Geopolymer Systems Reinforced with Stainless Steel Fibers’, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 7, pp 295-312, 2018
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21741/9781945291838-27
The article was published as article 27 of the book Non-Conventional Materials and Technologies
References
[1] J. L. Provis and J. S. J. Van Deventer, Geopolymers: structures, processing, properties and industrial applications. Elsevier, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1533/9781845696382
[2] J. L. Provis and J. S. J. Van Deventer, Alkali avtivated materials. 2014.
[3] K. J. D. MacKenzie, “What are these things called geopolymers? A physicochemical perspective,” Ceram. Trans., 2003.
[4] C. a Rees, J. L. Provis, G. C. Lukey, and J. S. J. van Deventer, “Attenuated total reflectance fourier transform infrared analysis of fly ash geopolymer gel aging.,” Langmuir, vol. 23, no. 15, pp. 8170–8179, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1021/la700713g
[5] P. Duxson, A. Fernández-Jiménez, J. L. Provis, G. C. Lukey, A. Palomo, and J. S. J. Van Deventer, “Geopolymer technology: The current state of the art,” J. Mater. Sci., vol. 42, no. 9, pp. 2917– 2933, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-0637-z
[6] L. Struble and J. K. Hicks, Geopolymer Binder Systems, vol. 1566 STP. 2014.
[7] Mota, A.M.P. et al. “Análise das Propriedades do estado endurecido de concretos empregando metacaulim e aditivo superplastificante.,” in 48° Congresso Brasileiro do ConcretoIBRACON, 2006., 2006.
[8] Davidovits, J., “Geopolymers : Inorganic Polymeric New Materials,” J. Therm. Anal., vol. 37, pp. 1633–1656, 1991. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01912193
[9] J. L. Susan A. Bernal, Erich D. Rodríguez, Ruby Mejía de Gutiérrez, Marisol Gordillo, Provis, “Mechanical and thermal characterization of geopolymers based on silicate-activated metakaolin/slag blends,” J. Mater. Sci., vol. 46, no. 16, pp. 5477– 5486, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-011-5490-z
[10] Barbosa, V.F.F et al. “Thermal behavior of inorganic polymers and composites derived from sodium polysialate”. Materials Research Bulletin vol. 38, pp.319-331, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-5408(02)01022-X
[11] Paiva, M. D. M. “Otimização e análise mecânica de pastas geopoliméricas para uso em poços sujeitos à injeção cíclica de vapor,” D.Sc. Dissertation. Natal (RN, Brasil): UFRN, 2008.
[12] L. Reig, M. M. Tashima, M. V. Borrachero, J. Monzó, C. R. Cheeseman, and J. Payá, “Properties and microstructure of alkali activated red clay brick waste,” Constr. Build. Mater., vol. 43, pp. 98–106, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.01.031
[13] Davidovits, J. Geopolymers based on natural and synthetic metakaolin – A critical review. Materials Today 2016. Available https://www.materialstoday.com/polymers-soft-materials/features/geopolymers-natural-and-synthetic-metakaolin/
[14] M. Meftah, W. Oueslati, N. Chorfi, and A. Ben Haj Amara, “Intrinsic parameters involved in the synthesis of metakaolin based geopolymer: Microstructure analysis,” J. Alloys Compd., vol. 688, pp. 946–956, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.07.297
[15] Tahri, W. “Shrinkage and mechanical performance of geopolymeric mortars based on calcined Tunisian clay”. Journal of Chemistry and Materials Research, vol. 4, pp. 6-11, 2013
[16] T. T. Zhang et al., “Control of Drying Shrinkage of Magnesium Silicate Hydrate Gel Cements”, Key Engineering Materials, Vol. 709, pp. 109-113, 2016. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.709.109
[17] Davidovits, J. Reinforced Geopolymer Composites: A critical review. Materials Today 2016. Available from: https://www.materialstoday.com/polymers-soft-materials/features/reinforced-geopolymer-composites-a-critical-review/
[18] Pelisser, F. e tal. “Micromechanical characterization of metakaolin-based geopolymers” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 49, pp.547-553, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.08.081
[19] Ranjbar, N. et al “Mechanisms of interfacial bond in steel and polypropylene fiber reinforced geopolymer composites”. Composites Science and Technology, vol. 122, pp.73-81, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2015.11.009
[20] NBR NM 52, “Agregado miúdo – Determinação de massa específica e massa específica aparente,” 2009.
[21] M. Jorivaldo, “Refratários de Elevada Tenacidade para Uso em Aplicações Críticas na Indústria do Refino de Petróleo”, D.Sc. Dissertation. Rio de Janeiro (Brazil): UFRJ, 2012.
[22] API RP 10B-2-2013: Recommended practice for testing well cements, American Petroleum Institute, 2nd ed. 2013.
[23] ABNT, “ABNT NBR 9831-2006, Cimento Portland destinado à cimentação de poços petrolíferos – Requisitos e métodos de ensaio.
[24] ASTM C305-14, Standard Practice for Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2014
[25] ABNT NBR 16607-2017, Cimento Portland – Determinação dos Tempos de Pega. ABNT.
[26] ABNT, “ABNT NBR5739- 2007, Concreto – Ensaios de compressão e corpos-de-prova cilíndricos,” p. 5739, 2007.
[27] R. Curti and A. Vaquero, “Concreto – Determinação da resistência à tração na flexão de corpos de prova prismáticos,” 2010.
[28] N. SAIKIA, A. USAMI, S. KATO, and T. KOJIMA, “Hydration Behaviour of Ecocement in Presence of Metakaolin,” Resour. Process., vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 35–41, 2004. https://doi.org/10.4144/rpsj.51.35
[29] A. S. Taha, H. Eldidamony, S. A. Aboelenein, and H. A. Amer, “PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SUPERSULFATED CEMENT PASTES,” Zement-Kalk-Gips, vol. 34, no. 6, pp. 315– 317, 1981.
[30] P. Duxson, “Geopolymer precursor design,” Geopolymers Struct. Process. Prop. Ind. Appl., vol. 37, 2009.
[31] P. Duxson, S. W. Mallicoat, G. C. Lukey, W. M. Kriven, and J. S. J. Van Deventer, “The effect of alkali and Si/Al ratio on the development of mechanical properties of metakaolin-based geopolymers,” Colloids Surfaces A Physicochem. Eng. Asp., vol. 292, no. 1, pp. 8–20, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2006.05.044
[32] A. Fernández‐Jiménez, J. Y. Pastor, A. Martín, and A. Palomo, “High‐Temperature Resistance in Alkali‐Activated Cement,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., vol. 93, no. 10, pp. 3411–3417, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1551-2916.2010.03887.x
[33] L. Vickers, A. van Riessen, and W. D. A. Rickard, “Precursors and Additives for Geopolymer Synthesis,” in Fire-Resistant Geopolymers, Springer, 2015, pp. 17–37.
[34] J. He, J. Zhang, Y. Yu, and G. Zhang, “The strength and microstructure of two geopolymers derived from metakaolin and red mud-fly ash admixture: a comparative study,” Constr. Build. Mater., vol. 30, pp. 80–91, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2011.12.011
[35] Z. Li and S. Liu, “Influence of slag as additive on compressive strength of fly ash-based geopolymer,” J. Mater. Civ. Eng., vol. 19, no. 6, pp. 470–474, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0899-1561(2007)19:6(470)
[36] X. Guo, H. Shi, and W. A. Dick, “Compressive strength and microstructural characteristics of class C fly ash geopolymer,” Cem. Concr. Compos., vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 142–147, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2009.11.003
[37] G. Zhang, J. He, and R. Gambrell, “Synthesis, Characterization, and Mechanical Properties of Red Mud-Based Geopolymers,” Transp. Res. Rec. J. Transp. Res. Board, vol. 2167, pp. 1–9, Dec. 2010. https://doi.org/10.3141/2167-01
[38] S. Zhang, K. Gong, and J. Lu, “Novel modification method for inorganic geopolymer by using water soluble organic polymers,” Mater. Lett., vol. 58, no. 7, pp. 1292–1296, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2003.07.051
[39] C. Ferone, G. Roviello, F. Colangelo, R. Cioffi, and O. Tarallo, “Novel hybrid organic-geopolymer materials,” Appl. Clay Sci., vol. 73, pp. 42–50, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2012.11.001
[40] M. Amer, A. Abdullah, A. Ali, and N. Farzadnia, “Characterization of mechanical and microstructural properties of palm oil fuel ash geopolymer cement paste,” Constr. Build. Mater., vol. 65, pp. 592–603, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.05.031
[41] F. Škvara, V. Šmilauer, P. Hlaváček, L. Kopecký, and Z. Cilova, “A weak alkali bond in (N, K)–A–S–H gels: evidence from leaching and modeling,” Ceramics-Silikaty, vol. 56, no. 4, p. 9, 2012.
[42] P. Duxson, J. L. Provis, G. C. Lukey, S. W. Mallicoat, W. M. Kriven, and J. S. J. Van Deventer, “Understanding the relationship between geopolymer composition, microstructure and mechanical properties,” Colloids Surfaces A Physicochem. Eng. Asp., vol. 269, no. 1–3, pp. 47–58, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2005.06.060
