The geopolymer is an environmentally friendly and high-performance material. Nowadays, how to improve the degree of the geopolymer’s reaction and enhance its mechanical properties has become a hot topic. This study used orthogonal tests to design the precursor mixing ratio, considering GGBS content (A), water/binder ratio (B), and alkaline activator modulus (C). The fly ash (FA) ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS)-based geopolymers were cured under two standard curing conditions: 40 °C under water and 40 °C in the oven. Then, the influence of these factors on the mechanical properties of geopolymers under different curing conditions was summarized. The contribution of each factor was ranked, which was used to find out the most sensitive factors affecting the mechanical properties. Taking the 7 days and 28 days of compressive strength and flexural strength of the geopolymer specimens as the evaluation criteria, the optimum ratio method for preparing geopolymers was obtained. Then, the prediction model of compressive strength under different curing conditions was established. SEM and XRD were used to analyze the microstructure and hydration products of the samples. The test results showed that the optimum ratio of FA-based geopolymers varied under different curing conditions. The GGBS content was the key factor in determining the mechanical properties. The heat curing condition was the best curing condition, the 28-day compressive strength could reach 76.3 MPa, and the 28-day flexural strength could reach 7.4 MPa. The prediction models established for compressive strength under different curing conditions had high accuracy. The specimens under the best curing conditions exhibited a dense internal microstructure and the presence of C-S-H gels, C-A-S-H gels, and N-A-S-H gels.
1 March 2020 in Construction and Building Materials
In order to study the influence law of each parameter on the performance of the alkali-activated composite gelling system, the influence degree was sorted, and the most important parameter affecting each performance was found. The solution of liquid water glass and solid sodium hydroxide was used as the alkaline activator, and the mixing ratio was designed by the orthogonal test method. The effects of four parameters of fly ash content, water glass modulus, water glass solid content, and water–solid ratio on the working performance and mechanical properties of alkali-activated slag–fly ash composite cementation system were discussed. The gelling system was studied by microscopic experiments such as SEM and FTIR. The results show that the solid content of water glass has the greatest influence on the fluidity of the composite cementitious system, and the content of fly ash is the primary factor affecting the setting time of the material. The flexural and compressive strengths at the age of 7 d and 28 d were most affected by the content of fly ash, and the solid content of water glass had the greatest influence on the flexural and compressive strengths at the age of 2 d. From the perspective of microscopic morphology, in the high-strength samples, the fly ash particles and the remaining outer shell are embedded in the gel to form a dense whole. When the amount of silica in the composite gelling system is too high, it will cause the phenomenon of low macroscopic mechanical properties.