Geopolymers are generally appreciated for their good resistance against high temperatures. This paper compares the influence of thermal treatment with temperatures ranging from 200 to 1200 °C on the mechanical properties and microstructure of geopolymers based on two different aluminosilicate precursors, metakaolin and fly ash. Moreover, the paper is also aimed at characterizing the effect of chamotte aggregate on the performance of geopolymers subjected to high temperatures. Thermal treatment leads to a deterioration in the strength of metakaolin geopolymer, whereas fly ash geopolymer gains strength upon heating. The formation of albite above 900 °C is responsible for the fusion of geopolymer matrix during exposure to 1200 °C, which leads to the deformation of the geopolymer samples. Chamotte aggregate improves the performance of geopolymer material by increasing the thermal stability of geopolymers via sintering of the aggregate particles with the geopolymer matrix in the contact zone.

Fly ash geopolymer is amorphous aluminosilicate material which is considered as alternative to Portland cement concrete. One of the limiting factors of its utilization is an increased shrinkage and related deterioration of fracture properties. This paper reports on a study of the application of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to improve the fracture properties of fly ash geopolymer. The amount of MWCNTs added varied in the range of 0.05–0.2% of the mass of fly ash. Mechanical fracture properties were determined via evaluation of three-point bending fracture tests. Specimen response during fracture tests was also monitored by means of acoustic emission, and this method was also used for the determination of cracking tendency occurring during the hardening process. Results show that the addition of MWCNTs increases the elastic modulus and compressive strength of fly ash geopolymer. However, basic fracture parameters (fracture toughness, fracture energy) firstly decreased with very small addition of MWCNTs and were regained or slightly exceeded the reference values with higher amount of MWCNTs

The electrical properties of concrete are gaining their importance for the application in building construction. In this study, graphite powder was added to alkali-activated slag mortar as an electrically conductive filler in order to enhance the mortar’s conductive properties. The amount of graphite ranged from 1% to 30% of the slag mass. The effect of the graphite powder on the resistivity, capacitance, mechanical properties, and microstructure of the composite was investigated. Selected mixtures were then used for the testing of self-sensing properties under compressive loading. The results show that the addition of an amount of graphite equal to up to 10% of the slag mass improved the electrical properties of the alkali-activated slag. Higher amounts of filler did not provide any further improvement in electrical properties at lower AC frequencies but caused a strong deterioration in mechanical properties. The best self-sensing properties were achieved for the mixture with 10 wt% of graphite, but only at low compressive stresses of up to 6 MPa.