Behavior of amorphous ferrisilicates with low weight concentration in ferric ions on the properties of metakaolin-based geopolymers

Abstract

The goal of this research work is to use ferrisilicates containing low weight concentration in ferric ion (0.02 g/L) as an additive to enhance the characteristics of metakaolin-based geopolymers. The ferrisilicates were produced by adding 6.6, 13.2, 19.8, 26.4 and 33 mL of ferric ions to 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mL of sodium waterglass, respectively. Geopolymers were obtained by separately adding 10 wt. % of each ferrisilicate to the metakaolin. The micrographies demonstrate that the addition of 13.2 mL of Fe³⁺ ions to 20 mL of sodium waterglass results in the formation of ferrisilicate with smaller particle sizes. A maximum compressive strength of 71.59 MPa is achieved using ferrisilicate from 13.2 mL of Fe³⁺ and 20 mL of sodium waterglass. One potential methodology for the production of geopolymers involves the utilisation of ferrisilicate, which exhibits a low weight concentration of ferric ions (0.02 g/L). .