Dealuminated metakaolin modified geopolymer

Abstract

De-aluminated metakaolin (DK) is a byproduct of the Aluminum Sulphate industry that is highly non-environmentally friendly where amorphous silica, silicon dioxide, SiO2, is its primary component. DK was used as an addition to metakaolin (MK) in fabrication of MK based Geopolymer with 9 ratios of the MK content from 0 to 60 %. Casting was done in two different environments, namely winter and summer, with two different optimum additional water contents. For the DK-modified MK geopolymer fresh mortar properties, flow rate and initial setting time were tested. The ultimate compressive strength (UCS) of standard mortar cubes was tested at 3 and 7 days of age under ambient and wet curing conditions. The rate of gaining UCS for optimum DK content was tracked at early ages, namely; 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours until 10 days of age. The percentage of natural water absorption was investigated for the water cured specimens.