Microstructural analysis of fly ash-based geopolymers with various alkali concentration

Abstract

In the present work, a comparative study on the effect of different concentration of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) on fly ash-based geopolymer was investigated. The geopolymer synthesis by mixing fly ash with alkali activator (a mixture of NaOH and sodium silicate) at solid/liquid ratio of 2.5. The NaOH were used 6M, 8M, 10M, 12M and 14M with constant sodium silicate/NaOH ratio of 2.5. The geopolymers were cured at room temperature (29°C) for 24 hours and 60°C in oven for another 24 hours. The testing and analysis of the fly ash-based geopolymers were performed after 28 days. The adequate Na+ ions and densified microstructure were observed at optimum 8M-NaOH-activated fly ash-based geopolymers.