Strength and Microstructure of Palm Oil Fuel Ash–Fly Ash–Soft Soil Geopolymer Masonry Units
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 31, Issue 8
Abstract
The application of palm oil fuel ash (POFA) and fly ash (FA) as an alumino-siliceous precursor to create a viable geopolymer binder for the manufacture of unfired lightweight masonry units, using soft soil (SS) as aggregate, was studied in this research. The POFA was a byproduct from a palm oil factory, while FA was a byproduct from a coal-fired electricity generation plant. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and the microstructure of POFA–FA–SS geopolymers were investigated. The optimal liquid alkaline activator (L) providing the maximum total unit weight was found to decrease with increases in the POFA replacement ratio for all ratios. The optimum ratio providing the highest strength for all heat conditions decreased with increasing POFA replacement because additional NaOH was required for leaching from POFA for a geopolymerization reaction. The optimum ratios providing the highest UCS were found to be 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40 for FA:POFA ratios of 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, and 70:30, respectively. The optimum heat condition was found to be 80°C for 48 h. The higher temperature of 90°C was not recommended because UCS gain was relatively small due to a substantial loss of moisture during heat curing. More time was required for the lower temperature of 70°C to accelerate the geopolymerization reaction. Microstructural analysis showed that the highest cementitious product, sodium aluminum silicate hydrate (N–A–S–H), was formed for the POFA–FA–SS geopolymers at the optimum ratios and heat conditions. The cementitious product decreased along with the FA:POFA ratio, which is associated with UCS reduction. Based on industrial standards in Thailand, the POFA–FA–SS geopolymer was found to be viable as an environmentally friendly nonbearing masonry unit at an optimum FA:POFA ratio of more than 80:20.
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Acknowledgments
The first author is grateful for the financial support of Walailak University under Contract WU_IRG61_33. Facilities and equipment provided by Walailak University are very much appreciated. The first and fourth authors acknowledge the financial support of Thailand Research Fund under TRF Senior Research Scholar program Grant No. RTA5980005 and Suranaree University of Technology.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 31 • Issue 8 • August 2019
Copyright
©2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 22, 2018
Accepted: Mar 5, 2019
Published online: May 25, 2019
Published in print: Aug 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Oct 25, 2019
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