• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2015.11a
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• pp.7-8
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to investigate the expansion of alkali-activated geopolymer mortar containing reactive aggregate due to alkali-silica reaction. In addition, this study is particularly concerned with the behavior of these alkaline materials in the presence of reactive aggregates. The test method included expansion measurement of the mortar bar specimens and geopolymer compressive strength test. Major results that alkali-activated geopolymer mortars showed expansion due to the alkali-silica reaction. geopolymer mortars is safety for the expansion exhibited less than 0.2% at 14 day.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.465-479
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• 2020

Two waste forms, namely cement and geopolymer, were investigated and tested in this study to solidify the corrosive sludge generated from the surface and precipitates of the tubes of steam generators in nuclear power plants. The compressive strength of the cement waste form cured for 28 days was inversely proportional to waste loading (24.4 MPa for 0wt% to 2.7 MPa for 60wt%). The corrosive sludge absorbed the free water in the hydration reaction to decrease the cementation reaction. When the corrosive sludge waste loading increased to 60wt%, the cement waste form showed decreased compressive strength (2.7 MPa), which did not satisfy the acceptance criteria of the repository (3.45 MPa). Meanwhile, the compressive strength of the geopolymer waste form cured for 7 days was proportional to waste loading (23.6 MPa for 0wt% to 31.9 MPa for 40wt%). The corrosive sludge absorbed the free water in the geopolymer when the water content decreased, such that a compact geopolymer structure could be obtained. Consequently, the geopolymer waste forms generally showed higher compressive strengths than cement waste forms.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.443-450
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• 2015

This paper presents an investigation of the mechanical and microstructural properties of Class F fly ash based geopolymer containing sodium sulfate as an additive. Sodium sulfate was used as an chemical additive at the dosage levels of 0, 2, 4, and 6wt% of fly ash. Sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solutions were used to activate fly ash. The compressive strengths of geopolymer pastes were measured at the age of 28 days. The microstructures of the geopolymer pastes were examined using XRD, MIP and SEM tests. The additions of 2wt% and 4wt% sodium sulfate produced geopolymers with high strength, while increasing the dosage of levels to 6% resulted in almost no changes in strength, comparing with the control geopolymer. The optimum increase in strength was obtained with the addition of 4wt% sodium sulfate. As the amount of sodium sulfate is increased, no additional crystalline phase was detected and no change of amorphous phase indicated despite the change in the strength development. The increase in the strength was due to the change of pore size distribution in samples. As addition of sodium sulfate altered the morphologies of reactive productions and Si/Al ratios of the reaction products, the strengths were thus affected. It was found that the strengths of geopolymer were larger for lower Si/Al ratios of reaction products formed in samples. The optimal amount of sodium sulfate in the fly ash based geopolymer helps to improve mechanical properties of the geopolymer, on the other hand, the high percentage of sodium sulfate could exist as an impurity in the geopolymer and hinder the geopolymer reaction.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.175-183
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• 2024

Geopolymer, also known as alkali aluminum silicate, is used as a substitute for Portland cement, and it is also used as a binder because of its good adhesive properties and heat resistance. Since Davidovits developed Geopolymer matrix composites (GMCs) based on the binder properties of geopolymer, they have been utilized as flame exhaust ducts and aircraft fire protection materials. Geopolymer structures are formed through hydrolysis and dehydration reactions, and their physical properties can be influenced by reaction conditions such as concentration, reaction time, and temperature. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of silica size and aging time on the mechanical properties of composites. Commercial water glass and kaolin were used to synthesize geopolymers, and two types of silica powder were added to increase the silicon content. Using carbon fiber mats, a fiber-reinforced composite material was fabricated using the hand lay-up method. Spectroscopy was used to confirm polymerization, aging effects, and heat treatment, and composite materials were used to measure flexural strength. As a result, it was confirmed that the longer time aging and use of nano-sized silica particles were helpful in improving the mechanical properties of the geopolymer matrix composite.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.45-60
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• 2015

This paper aimed to investigate the effect of MWCNTs on properties of slag Geopolymeric mortar. Geopolymeric matrices containing different MWCNTs concentrations (0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 % by weight of the used binder) were synthesized. The Geopolymer mortar composed of aluminosilicate slag to sand (1:2), while the alumino silicate source binder composed of 50% air cooled slag and 50%water cooled slag both passing a sieve of $90{\mu}m$, while the sand passing a sieve of 1 ml. The materials prepared at water/binder ratios in a range of 0.34-0.39% depending on the added MWCNT, whereas the Gelenium Ace-30 superplasticizer used in the ratio of 1.4-2.2% from the total dry weight for better dispersion of MWCNT under sonication for 15 min. Alkaline activation of the Geopolymer mortar was carried by using of 6% NaOH. Curing was performed under temperature of $40^{\circ}C$ and 100% R.H. Results showed that the addition of MWCNTs enhanced the resulting amorphous geopolymer structure with marked decrease in the drying shrinkage as well as water absorption specially when using 0.1% MWCNT, while further increase in MWCNTs results in agglomeration in MWCNT within the matrix and so hinder the propagation of Geopolymerization reaction and negatively affect the formed geopolymer structure.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.453-458
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• 2019

Today, concrete remains the most important, durable, and reliable material that has been used in the construction sector, making it the most commonly used material after water. However, cement continues to exert many negative effects on the environment, including the production of carbon dioxide (CO2), which pollutes the atmosphere. Cement production is costly, and it also consumes energy and natural non- renewable resources, which are critical for sustainability. These factors represent the motivation for researchers to examine the various alternatives that can reduce the effects on the environment, natural resources, and energy consumption and enhance the mechanical properties of concrete. Geopolymer is one alternative that has been investigated; this can be produced using aluminosilicate materials such as low calcium (class F) FA, Ultra-Fine GGBS, and high calcium FA (class C, which are available worldwide as industrial, agricultural byproducts.). It has a high percentage of silica and alumina, which react with alkaline solution (activators). Aluminosilicate gel, which forms as a result of this reaction, is an effective binding material for the concrete. This paper presents an up-to-date review regarding the important engineering properties of geopolymer formed by FA and slag binders; the findings demonstrate that this type of geopolymer could be an adequate alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Due to the significant positive mechanical properties of slag-FA geopolymer cements and their positive effects on the environment, it represents a material that could potentially be used in the construction industry.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.460-468
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• 2021

Owing to the production of conventional concrete/cement, the climate crises is increasing and is mainly caused greenhouse gas (GHG) emission into the environment by industrial process. To reduce the emission of GHG, and excessive consumption of energy, research on geopolymer binder is increasing as it is environmentally friendly compared to the conventional binders such as Portland cement. The research on improving the strength and durability of geopolymer cement becomes one of the trending researches. Generally, the strength and durability of geopolymer binders are improved by altering alkaline solution & its concentration, the precursor materials and curing temperature & time, which significantly influence the chemical composition and microstructure of geopolymer to which the strength and durability of geopolymers relies. This paper included the detailed discussion on the factors affecting the mechanical properties and durability of geopolymer binder and the influence of reaction mechanism on the strength and durability of geopolymer is also discussed in this paper.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.181-195
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• 2016

Addition of nano-$SiO_2$ (NS) to geopolymer composites has been studied through measurement of compressive strengths, FTIR and XRD analysis. Alumino-silicate materials are coarse aggregate included waste concrete and demolished walls with its cementing binder, cement kiln dust (CKD) used and can possess a pronouncing activation for the geopolymer reaction resulting from the high alkali contents within. Materials prepared at water/binder ratios in a range of 0.30: 0.40 under curing of $40^{\circ}C$ and 100% Relative Humidity (R.H.), while the used activator is sodium hydroxide in the ratio of 2 wt. %. First, CKD is added in the ratio from 10 up to 50 wt., %, and the demolished walls was varied depending on the used CKD content, while using constant ratio of waste concrete (40 wt., %). Second step, depending on the optimum CKD ratio resulted from the first one (40 wt. %), so the control geopolymer mix composed of cement kiln dust, demolished walls and waste concrete in the ratio (40:20:40, wt %). Nano-silica partially replaced waste concrete by 1 up to 8%. Results indicated that, compressive strengths of geopolymer mixes incorporating nano-silica were obviously higher than those control one, especially at early ages and specially with 3%NS.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.449-456
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• 2014

Material properties of geopolymer, whose the reaction is very complicated, have been influenced by chemical compositions and particle size distributions of fly ash, concentrations and types of alkali-activators and curing conditions such as temperatures and time. In this research, experiments with several variables such as curing temperatures, preset prior to the high temperature curing and high temperatures have been conducted in order to evaluate to investigate effects on the compressive strengths of geopolymer caused by curing condition. Experiment results were evaluated with compressive strengths and micro-structures such as SEM and MIP of geopolymer pastes. As a result, as higher curing temperature or longer preset time were applied to the pastes, higher compressive strengths were observed. However, compressive strengths of geopolymer pastes declined due to increases in macropores (>50 nm) under high temperatures elapsed after 24 hours. In this sense, it can be considered that strengths and microstructures of geopolymers depends on curing temperature and time.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.257-263
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• 2019

Lightweight geopolymers were fabricated with non-milled IGCC slag and Si sludge as a bloating material. The relationship between addition amount of Si sludge and physical/chemical properties of lightweight geopolymers was investigated. When the geopolymers were made by mixing IGCC slag, alkali activator, and more than 10 wt.% Si sludge, the temperature of the geopolymer pastes reached higher than 130℃ in a few minutes. This exothermic reaction accelerated the geopolymer reaction; however, it was difficult to make geopolymer specimens because of a rapid bloating reaction. Both compressive strength and density of the specimens tend to decrease with an addition of Si sludge; however, there was little difference in both compressive strength and density with addition of Si sludge more than 10 wt.%. Because there was a limit to get low density geopolymers by simply increasing the addition of Si sludge, the control of pore size and distribution of geopolymer is more important by controlling flow rate of the paste through the control of W/S ratio. Therefore, it is important to control process conditions, appropriate W/S ratio for the bloating than the control of Si sludge. The optimum W/S ratio was 0.20 for the addition of Si sludge less than 30 wt.% and W/S ratio should be more than 0.28 for the addition of Si sludge more than 30 wt.%, although there was no practical application in fact.