Preparation and properties of geopolymer-lightweight aggregate refractory concrete

Geopolymer-lightweight aggregate refractory concrete (GLARC) was prepared with geopolymer and lightweight aggregate. The mechanical property and heat-resistance (950 A degrees C) of GLARC were investigated. The effects of size of aggregate and mass ratio of geopolymer to aggregate on mechanical and thermal properties were also studied. The results show that the highest compressive strength of the heated refractory concrete is 43.3 MPa, and the strength loss is only 42%. The mechanical property and heat-resistance are influenced by the thickness of geopolymer covered with aggregate, which can be expressed as the quantity of geopolymer on per surface area of aggregate. In order to show the relationship between the thickness of geopolymer covered with aggregate and the thermal property of concrete, equal thickness model is presented, which provides a reference for the mix design of GLARC. For the haydite sand with size of 1.18-4.75 mm, the best amount of geopolymer per surface area of aggregate should be in the range of 0.300-0.500 mg/mm(2).