Influence of superplasticizer on the properties of geopolymer concrete using industrial wastes

Normally Geo-Polymer concrete (GPC) is developed using source materials like Fly Ash, and alkaline activator sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solution, cured at elevated temperature. An attempt was made to make GPC using a suitable mix of industrial waste materials like Fly ash, Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS), glass powder, and aggregates. In the present work, waste glass powder in the form of reactive silica is used instead of sodium silicate solution for the production of conventional GPC. Required quantity of sodium hydroxide solution having 8 M has been used. It has been observed that 15% replacement of fly ash by glass powder gives maximum 28 day strength and it is taken as an optimum dosage for the production of mix proportion for GPC using GGBS. The experimental results indicated that replacement of fly ash by various percentages of the GGBS resulted in increase of the compressive strength, split tensile strength of the fly ash based GPC up to 15% and thereafter there is a decrease in the strength values. It has also been observed that use of naphthalene- based super plasticizer improves the fresh and hardened behavior of GPC. Thus, the results of strength tests on GPC cubes prepared and cured at room temperature only indicate the development of compressive strength up to M40 can be achieved corresponding to the selected optimum replacement of fly ash by GGBS and glass powder. Hence the use of major industrial wastes such as fly ash, glass powder and GGBS is found to be feasible in the production of new sustainable green construction material of reasonably good strength. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.