Simple Model for Alkali Leaching from Geopolymers: Effects of Raw Materials and Acetic Acid Concentration on Apparent Diffusion Coefficient

This paper investigates alkali leaching from geopolymers under various concentrations of acetic acid solutions. The effects of the raw metakaolin purity as well as fly ash-based geopolymer mortars and pastes are considered. A new methodology for (acetic) acid attack is proposed, adapting standard approaches, where the concentration of the leached alkali in the exposure solution is measured over time. The applicability of a simple diffusion-based mathematical model to determine the apparent diffusion coefficient (D-app) for geopolymer pastes and mortars was validated. At the end of the paste tests, microstructural alterations of the specimens' cross-sections were analyzed microscopically, revealing occurrence of degradation across the outermost surface parts and, especially under acid attack, the formation of long cracks that connect the surface with the intact inner zone. Drastically different D-app are discussed in terms of the differences in the mix designs, principally resulting in different alkali-binding capacities of the geopolymers, while the acid promoted dissolution and increased porosity. As a result of this interpretation, it was concluded that D-app is governed mainly by the chemistry of the alkali release from the gel, as it overruled the effects of porosity and cracks.

Automated summary

This study investigated alkali leaching from geopolymers in different concentrations of acetic acid solutions, proposing a new method for acid attack. The results showed that the chemistry of alkali release from the gel mainly governed the apparent diffusion coefficient of geopolymers, with distinct differences in D-app attributed to variations in mix designs.