Use of Glass Waste as a Geopolymerization Reaction Activator for Ceramic Materials

Geopolymeric materials have been widely studied due to technological and environmental advantages, which in the case of applications in ceramic materials is due to the non-need for sintering the parts. The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential of using the glass polishing residue as a constituent element of the activating solution, together with NaOH, in geopolymerization reactions, aiming at the production of ceramic artifacts. Specimens were submitted with thermal curing at 60 degrees C and ambient temperature of 23 degrees C with ratio to SiO2/Al2O3 of 3 and 4. The prepared specimen was evaluated of technological properties such as apparent specific mass, linear shrinkage, water absorption, and mechanical resistance to flexion in the specimens. The results showed a potential for application of the glass polishing residue as a component of the alkaline solution, improving the properties evaluated when in thermal curing and with a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 4.0.

Automated summary

In this study, the potential of using glass polishing residue as a constituent element of the activating solution, together with NaOH, in geopolymerization reactions for the production of ceramic artifacts was evaluated. The results showed that the glass polishing residue can improve the properties of ceramic artifacts when used as a component of the alkaline solution under thermal curing conditions with a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 4.0.