Thermally induced microstructural changes in fly ash geopolymers: Experimental results and proposed model

This study presents a proposed model for thermally induced microstructural changes in fly ash geopolymers. Two paste mixes with different as-cured microstructures are evaluated for thermal resistance. One mix was a highly reacted, high-strength geopolymer with a compact microstructure and the other...

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Main Authors: Rickard, William, Kealley, Cat, Van Riessen, Arie
Format: Journal Article
Published: Blackwell Publishing Inc. 2015
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/46756
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author Rickard, William
Kealley, Cat
Van Riessen, Arie
author_facet Rickard, William
Kealley, Cat
Van Riessen, Arie
author_sort Rickard, William
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This study presents a proposed model for thermally induced microstructural changes in fly ash geopolymers. Two paste mixes with different as-cured microstructures are evaluated for thermal resistance. One mix was a highly reacted, high-strength geopolymer with a compact microstructure and the other mix had higher degree of unreacted fly ash resulting in a low strength, low-density geopolymer. Changes in the microstructure and bulk properties for each formulation were assessed at 100C temperature intervals up to 1000C using SEM, Q-XRD and physical testing. It was observed that the higher density and apparent lower permeability of the high-strength geopolymer led to it being more vulnerable to dehydration damage. Dimensional and phase changes also caused further strength losses before sintering at higher temperatures promoted strength gains. The low-strength geopolymer was not damaged by dehydration and was better able to accommodate volumetric changes; hence it exhibited an increase in strength after thermal exposure due to the sintering. From these results and others in the literature, a model has been proposed for thermally induced changes in fly ash geopolymers.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2015
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-467562019-04-09T03:05:33Z Thermally induced microstructural changes in fly ash geopolymers: Experimental results and proposed model Rickard, William Kealley, Cat Van Riessen, Arie This study presents a proposed model for thermally induced microstructural changes in fly ash geopolymers. Two paste mixes with different as-cured microstructures are evaluated for thermal resistance. One mix was a highly reacted, high-strength geopolymer with a compact microstructure and the other mix had higher degree of unreacted fly ash resulting in a low strength, low-density geopolymer. Changes in the microstructure and bulk properties for each formulation were assessed at 100C temperature intervals up to 1000C using SEM, Q-XRD and physical testing. It was observed that the higher density and apparent lower permeability of the high-strength geopolymer led to it being more vulnerable to dehydration damage. Dimensional and phase changes also caused further strength losses before sintering at higher temperatures promoted strength gains. The low-strength geopolymer was not damaged by dehydration and was better able to accommodate volumetric changes; hence it exhibited an increase in strength after thermal exposure due to the sintering. From these results and others in the literature, a model has been proposed for thermally induced changes in fly ash geopolymers. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/46756 10.1111/jace.13370 Blackwell Publishing Inc. restricted
spellingShingle Rickard, William
Kealley, Cat
Van Riessen, Arie
Thermally induced microstructural changes in fly ash geopolymers: Experimental results and proposed model
title Thermally induced microstructural changes in fly ash geopolymers: Experimental results and proposed model
title_full Thermally induced microstructural changes in fly ash geopolymers: Experimental results and proposed model
title_fullStr Thermally induced microstructural changes in fly ash geopolymers: Experimental results and proposed model
title_full_unstemmed Thermally induced microstructural changes in fly ash geopolymers: Experimental results and proposed model
title_short Thermally induced microstructural changes in fly ash geopolymers: Experimental results and proposed model
title_sort thermally induced microstructural changes in fly ash geopolymers: experimental results and proposed model
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/46756