Evaluation of the long-term compressive strength development of the sewage sludge ash/metakaolin-based geopolymer

D. Istuque; L. Soriano; M.V. Borrachero; J. Payá; J.L. Akasaki; J.L.P. Melges; M.M. Tashima

doi:10.3989/mc.2021.13220

Authors

D. Istuque Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), (Ilha Solteira-SP, Brazil) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1872-8871
L. Soriano ICITECH - Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología del Hormigón, Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), (Valencia, Spain) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5749-4609
M.V. Borrachero ICITECH - Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología del Hormigón, Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), (Valencia, Spain) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7873-0658
J. Payá ICITECH - Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología del Hormigón, Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), (Valencia, Spain) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7425-5311
J.L. Akasaki Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), (Ilha Solteira-SP, Brazil) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1986-1196
J.L.P. Melges Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), (Ilha Solteira-SP, Brazil) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0897-7807
M.M. Tashima Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), (Ilha Solteira-SP, Brazil) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0885-9293

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/mc.2021.13220

Keywords:

Alkali-activated cement, Metakaolin, Compressive strength, Mortar, Scanning electron microscopy

Abstract

This paper aimed to evaluate the long-term compressive strength development of the sewage sludge ash/metakaolin (SSA/MK)-based geopolymer. SSA/MK-based geopolymeric mortars and pastes were produced at 25ºC with different SSA contents (0 - 30 wt.%). Compressive strength tests were run within the 3-720 curing days range. A physicochemical characterisation (X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy) was performed in geopolymeric pastes. All the geopolymeric mortars presented a compressive strength gain with curing time. The mortars with all the SSA evaluated contents (10, 20, 30 wt.%) developed a compressive strength over 40 MPa after 720 curing days at 25ºC. The maximum compressive strength of the mortars with SSA was approximately 61 MPa (10 wt.% of SSA), similarly to the reference mortar (100% MK-based geopolymer). The microstructure analyses showed that the SSA/MK-based geopolymer presented a dense microstructure with N-A-S-H gel formation.

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