Assessment of mechanical and micro-structural characterization of novel ambient cured cement-free composite concrete

Abstract

To minimize the utilization of natural resources & consuming of huge energy and in order to control the global warming, industrial waste based geopolymer has attracted by the researchers. The manufacturing of GGBS-FA based Geopolymer Concrete (GFGPC) are essential due to its cost-effective reuse by recycling the industrial wastes. The impact of various quantities of Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS), activator concentration, alkaline solution to solid ratios and liquid ratios of silicate to hydroxide of sodium on experimented mechanical strength and microstructural characterization are investigated. The novelty and research significance lie in adoption of ambient curing techniques, reduced time interval between Alkali Activator Solution (AAS) preparation and concrete casting from 24 h to 3–6. It was observed that with decrease of GGBS content from 70% to 30%, compressive strength at 28 days was reduced from 53 MPa to 36 MPa. A mix containing 40–50% GGBS, AAS to binder ratio of 0.45–0.55, 7 M(Molar) solution of Sodium Hydroxide (SH), ratio of sodium silicate (SS) to sodium hydroxide (SH) of 1.5–2.0 along with 3–6 h of time interval between AAS preparation and concrete casting were proposed as an optimum design mix with respect to compressive strength, workability and setting time. The empirical predictions of splitting-tensile strength and flexural strength of developed GFGPC were made based on the experimental laboratory results and made comparisons with respect to the equations of ACI 318, Eurocode 2, AS 3600 and IS 456 for OPC based conventional concrete (CCOPC) and others existing literature for GPC. Additionally, XRF, XRD, FESEM and EDS were conducted to investigate the microstructural properties and the reaction mechanism of GFGPC.