Effects of alccofine and curing conditions on properties of low calcium fly ash-based geopolymer concrete

Abstract

In order to employ the waste from plants, geopolymer concrete was manufactured with low calcium fly ash, alccofine, sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide as main ingredients. This study investigates the effect of alccofine percentages on the properties of fresh and hardened low-calcium fly ash-based geopolymer concrete. Alccofine was utilized in geopolymer concrete mixtures in 0%, 5% & 10% as partial replacement of fly ash (by weight) and cured at ambient (27 °C) as well as heat (90 °C) temperatures. The results of this study revealed that alccofine enhanced the slump, compaction, density and strength values in comparison to standard geopolymer concrete values with 0% alccofine, in contrary, air voids decreased. Further, X-ray diffraction and Scanning electron microscope results indicated better polymerization in the presence of alccofine which led to the formation of CSH, CASH, NASH products and better densification. Thus, geopolymer concrete produced using low calcium fly ash with different percentages of alccofine can be used for cast in situ practices and at ambient temperature.