Effects of metakaolin and sodium silicate solution on workability and compressive strength of sustainable Geopolymer mortar

Abstract

In this study, the Geopolymer mortar had been examined under flowability and compressive strength using metakaolin. The binder content of 50% fly ash and 30% Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) has been kept constant. The remaining 20% of binder is partially replaced by metakaolin to fly ash such as 5%, 10% 15% and 20%. The sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) solution molarity has been varied from 1.5 M to 2 M. The test results indicate that, the fine particles of metakaolin (up to 15%) improves the flowability and also act as a filler material and another hand, increase in molarity of the solution leads to decrease in flowability but increase in compressive strength had observed. The compressive strength of the Geopolymer mortar had been increased with increase in metakaolin content. The optimum proportion of 15% metakaolin with 1.5 M Na2SiO3 solution is suggested in terms of workability and compressive strength of Geopolymer mortar under ambient curing.