Evaluation of Properties of Concrete Without Cement Produced Using Fly Ash‐Based Geopolymer

Abstract

AbstractThe use of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in the construction industry is inevitable. The huge production of OPC and its use in infrastructural development pose an environmental impact. Greenhouse gas emitted increases the global temperature and it is an alarming sign to everybody on the planet. Concrete is the most consuming material which is produced by using OPC and it is proven that OPC contributes a lot to CO2 emission. Hence in this study attempt is made to produce concrete by using environment‐friendly material like fly ash along with alkaline activators, which is termed Geo polymer concrete. The by‐product fly ash is widely available worldwide. It is a by‐product of thermal power plants. The use of fly ash in concrete produces less expensive and more cost‐effective concrete than concrete made up using OPC. Due to its high silicate and alumina content, fly ash reacts with an alkaline solution to create an aluminosilicate gel that binds the aggregate and results in high‐quality concrete. Fly ash is finer than cement, it occupies the pores of cement after hydration. This would result in denser concrete which gives higher strength. In comparison to ordinary concrete, fly ash‐based geopolymer concrete offers better resistance to aggressive environments and high temperatures. In the present study, an alkaline activator of molarity 8 is used to prepare geopolymer concrete. The test specimens are cast and cured for 28 days. Test results indicate that an alkaline liquid fly‐ash ratio (0.4) produces higher mechanical properties. Hence, geopolymer concrete produced in this study is found to be cost‐effective and environment friendly.