High strength inorganic-organic polymer composites (IOPC) manufactured by mold pressing of geopolymers

Abstract

Inorganic-organic polymer composites (IOPCs) were manufactured from geopolymer and epoxy resin through mold pressing. The pore structure, hydration kinetic and microstructure of IOPCs are examined by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), isothermal conduction calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. When the epoxy resin content is 4 wt% and molding pressure value is 200 MPa, the optimal compressive strength of IOPCs after curing 3 days can reach to 116.3 MPa. The porosity of IOPCs is 22.48%. With the epoxy resin content increasing from 0 to 8 wt%, the porosity gradually increases and the pore size distribution first reduces and then increases. Increasing the content of epoxy resin within an appropriate range could increase the cumulative heat and fill the inner space inside the microstructure of geopolymer paste. When the epoxy resin content is less than 4 wt%, the pore size distribution shifts to smaller region, but which changes to larger region when the epoxy resin content is more than 4 wt%. The porosity, pore diameter and compressive strength meet a regressive equation.