Abstract
This paper focuses on the effect of polypropylene (PP) fibers on the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of fly ash-based geopolymer foams. Class C Fly ash (FA) was used as a binder material. A mixture of sodium silicate (SS) and sodium hydroxide (SH) was used as an alkaline activator of the geopolymer binder. The foams were prepared mechanically by mixing the foaming agent with distilled water at high pressure. The foams were added to the geopolymer admixture with volumes of 40% and 60%. A small dosage of PP was varied from 0%, 0.25%, and 0.50% by weight of fly ash (FA). The result showed that the strength of foamed geopolymer rises as the PP fiber content increases. The PP fiber was proven to increase the tensile strength of foamed geopolymer due to the ability of PP fiber to connect the crack and improve the tensile strength. The PP fiber amount in this study significantly affects the thermal conductivity of foamed geopolymer. However, the thermal conductivity in this study has the same properties as lightweight concrete and a little higher than gypsum board.
Highlights
Geopolymers are known as a new generation of materials
The objective of this study investigates the effect of PP fibers on compressive strength, tensile strength, and thermal conductivity of fly ash-based geopolymer foamed materials
The materials used in this research contained of fly ash (FA), sodium silicate (SS), sodium hydroxide (SH), foam, and PP fiber
Summary
Geopolymers are known as a new generation of materials. These materials consist of aluminosilicate powder, which is activated using the alkali solution. Goh, Mohamad, Alengaram, and Mo [14] reported that in the range of 0.20%, 0.25% and 0.30% amount of PP fibers in lightweight concrete, the highest compressive strength occurred when the foamed concrete contained 0.20% of PP fibers They found that the addition of PP fibers on lightweightfoamed concrete can reduce their thermal conductivity. The objective of this study investigates the effect of PP fibers on compressive strength, tensile strength, and thermal conductivity of fly ash-based geopolymer foamed materials. These properties have a major role in estimating the capability of foamed geopolymer materials when used as insulator materials. The thermal conductivity in this study was varied at a range temperature of 50 to 200 ◦C
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