Metakaolin /Slag based Geopolymers — an alternative to lime stabilization of Cochin Marine clays

Abstract

ABSTRACT The impact of introducing geopolymer binders based on metakaolin (MK) and slag (S) as possible substitutes to lime in soft marine clay stabilization was examined in this study. To investigate the effects of these geopolymers on the physical and engineering properties, different MK- and S-based geopolymer mixtures in five different combinations of MK:S ratios, 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100, were introduced into soft marine clayey soil. In addition to these five geopolymer mixtures, lime-stabilized soil was chosen as the control specimen, and two mixtures of S + soil and MK + soil were also used for this study. The unconfined compressive strength results clearly indicated a significant improvement in the strength of MK- and S-based geopolymers by more than 10 times and 6 times that of untreated clay samples, respectively, and 3 times that for lime-treated clay. Hence, geopolymers can replace the traditionally used lime for the stabilization of marine clay deposits.