Optimization and characterization of the ternary blended iron rich natural binder concrete system

Abstract

Around the world, the infrastructure developmental activities searching for new generation cementing binders. Geopolymer is a hard stratum of non-crystalline inorganic alumino-silicate networks developed by alkali activated industrial by-product materials like fly ash, metakaolin and ground granulated blast furnace slag. Laterite is a natural iron-rich aluminosilicate binder material that could be used as a binder with an essential chemical composition. In this research, optimization of iron rich binder content is used to enhance the compressive strength of concrete. For this, various factors were considered and employed in the Taguchi’s experimental technique. An orthogonal array of L16 (4)5 of four parameter levels and four factors are considered to optimize the iron-rich natural material with metakaolin and GGBFS as ternary blend, the molarity of NaOH solution, Na2SiO3to NaOH ratio, and liquid by binder ratio. The results trials showed strength fluctuating between 16 and 60 N/mm2 and the optimized mix obtained as 65 N/mm2. The optimized samples were undergone material characterization to ensure the transformation of iron source activated compound combinations, and the phase changes using FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDS, DTA, Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and Mossbauer Spectroscopy.