Physical Properties of Volcanic Ash Based Geopolymer Concrete

Abstract

This paper describes the result of investigating volcanic ash of Mount Kelud as fly ash substitute material to produce geopolymer concrete. The test was held on geopolymer concrete blended with 0%, 25%, 50% and 100% fly ash replacement with volcanic ash. Natrium Hidroxide (NaOH) with concentration of 12 molar and Natrium Silicate (Na2SiO3) were used as alkaline activator. While alkali-activator ratio of 2 was used in this research. The physical properties was tested by porosity and setting time test, while split tensile strength presented to measure brittle caracteristic of geopolymer concrete. The result shown that increasing volcanic ash content in the mixture will increase setting time of geopolymer paste. On the other hand increasing volcanic ash content will reduce split tensile strength and porosity of geopolymer concrete. After all replacing fly ash with volcanic ash was suitable from 25% to 50% due to its optimum physical and mechanical properties.