Development of high volume rice husk ash alumino silicate composites

The development of high volume rice husk ash (RHA) alumino silicate composites (ASC) was studied. RHA was used as the source of silica and aluminium in the ASC. The mass ratios of RHA:Al(OH)3 of 70:30 to 99:1 were tested. The results indicate that the obtained ASC mortars are not stable and disintegrate in water. Boric acid was introduced to the mixture to overcome this problem. Stable ASC mortars with high RHA:Al(OH)₃ mass ratios of 90:10 to 97.5:2.5 were obtained with the use of boric acid and 115℃ curing. The compressive strength of the mortar of 20 MPa was gained. The immersion test indicates that high volume RHA ASC mortars show good resistance in 3vol% H₂SO₄ solution, but is slightly less durable in 5wt% MgSO₄ solution.     

Thermal treatment and utilization of Al-rich waste in high calcium fly ash geopolymeric materials

The Al-rich waste with aluminium and hydrocarbon as the major contaminant is generated at the wastewater treatment unit of a polymer processing plant. In this research, the heat treatment of this Al-rich waste and its use to adjust the silica/alumina ratio of the high calcium fly ash geopolymer were studied. To recycle the raw Al-rich waste, the waste was dried at 110℃ and calcined at 400 to 1000℃. Mineralogical analyses were conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD) to study the phase change. The increase in calcination temperature to 600, 800, and 1000℃ resulted in the phase transformation. The more active alumina phase of active θ-Al₂O₃ was obtained with the increase in calcination temperature. The calcined Al-rich waste was then used as an additive to the fly ash geopolymer by mixing with high calcium fly ash, water glass, 10 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and sand. Test results indicated that the calcined Al-rich waste could be used as an aluminium source to adjust the silica/alumina ratio and the strength of geopolymeric materials. The fly ash geopolymer mortar with 2.5wt% of the Al-rich waste calcined at 1000℃ possessed the 7-d compressive strength of 34.2 MPa.     

Effect of chemical admixtures on properties of high-calcium fly ash geopolymer

Owing to the high viscosity of sodium silicate solution, fly ash geopolymer has the problems of low workability and rapid setting time. Therefore, the effect of chemical admixtures on the properties of fly ash geopolymer was studied to overcome the rapid set of the geopolymer in this paper. High-calcium fly ash and alkaline solution were used as starting materials to synthesize the geopolymer. Calcium chloride, calcium sulfate, sodium sulfate, and sucrose at dosages of 1wt% and 2wt% of fly ash were selected as admixtures based on concrete knowledge to improve the properties of the geopolymer. The setting time, compressive strength, and degree of reaction were recorded, and the microstructure was examined. The results show that calcium chloride significantly shortens both the initial and final setting times of the geopolymer paste. In addition, sucrose also delays the final setting time significantly. The degrees of reaction of fly ash in the geopolymer paste with the admixtures are all higher than those of the control paste. This contributes to the obvious increases in compressive strength.