Lightweight composite from fly ash geopolymer and glass foam

Abstract

This article is focused on the development of geopolymer–glass foam composite, produced by encapsulation of glass waste based lightweight aggregate in geopolymer matrix. The aim of the investigation was to encase glass foam with optimum cell size in geopolymer in order to obtain lightweight environmentally friendly concrete from waste materials. Physical properties (uniaxial strength and specimen density) of the geopolymer–glass foam composite were determined, while XRD, SEM and FTIR measurement were carried out to investigate the structure of the resulted composite. The density of the composite compared with the neat geopolymer decreased by 76%. XRD results show that amorphous gel was developed from fly-ash and glass foam. The SEM results confirmed the zeolite crystallization and revealed the gel reinforcing arrangement of it. FTIR results show difference in the material structure between the inner part of geopolymer matrix and the interface of geopolymer–glass foam.

Keywords:

• fly ash
• waste glass
• geopolymer composite
• glass foam
• microstructure
• strength

Acknowledgements

The described article was carried out as part of the ‘Sustainable Raw Material Management Thematic Network—RING 2017’, EFOP-3.6.2-16-2017-00010 project in the framework of the Széchenyi 2020 Program. The authors express their thanks to Tamás Balogh and Richárd Mészáros BSc students for participating in the experiments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the submitted article.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the European Union and the Hungarian State, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund in the framework of the GINOP-2.3.4-15-2016-00004 project, aimed to promote the cooperation between the higher education and the industry. The realization of this project is supported by the European Union, co-financed by the European Social Fund.