Effects of alternative ecological fillers on the mechanical, durability, and microstructure of fly ash-based geopolymer mortar

Abstract

In this research, the performance of fly ash/GGBS geopolymer mortars made with different quarry waste powder as filler materials by substituted the river sand fine aggregate with different ratios was evaluated based on the mechanical, physical, durability properties and microstructural analysis. Limestone waste, marble waste and basalt waste powder were used as filler materials developing eco-friendly and economical geopolymer from industrial waste as a promising sustainable area of research. A series of tests were conducted such as on strength properties, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), physical properties, abrasion resistance test, splitting tensile strength and microstructure analysis (SEM). The samples were elevated at the high-temperatures of 200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C and 800 °C. Results conducted that the use of limestone waste powder and marble waste powder up to 50% ratio improved the geopolymer composite's strength. The three filler geopolymer composites positively affected water absorption, strength properties and abrasion ratio results. The current article’s finding has indicated a potential solution, presenting another geopolymer class followed by the successful use of fly ash and quarry waste as significant asset materials. The output of this study is commercially expected to be effective intercession for waste recycled and friendly environmental management conclusions.

Keywords:

• Fly ash
• alkali activated materials
• lime waste powder
• basalt waste powder
• marble waste powder
• geopolymer
• high-temperature

Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the research fund of the Yildiz Technical University. The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the scientific research coordination unit for their financial support (Project number: FBA-2019-3558).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.