Abstract
The paper presents the possibility of producing foamed geopolymer materials with various foaming agents. Geopolymer is an amorphous aluminosilicate polymer made from the synthesis of silicon (Si) and aluminum (Al), geologically obtained from minerals. Geopolymers contain long chains (copolymers) of aluminum–silicon and aluminum, stabilizing metal cations, most often sodium, potassium, lithium or calcium, and bound water, in addition, there are usually various mixed phases: silicon oxide, unreacted aluminosilicate substrate, and—sometimes—crystallized aluminosilicates of the type zeolite. Most methods of geopolymer synthesis come down to one process: The fine and dried pozzolanic materials are mixed with an aqueous solution of a suitable silicate with the addition of a strong base—usually concentrated sodium or potassium hydroxide. The resulting paste behaves like cement. Fly ash from the Heat and Power Plant in Skawina (Poland) was used as a precursor for the production of geopolymer. The activation process was performed with a 10-molar solution of sodium hydroxide NaOH in combination with a solution of sodium silicate. The foaming agents were perhydrol, aluminum powder, and the Sika® Lightcrete-400 foaming saucer—an organic surfactant for the production of low-emission, lightweight, porous concrete. The produced foamed geopolymer materials were subjected to strength and thermal conductivity tests. The properties of the foams are related to the used foaming agent, but it is not the only factor affecting the quality of the materials. In the production of samples, the crucial factors are mixing the materials, the amount of the added additive, and the temperature of the geopolymerization process.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Assi LN, Ghahari SA, Deaver E, Leaphart D, Ziehl P (2016) Improvement of the early and final compressive strength of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete at ambient conditions. Constr Build Mater 123:806–813
Cui Y, Wang D (2019) Effects of water on pore structure and thermal conductivity of fly ash-based foam geopolymers. Adv Mater Sci Eng 2019. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3202794
Deb PS, Nath P, Sarker PK (2014) The effects of ground granulated blast-furnace slag blending with fly ash and activator content on the workability and strength properties of geopolymer concrete cured at ambient temperature. Mater Des 62:32–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2014.05.001
Demirboǧa R, Gül R (2003) The effects of expanded perlite aggregate, silica fume and fly ash on the thermal conductivity of lightweight concrete. Cem Concr Res 33:723–727. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-8846(02)01032-3
Ducman V, Korat L (2016) Characterization of geopolymer fly-ash based foams obtained with the addition of Al powder or H2O2 as foaming agents. Mater Charact 113:207–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2016.01.019
Duxon P, Fernansez-Jimenez A, Provis JL, Lukey GC, Palomo A, Van Deventer JS (2006) Geopolymer technology: the current state of the art. J Mater Sci 42:2917–2933
Duxon P, Mallicoat SW, Lukey GC, Kriven WM, Van Deventer JS (2007) The effect of alkali and Si/Al ratio on the development of mechanical properties of metakaolin-based geopolymers. Colloids Surf A Physicochemical Eng Asp 292:8–20
Duxson P, Provis JL, Lukey GC, van Deventer JSJ (2007) The role of inorganic polymer technology in the development of “green concrete.” Cem Concr Res 37:1590–1597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2007.08.018
Fan F, Liu Z, Xu G, Peng H, Cai CS (2018) Mechanical and thermal properties of fly ash based geopolymers. Constr Build Mater 160:66–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.11.023
Feng J, Zhang R, Gong L, Li Y, Cao W, Cheng X (2015) Development of porous fly ash-based geopolymer with low thermal conductivity. Mater Des 65:529–533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2014.09.024
Grant Norton M, Provis JL (2020) 1000 at 1000: Geopolymer technology—the current state of the art. J Mater Sci 55:13487–13489. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-04990-z
Jelle BP, Gustavsen A, Baetens R (2010) The path to the high performance thermal building insulation materials and solutions of tomorrow. J Build Phys 34:99–123. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744259110372782
Kamseu E, Ngouloure ZNM, Ali BN, Zekeng S, Melo UC, Rossignol S, Leonelli C (2015) Cumulative pore volume, pore size distribution and phases percolation in porous inorganic polymer composites: relation microstructure and effective thermal conductivity. Energy Build. 88:45–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.11.066
Kaur K, Singh J, Kaur M (2018) Compressive strength of rice husk ash based geopolymer: the effect of alkaline activator. Constr Build Mater 169:188–192
Kim H, Lee S, Han Y, Park JK (2009) Control of pore size in ceramic foams: influence of surfactant concentration. Mater Chem Phys 113:441–444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2008.07.099
Król M, Błaszczyński TZ (2013) Geopolimery w Budownictwie. Izolacje 5:38–47
Łach M, Pławecka K, Bąk A, Lichocka K, Korniejenko K, Cheng A, Lin WT (2021) Determination of the influence of hydraulic additives on the foaming process and stability of the produced geopolymer foams. Materials (Basel) 14. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14175090
Lizcano M, Gonzalez A, Basu S, Lozano K, Radovic M (2012) Effects of water content and chemical composition on structural properties of alkaline activated metakaolin-based geopolymers. J Am Ceram Soc 95:2169–2177. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1551-2916.2012.05184.x
Mehta P (2001) Reducing the environmental impact of concrete. Concr Int 23:61–66
Nguyen H, Carvelli V, Adesanya E, Kinnunen P, Illikainen M (2018) High performance cementitious composite from alkali-activated ladle slag reinforced with polypropylene fibers. Cem Concr Compos 90:150–160
Novais RM, Ascensão G, Buruberri LH, Senff L, Labrincha JA (2016) Influence of blowing agent on the fresh- and hardened-state properties of lightweight geopolymers. Mater Des 108:551–559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2016.07.039
Perera DS, Vance E, Finnie KS, Blackford MG, Cassidy DJ (2006) Disposition of water in Metakaolinite based geopolymers. Adv Ceram Matrix Compos 75:225–236
Ramamurthy K, Kunhanandan E, Indu Siva Ranjani G (2009) A classification of studies on properties of foam concrete. Cem Concr Compos 31:388–396
Rickard WD, Vickers L, Van Reissen A (2013) Performance of fibre reinforced, low density metakaoline geopolymers under simulated fire conditions. Appl Clay Sci 73:71–77
Singh NB, Middendorf B (2020) Geopolymers as an alternative to Portland cement: an overview. Constr Build Mater 237:117455
Sitarz M, Hager I, Choińska M (2020) Evolution of mechanical properties with time of fly-ash-based geopolymer mortars under the effect of granulated ground blast furnace slag addition. Energies 13:1135
Song Z-L, Ma L-Q, Wu Z-J, He D-P (2000) Effects of viscosity on cellular structure of foamed aluminum in foaming process. J Mater Sci 35:15–20
Studart AR, Gonzenbach UT, Tervoort E, Gauckler LJ (2006) Processing routes to macroporous ceramics: a review. J Am Ceram Soc 89:1771–1789. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1551-2916.2006.01044.x
Thokchom S, Ghosh P, Ghosh S (2010) Performance of fly ash based geopolymer mortars in sulphate solution. J Eng Sci Technol 3:31–38
Vucinic D, Miljanovic I, Rosic A, Lazic P (2003) Effect of Na2O/SiO2 mole ratio on the crystal type of zeolite synthesized from coal fly ash. J Serbian Chem Soc 68:471–478
Wongsa A, Sata V, Nuaklong P, Chindaprasirt P (2018) Use of crushed clay brick and pumice aggregates in lightweight geopolymer concrete. Constr Build Mater 188:1025–1034. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.08.176
Yang KH, Lee KH, Song JK, Gong MH (2014) Properties and sustainability of alkali-activated slag foamed concrete. J Clean Prod 68:226–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.12.068
Yang T, Han W, Wang X, Wu D (2017) Surface decoration of polyimide fiber with carbon nanotubes and its application for mechanical enhancement of phosphoric acid-based geopolymers. Appl Surf Sci 416:200–212
Zhang Z, Provis JL, Reid A, Wang H (2014) Geopolymer foam concrete: an emerging material for sustainable construction. Constr Build Mater 56:113–127
Zhang Z, Provis JL, Reid A, Wang H (2015) Mechanical, thermal insulation, thermal resistance and acoustic absorption properties of geopolymer foam concrete. Cem Concr Compos 62:97–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2015.03.013
Acknowledgements
The presented works were carried out as part of the project: “Geopolymer foams with low thermal conductivity produced on the basis of industrial waste as an innovative material for the circular economy,” which is financed by the National Center for Research and Development under the LIDER X program. Grant No.: LIDER/31/0168/L-10/18/NCBR/2019
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bazan, P., Łach, M., Kozub, B., Figiela, B., Korniejenko, K. (2023). The Production Process of Foamed Geopolymers with the Use of Various Foaming Agents. In: da Silva, L.F.M. (eds) Materials Design and Applications IV. Advanced Structured Materials, vol 168. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-18130-6_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-18130-6_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-18129-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-18130-6
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)