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Effects of Non-thermal Plasma Treatment on the Geopolymerization of Kaolin Clay

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Abstract

Kaolin samples obtained from Cameroon were used to produce geopolymer binders. Prior to its application, the raw kaolin samples were activated through the gliding arc plasma treatment using both spatial post-discharge and direct mode. A mixture of sodium hydroxide and silicate was used as the alkaline solution. In order to study the influence of the modifications generated by the gliding arc plasma treatment on the geopolymerization process, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimeter and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were carried out. In addition, scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen physisorption and compression tests analysis were also carried out on the resulting geopolymer samples to access their mechanical performance. The results showed that the geopolymerization process was not completed at the curing temperature of 90 °C. Plasma spatial post-discharge mode treated kaolin led to 20.48% increase in compressive strength when compared with the geopolymer prepared from raw kaolin.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Professor Elimbi Antoine of the University of Yaoundé I (Cameroon) for providing clay samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geology and Mining Engineering, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 115, Meiganga, Cameroon

    B. Sop-Tamo & J. B. Tarkwa

  2. Department of Civil Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, South Africa

    L. N. Tchadjié

  3. Department of Physics, Faculty of Applied Science, Umm Al-Qura University, P.O. Box 715, Makkah, 21955, Saudi Arabia

    Thamer Alomayri

  4. Department of Physics, University College in AlJumum, Umm Al-Qura University, P.O. Box 715, Makkah, 21955, Saudi Arabia

    Hasan Assaedi

  5. Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), P.O. Box 44, Dschang, Cameroon

    J. P. Kamseu Mogo

  6. Department of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    J. Baenla & G. Kamgang-Youbi

Authors
  1. B. Sop-Tamo
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  2. L. N. Tchadjié
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  7. J. Baenla
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  8. G. Kamgang-Youbi
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Contributions

B. Sop-Tamo: study conception and design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting of manuscript, L.N. Tchadjie: methodology, analysis and interpretation of data,writing - review & editing, J.B. Tarkwa: methodology, writing - review & editing, Thamer Alomayri: writing - review & editing, Hasan Assaedi: Writing - review & editing, J. P. Kamseu Mogo: writing - review & editing, J. Baenla: methodology, writing - review & editing, Kamgang-Youbi: writing - review & editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. N. Tchadjié.

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Highlights

The gliding arc plasma treatment affects the geopolymeric reactivity of kaolin.

The gliding arc plasma-treated in spatial post-discharge mode is preferred to gliding arc plasma treatment in direct mode.

kaolin treated in spatial post-discharge mode gives the highest compressive strength.

Hydroxysodalite is the main crystalline phase after the geopolymerization process.

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Sop-Tamo, B., Tchadjié, L.N., Tarkwa, J.B. et al. Effects of Non-thermal Plasma Treatment on the Geopolymerization of Kaolin Clay. Silicon 14, 3641–3652 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-021-01134-z

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