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Mechanical and thermal properties of bottom ash-based porous geopolymer as thermal insulation material for construction

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Abstract

A geo-polymer is a cement-like material that can be used instead of Portland cement, requiring less energy, and emitting less CO2 in its production. It is made from solid wastes, such as fly ash and bottom ash. This work studied the physical, mechanical, and thermal insulation properties of bottom ash-based porous geo-polymers using two different foaming agents: aluminum powder (Al) and sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES). An alkaline activator (NaOH and Na2SiO3), bottom ash, and foaming agents (Al or SLES) were mixed to produce the porous geo-polymer samples, which were then cured for 28 days prior to testing at 27 °C (room temperature). X-ray diffractometry was used to determine the phase composition of the porous geo-polymer, and 3D digital video microscopy was used to determine the porous morphology. The compressive strength of the Al porous geo-polymer was in the range 1.27–2.37 MPa, whereas that of the geo-polymer added with SLES was in the ranged 0.75–6.86 MPa. The resulting samples were compared to some commercial products to evaluate their potential as building materials. The results showed that the thermal conductivity of commercial clay brick (TIS.77-2545) was 1.15 W/m.K while the porous geo-polymer using 5 wt% SLES had a lower thermal conductivity of 0.32 W/m.K and a high compressive strength of 6.86 MPa, making its suitable for use as a thermal insulation material for construction.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand, and the Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand, as well as the Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute (KURDI).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Road, Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    Paing Set Soe & Duangrudee Chaysuwan

  2. National Metal and Materials Technology Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency, 114 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Road, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, 12120, Pathumthani, Thailand

    Watcharee Sornlar & Anucha Wannagon

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  1. Paing Set Soe
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  2. Watcharee Sornlar
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  3. Anucha Wannagon
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  4. Duangrudee Chaysuwan
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Contributions

Paing Set Soe: methodology, formal analysis, investigation, writing—original draft, visualization. Anucha Wannagon: conceptualization, validation, writing—review, editing, supervision and funding acquisition. Watcharee Sornlar: methodology, formal analysis, investigation, conceptualization, reviewing, editing. Duangrudee Chaysuwan: reviewing and editing.

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Correspondence to Duangrudee Chaysuwan.

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Soe, P.S., Sornlar, W., Wannagon, A. et al. Mechanical and thermal properties of bottom ash-based porous geopolymer as thermal insulation material for construction. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 25, 2964–2975 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-023-01732-6

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