Skip to main content

Geopolymerization reaction to consolidate incoherent pozzolanic soil

Journal of Materials Science volume 43, pages 865–873 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Pozzolanic material-based geopolymer has been proposed as a solving methodology to the geohazards, due to pozzolanic collapsible soils widely present in the South Italy. The geopolymer was synthesized from pozzolana material under activation of NaOH 10 M or slurry of NaAlO2 in NaOH 10 M solution. The specimens were cured at 25 °C and 100% RH for different ageing times. The effect of the two activation methods on the properties of the geopolymer was investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FTIR spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (27Al and 29Si NMR) and uniaxial compression tests. XRD, NMR and IR analysis indicate the geopolymer is generated by the dissolution of the silico-aluminate phases present in the pozzolana and the successive re-organization in amorphous and crystalline neo-formed phases. The spectroscopic evidences confirm that the 4-coordinated Al atoms present in the neat pozzolana and in the NaAlO2 change their coordination state splitting between 6- and 4-coordinated atoms, modifying the traditional chemistry of polysialate formation. SEM results show the synthesized geo-polymer maintained the granular morphology of the pozzolana and the geo-polymeric reactions occurred mainly at the surface of pozzolana particulates. Furthermore, uniaxial strength data increase gradually upon the curing time, until 40 MPa for the specimens activated with the slurry system.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

References

  1. Lirer S, Flora A, Evangelista A, Verdolotti L, Lavorgna M, Iannace S (2006) Ground Improv 10:135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Davidovits J (1994) In: Proceedings of the international conference on alkaline cements and concretes. Kiev, p 131

  3. Chengzhi Z, Aiquin W, Mingshu T, Xiaoyu L (1996) Cement Concrete Res 26:943

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. van Deventer JSJ, Provis JL, Duxson P, Lukey GC (2007) J Hazard Mater 139:506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Swanepoel JC, Strydom CA (2002) Appl Geochem 17:1143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Davidovits J (1982) U.S. Patent 4349486

  7. Weng L, Sagoe-Crentsil K, Brown T, Song S (2005) Mater Sci Eng B 117:163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Kostinco JA (1983) In: Proceedings of the ACS symposium series 218. Washington

  9. Davidovits J (1976) In: Proceedings of the IUPAC macromolecular symposium. Stockholm, Sweden

  10. Macdonald SA, Schardt CR, Masiello D, Simmons JH (2000) J Non-crystal Solids 275:72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Mcmillan P (1984) Am Mineral 69:645

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. van Jaarsveld JGS, van Deventer JSJ, Lukey GC (2003) Mater Lett 57:1272

  13. Handke M, Mozgawa W (1995) J Mol Struct 348:341

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Lee WKW, van Deventer JSJ (2002) Colloids Surf A: Physicochem Eng Aspects 211:46

    Google Scholar 

  15. Barbosa VFF, Mackenzie KJD, Thaumaturgo C (2000) Int J Inorg Mater 2:309

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Kerns L, Weinberg MC, Myers S, Assink R (1998) J Non-Cryst Solids 86:345

    Google Scholar 

  17. Phair JW, Smith JD, van Deventer JSJ (2003) Mater Lett 57:4356

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Murayama N, Yamamoto H, Shibata J (2002) Int J Miner Process 64:1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. De Wittel BM, Uytterhoeven B (1996) J Coll Interface Sci 181:200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. van Jaarsveld JGS, van Deventer JSJ, Lorenzen L (1998) Metall Mater Trans B 29B:283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. van Jaarsveld JGS, van Deventer JSJ (1999) Ind Eng Chem Res 38:3932

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. van Deventer JSJ, Phair JW (2002) Ind Eng Chem Res 41:4242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Phair JW, van Deventer JSJ (2002) Int J Miner Process 66:121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Sitarz M, Mozgawa W, Handke M (1997) J Mol Struct 404:193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Lee MH, Chen CF, Heine V, Klinowski J (1997) Chem Phys Lett 265:673

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Duxson P, Provis JL, Lukey GC, Separovic F, van Deventer JSJ (2005) Langmuir 21:3028

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Singh PS, Bastow T, Trigg M (2005) J Mater Sci 40:2040

    Google Scholar 

  28. Lippmaa E, Magi M, Samoson A, Engelhardt G, Grimmer AR (1980) J Am Chem Soc 102:4889

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deparment of Materials and Production Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, P.le Tecchio 80, 80125, Naples, Italy

    Letizia Verdolotti

  2. Institute of Composite and Biomedical Materials, National Research Council of Italy, P.le E. Fermi 1, 80055, Portici, Naples, Italy

    Salvatore Iannace & Marino Lavorgna

  3. Biotec-Agro CR ENEA Trisaia, SS 106 Jonica Km 419.5, 75026, Rotondella, Matera, Italy

    Raffaele Lamanna

Authors
  1. Letizia Verdolotti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Salvatore Iannace
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marino Lavorgna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Raffaele Lamanna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Letizia Verdolotti.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Verdolotti, L., Iannace, S., Lavorgna, M. et al. Geopolymerization reaction to consolidate incoherent pozzolanic soil. J Mater Sci 43, 865–873 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-007-2201-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-007-2201-x

Keywords

  • Geopolymer
  • Sodium Aluminate
  • NaAlO2
  • Tetrahedral Unit
  • Uniaxial Strength