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Effects of seeding nucleation agent on geopolymerization process of fly-ash geopolymer

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Abstract

Geopolymer, an inorganic aluminosilicate material activated by alkaline medium solution, can perform as an inorganic adhesive. The geopolymer technology has a viability to substitute traditional concrete made of portland cement (PC) because replacing PC with fly ash leads to reduced carbon dioxide emissions from cement productions and reduced materials cost. Although fly ash geopolymer stimulates sustainability, it is slow geopolymerization reaction poses a challenge for construction technology in term of practicality. The development of increasing geopolymerization reaction rate of the geopolymer is needed.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate seeding nucleation agents (NA) of fly ash geopolymer that can accelerate polymerization reactions such that the geopolymer can be widely used in the construction industry. Results from the present study indicate that the use of NA (i.e., Ca(OH)2) can be potentially used to increase geopolymerization reaction rate and improve performance characteristics of the fly ash geopolymer product.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the school of Civil and Construction Engineering at Oregon State University for some of the laboratory equipment in this study, Dr. Thomas Shellhammer, Department of Food Science & Technology, Oregon State University for advising the use of the particle size analyzer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Siam Cement Group, Building and Construction Materials, Saraburi, 18260, Thailand

    Lapyote Prasittisopin

  2. Faculty of Engineering, Bangkokthonburi University, Bangkok, 10170, Thailand

    Issara Sereewatthanawut

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  1. Lapyote Prasittisopin
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Correspondence to Issara Sereewatthanawut.

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Prasittisopin, L., Sereewatthanawut, I. Effects of seeding nucleation agent on geopolymerization process of fly-ash geopolymer. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng. 12, 16–25 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-016-0373-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-016-0373-7

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