Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Stabilisation of Clay Mixtures and Soils by Alkali Activation

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Earthen Dwellings and Structures

Abstract

Alkali activation of clay minerals in soil can be used to form a stabilising phase, such as a geopolymer. Because this requires low-temperature curing, typically <100 °C, it has the potential to be a lower-energy method than fired brick or even cement or lime stabilisation. Whilst this has been demonstrated for individual clay minerals and soils, it is unknown how effective this stabilisation method is for naturally occurring soils from around the world. The potential for stabilisation by alkali activation of a given clay mixture or soil could be approximately, but not fully, predicted from its clay mineralogical composition.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Autef A, Joussein E, Gasgnier G, Rossignol S (2012) Role of the silica source on the geopolymerization rate. J Non-Cryst Solids 358(21):2886–2893

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbosa VFF, MacKenzie KJD, Thaumaturgo C (2000) Synthesis and characterisation of materials based on inorganic polymers of alumina and silica: sodium polysialate polymers. Int J Inorg Mater 2:309–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buchwald A, Zellmann HD, Kaps C (2011) Condensation of aluminosilicate gels—model system for geopolymer binders. J Non-Cryst Solids 357(5):1376–1382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Criado M, Fernández-Jiménez A, Palomo A (2007) Alkali activation of fly ash: effect of the SiO2/Na2O ratio: Part I: FTIR study. Microporous Mesoporous Mater 106:180–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davidovits J (2011) Geopolymer chemistry and applications, 3rd edn. Institut Geopolymere, Saint-Quentin, Saint-Quentin

    Google Scholar 

  • Diop MB, Grutzeck MW (2008) Low temperature process to create brick. Constr Build Mater 22:1114–1121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duxson P, Fernández-Jiménez A, Provis JL, Lukey GC, Palomo A, van Deventer JSJ (2007a) Geopolymer technology: the current state of the art. J Mat Sci 42:2917–2933

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duxson P, Mallicoat SW, Lukey GC, Kriven WM, van Deventer JSJ (2007b) The effect of alkali and Si/Al ratio on the development of mechanical properties of metakaolin-based geopolymers. Colloids Surf, A 292:8–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haines SH, van der Pluijm BA (2008) Clay quantification and Ar–Ar dating of synthetic and natural gouge: application to the Miocene Sierra Mazatán detachment fault, Sonora, Mexico. J Struct Geol 30:525–538

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heath A, Paine K, McManus M (2014) Minimising the global warming potential of clay based geopolymers. J Clean Prod 78:75–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khale D, Chaudhary R (2007) Mechanism of geopolymerization and factors influencing its development: a review. J Mat Sci 42:729–746

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh A, Heath A, Patureau P, Evernden M, Walker P (2018a) Alkali activation behaviour of un-calcined montmorillonite and illite clay minerals. Applied Clay Sci 166:250–261

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsh A, Heath A, Patureau P, Evernden M, Walker P (2018b) A mild conditions synthesis route to produce hydrosodalite from kaolinite, compatible with extrusion processing. Microporous Mesoporous Mater 264:125–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maskell D, Heath A, Walker P (2013) Laboratory scale testing of extruded earth masonry units. Mater Des 45:359–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore DM, Reynolds RC (1997) X-ray diffraction and the identification and analysis of clay minerals, 2nd ed. Oxford, Oxford University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Murmu AL, Patel A (2018) Towards sustainable bricks production: an overview. Constr Build Mater 165:112–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nickovic S, Vukovic A, Vujadinovic M, Djurdjevic V, Pejanovic G (2012) High-resolution mineralogical database of dust-productive soils for atmospheric dust modeling. Atmos Chem Phys 12(2):845–855

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pacheco-Torgal F, Castro-Gomes J, Jalali S (2008) Alkali-activated binders: a review. Part 2. About materials and binders manufacture. Constr Build Mater 22:1315–1322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Provis JL (2014) Geopolymers and other alkali activated materials: why, how, and what? Mater Struct 47:11–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Provis JL, Lukey GC, van Deventer JS (2005) Do geopolymers actually contain nanocrystalline zeolites? A reexamination of existing results. Chem Mater 17:3075–3085

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahier H, Simons W, Van Mele B, Biesemans M (1997) Low-temperature synthesized aluminosilicate glasses: Part III Influence of the composition of the silicate solution on production, structure and properties. J Mat Sci 32(9):2237–2247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu H, Van Deventer JSJ (2000) The geopolymerisation of alumino-silicate minerals. Int J Miner Process 59(3):247–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

    Alastair Marsh

  2. Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK

    Andrew Heath, Mark Evernden & Pete Walker

  3. Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK

    Pascaline Patureau

Authors
  1. Alastair Marsh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andrew Heath
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Pascaline Patureau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mark Evernden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Pete Walker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alastair Marsh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

    B. V. Venkatarama Reddy

  2. Centre for Sustainable Technologies, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

    Monto Mani

  3. Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, UK

    Pete Walker

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Marsh, A., Heath, A., Patureau, P., Evernden, M., Walker, P. (2019). Stabilisation of Clay Mixtures and Soils by Alkali Activation. In: Reddy, B., Mani, M., Walker, P. (eds) Earthen Dwellings and Structures. Springer Transactions in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-5883-8_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-5883-8_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-5882-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-5883-8

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation