Comparative study of the multistep thermal dehydration/decomposition of geopolymer pastes prepared using different active fillers

Abstract

The present study focused on the multistep thermal dehydration/decomposition process of geopolymer paste samples prepared using distinct active fillers, including fly ash, blast furnace slag, and metakaolin. Besides the lower water content of the geopolymer materials compared with conventional Portland cement, the thermal dehydration/decomposition occurs as the multistep process. Water evolution behavior is critical for assessing its potential application as a construction material in water-resistant environment. The thermal dehydration/decomposition kinetics also plays a pivotal role in evaluating the thermal stability of geopolymer materials. This article presents the kinetic behavior of the multistep thermal dehydration/decomposition of different geopolymer materials in a stream of dry N₂ or wet N₂ with varying water vapor pressures. This investigation was carried out through a systematic experimental approach and detailed kinetic analysis. This study revealed that, irrespective of the samples, the two-step thermal dehydration/decomposition process occurred after the desorption of absorbed water. The kinetics of the initial reaction process, which is attributed to the thermal dehydration of bounded water, exhibited sensitivity to atmospheric water vapor. In contrast, the kinetics of the subsequent process of the thermal dehydroxylation of the binding phase demonstrated practically invariable behavior, irrespective of the atmospheric water vapor pressure. The latter was identified as a distinctive attribute of the irreversible process and as a pivotal process in determining the thermal stability of geopolymer materials.