Glass Waste Based Geopolymers and Their Characteristics

Abstract

Inorganic polymer materials (Geopolymers) are synthesized using alumino-silicate sources as solid components with an alkaline solution. This material is used as an alternative for building materials and provides thermal protection as foaming materials. This paper presents the preparation of these materials by the reaction between glass waste (from brown color bottles BP) with sodium hydroxide NaOH and sodium aluminum (AN5) solutions as alkali activators. For the preparation of mortars (BP-N5 and BP-AN5), sand was used as aggregate. The compressive strengths were assessed (24 and 6 MPa) respectively before heat treatment, the hydrolytic stability (PH and conductivity) tests were performed. Furthermore, hardened mortars have been heated at very high temperatures in the range of 200℃ to 800℃ within two hours. Based on the nature of the foaming behavior of such materials, various variables have changed; (80-140) % volume increase and porosity rise through the process of heat treatment, particularly at 600℃ and 800℃. On the other hand, (3.5-7) % mass reduction occurred. It can be said that the more significant porosity with different geometrical configurations (sizes and shapes) of such materials can be considered as acoustic insulation and thermal materials.