Effect of various geopolymerization parameters on poor quality Afşin-Elbistan fly ash-based geopolymer concretes with ground granulated blast furnace slag

The utilization of Afşin-Elbistan fly ash (FA), which cannot be used in cement and concrete industry in production of geopolymers, has been studied with some preliminary trials. In this study, FA of Afşin-Elbistan thermal power plant, which does not fit any of FA classes according to ASTM C 618, was used as a geopolymer binder raw material. The main motivation of the study is to investigate the partial usability of this type of FA, which is not sufficient on its own and creates a large amount of waste, as a geopolymer raw material. FA was replaced with ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) by the ratios of 25% and 50% (by weights) in order to develop the properties of geopolymer concrete. Sodium silicate (SS) and sodium hydroxide (SH) (10 and 14 M) were used as activators. Three different activator to binder ratios (0.45, 0.55 and 0.65) and three SS/SH ratios (0.75, 1.0 and 1.5) were chosen. Unit weight, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and ultrasonic pulse velocity tests were performed for 28 and 60 days. In order to investigate the microstructure, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were performed. As a result, GGBFS incorporation enhanced the properties of Afşin-Elbistan FA-based geopolymer concrete. With the increase of GGBFS content, the compressive strength values increased. The highest strengths were obtained from 50% GGBFS groups. The results revealed that Afşin-Elbistan FA (AEFA), which has the highest waste reserve among the thermal power plant fly ashes in Turkey, could be evaluated as partial geopolymer raw material.

Graphical abstract