International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)

Volume 8, Issue 1, January 2017, pp. 717722 Article ID: IJCIET_08_01_084

Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=1
ISSN Print: 0976-6308
6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316
0976

IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed

STUDY ON THE PROPERTIES OF FLY

FLY ASH BASED
GEO POLYMER CONCRETE WITH 18 MOLAR
N
NaOH ACTIVATOR
B. PRASANTHI
PG Student, Civil Engineering Department,
Koneru Lakshmaiah University, A. P, India

V. RANGA RAO
Associate Professor, Civil Engineering Department,
Koneru Lakshmaiah University, A. P, India

ABSTRACT
Background/Objectives: Geo polymer concrete using Fly ash is introduced to reduce the
usage of OPC in concrete, which is the main cause for the emission of CO2. The emission of
CO2 results in the global warming and greenhouse effect all over the world. Fly ash which is
one of the most important by product obtained from the thermal power plants is used as the
basic material for activation by the process of geo polymerization to the concrete binder to
completely replace the pozzalona portland cement (PPC). In this paper study on the behaviour
of fly ash basedd geopolymer concrete is done. For the process of activation of silicon and
aluminum content which are present in fly ash a combination of Na2SiO3 and NaOH alkaline
activators of 18 Molarity were used. Methods: The method adopted in this paper is geo
polymerization.
erization. The geo polymer specimens were used at ambient room temperature for a
period of 3 and 7 days and later the mechanical properties of geo polymer concrete are tested
using compressive, flexural and split tensile strength tests. Findings: As the alkaline
al activator
ratio increases from 1:2 to 1:3 the compressive strength, Split tensile strength and flexural
strength increases for 3days, 7days and 28days.
Key words: fly ash, geopolymer concrete, molarity, alkaline solution, polymerization.
Cite this Article: B. Prasanthi and V. Ranga Rao,
Rao Study on the Properties of Fly Ash based
Geo Polymer Concrete with 18 Molar NaOH Activator.
Activator International Journal of Civil
Engineering and Technology,, 8(1), 2017, pp. 717722.
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1. INTRODUCTION
Concrete is commonly used construction material across the world .Generally Ordinary Portland
Cement (OPC) is utilized as the binding material for the preparation of concrete. The demand for OPC
is increasing day to day with the improvement in the advanced technology. The process of production
of cement liberates huge amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere (1tone of cement production releases

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 B. Prasanthi and V. Ranga Rao

1ton of CO2). The fly ash is obtained from the thermal power plants by the Combustion of the coal and
is considered as the waste material is used in this study effectively as a complete replacement of
cement in concrete known as geo polymer concrete. The vast increase of levels CO2 in the atmosphere
researchers have concentrated for the development of cement less concrete.In 1978, French researcher
Davidovits invented the concept of geo-polymerisation with the help of kaoliniteand alkali activators.
In this study the geopolymer binders used are fly ash (class F), Na2SiO3 and NaOH activators. In fly
ash pozzlanas are activated by the utilisation of alkaline solutions to form as a binder hence the
complete replacement of cement from concrete is done.The curing of geopolymer concrete is
important to specify the strength properties and the curing adopted in this study is the ambient curing.
This paper summarizes the behaviour of fly ash based geopolymer concrete with the specified molarity
of NaOH activator.

2. OBJECTIVES
Geo polymer concrete using Fly ash is introduced to reduce the usage of OPC in concrete, which is the
main cause for the emission of CO2. The emission of CO2 results in the global warming and
greenhouse effect all over the world. Fly ash which is one of the most important by product obtained
from the thermal power plants is used as the basic material for activation by the process of geo
polymerization to the concrete binder to completely replace the pozzalona portland cement (PPC) .In
this paper study on the behaviour of fly ash based geopolymer concrete is done. For the process of
activation of silicon and aluminum content which are present in fly ash a combination of Na2SiO3 and
NaOH alkaline activators of 18 Molarity were used.

3. MATERIALS
3.1. Fly ash
In this study class F (low calcium) fly ash having large quantity of aluminum oxides (Al2O3) and
silicon dioxides (SiO2) which contributes for the reaction of alkaline solution for the process of
geopolymerisation is taken from Vijayawada thermal power station. The chemical composition is
shown in the below table 1.

Table 1 Chemical composition of fly ash

Chemical composition Fly ash (wt. %)

Al2O3 27
SiO2 48.8
CaO 6.2
Fe2O3 10.2
K 2O 0.85
MgO 1.4
Na2O 0.37
P2O5 1.2
TiO2 1.3
BaO 0.19
SrO 0.16
SO3 0.22
Loss On ignition 1.7

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 Study on the Properties of Fly Ash based Geo Polymer Concrete with 18 Molar NaOH Activator

3.2. Coarse aggregate

Crushed granite that is retained on as IS sieve of size 4.75 is used.

3.3. Fine aggregate

Natural river sand of size less than 4.75mm is used.

3.4. Alkaline Liquids

The common alkaline liquids used in geo-polymerization process are a combination of sodium
hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate. In this paper these activators are used.

4. METHODOLOGY
4.1. Preparation of Alkaline Activators
To activate the pozzalona present in fly ash a combination of Na2SiO3,NaOH was used. The main
cause to select Sodium based activators in this study is that the sodium based activators are cheaper
when compared to potassium activators. The NaOH solution is prepared for 18Molarity i.e. 720g of
sodium hydroxide flakes or pellets are dissolved in 1 liter of water to prepare the solution. This
solution must be prepared before 24hours of casting. Na2SiO3is added to NaOH solution before 20min
of casting and it is mixed properly.

4.2. Mix Proportion

For 18 Molarity geopolymer mix the 3 different proportions of Na2SiO3 and NaOH were considered
i.e. 1:2, 1:2.5, and 1:3. The ratio of activator liquid to fly ash content is 0.45.

Table 2 Quantities of materials used for the Geopolymer concrete

Activat Fly ash NaOH Na2SiO3 Fine Coarse Alkaline
or kg/m3 Solution Solution Aggregate Aggregate liquid to fly
Ratios kg/m3 kg/m3 kg/m3 kg/m3 ash ratio
kg/m3
1:2 55.8 8.38 16.75 72.9 170.1 0.45
1:2.5 55.8 7.28 17.95 72.9 170.1 0.45
1:3 55.8 6.29 18.7 72.9 170.1 0.45

4.3. Geopolymer concrete preparation

Fly ash andthe aggregates were mixed in a dry pan for 3mintues and then the activator solutions were
added to the dry mix material and wet mixing is continued for another 4mintues. It is observed that the
fresh fly ash based geopolymer concrete is cohesive and the concrete is dark in Colour.

4.4. Preparation of moulds

After mixing the geopolymer concrete the cubical moulds of size 150mm150mm150mm were
casted to study the compressive strength for a period of 3 and 7 days. For finding out the flexural
strength 500mm100mm100mm size of beams were casted and are tested. For split tensile strength
the cylinders of 150mm diameter and 300mm height were casted.

4.5. Curing
The test specimens were demoulded after 24 hours of casting and kept for ambient curing at room
temperature (240C) until the tests conducted for 3days, 7days and 28days.

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 B. Prasanthi and V. Ranga Rao

5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

SSIONS
5.1. Compressive Strength Test
The cube specimens are tested in compressive testing machine to determine their compressive
strengths at the age of 3days, 7days and 28days ofambient curing. The above graph shows that as the
ratios of the alkaline activators are increasing from1:2to 1:3 for the specimens which are cured at
under direct sun light the compressive strength of cubes in increasing.

Figure 1 Compressive strength for cubes

5.2. Flexural Strength Test

The beam specimens are tested using two point loading method as per I.S.516-
I.S.516-1959 to determine their
Flexural strengths at the age of 3days, 7days and 28days of their ambient
ambient curing. The figure2 shows
that as ratios of the alkaline activators are increasing from1:2 to 1:3then the flexural strength is
increasing for the specimens which are cured at under direct sun light.

Figure 2 Flexural strength test for beams

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 Study on the Properties off Fly Ash based Geo Polymer Concrete with 18 Molar
olar NaOH
Na Activator

5.3. Split
lit Tensile Strength Test
The split tensile strength for geopolymer concrete is only the fraction of compressive strength, as in
case of Ordinary Portland cement concrete. The variation of results are represented in figure3 and it is
observed that as the alkaline
lkaline activators ratio increases form 1:2 to 1:3 for any grade then the split
tensile strength also increases.

Figure 3 Split tensile strength for cylinders

6. CONCLUSIONS
6.1. Compressive Strength:
As the alkaline activator ratio increases from 1:2 to
to 1:3 the Compressive Strength increases from 17%
to 78% for 3days, increases from 5% to 19% for 7days and increases from 11% to 25% for 28days.
The percentage increases in the compressive strength for 3days to 7days varies in the range of 50% to
70%.

6.2. Flexural Strength:

As the alkaline activator ratio increases from 1:2 to 1:3 the Flexural Strength increases from 0% to 42%
for 7days and increases from 5% to 16% for 28days.
The percentage increases in the Flexural strength for 3days to 7days varies in the
t range of 0% to 100%.

6.3. Split tensile Strength:

As the alkaline activator ratio increases from 1:2 to 1:3 the Split tensile Strength increases from 38% to
45% for 3days, increases from 54% to 75% for 7days and increases from 54% to 90% for 28days.
The percentage increases in the Split tensile strength for 3days to 7days varies in the range of 23% to
31%.

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 B. Prasanthi and V. Ranga Rao

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