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Effect of Dolomite Replacement in Fly Ash Based Geopolymer Concrete

Lee Bee Gee1,a and Zarina Yahya2,b


1
Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Kampus Uniciti Alam,
Padang Besar, Perlis, Malaysia
2
Center of Excellence Geopolymer & Green Technology (CEGeoGTech), School of Materials
Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), 01000, P.O. Box, D/A Pejabat Pos Besar,
Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia
a
bgeelee27@gmail.com, bzarinayahya@unimap.edu.my

Keywords: fly ash, geopolymer, dolomite, density, compressive strength, water absorption, flexural
strength

Abstract. In Malaysia, the amount of fly ash produced by electric power station is increased yearly.
Coal combustion in power plants at high temperatures and pressures generates various types of ash.
The production of fly ash had bring some negative impacts on the environment. However, it could be
reuse as binder in geopolymer concrete which would help to resolve the problem related to
environmental pollution. While, dolomite is a common mineral rock which is relatively inexpensive
and also abundant in Malaysia. It is composed of calcium magnesium carbonate which has similar
characteristics of cement. This study investigate the influence of dolomite powder on the mechanical
properties of fly ash based geopolymer concrete. The geopolymer concrete properties such as density,
compressive strength, water absorption, and flexural strength have been studied. In this research,
sodium silicate and 12 Molar of NaOH was used as alkaline activator to synthesis the fly ash in the
manufacturing of geopolymer concrete. The ratio of fly ash to alkaline activator is 1.5, whereas ratio
of sodium silicate to NaOH is 2.5 for all geopolymer concrete. The raw material is mixed together
with replacement of different proportion of dolomite, which is 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%. The
geopolymer concretes are then tested for its mechanical properties on the 3rd, 7th and 28th day. The
results shows that with 10% replacement of fine aggregate with dolomite powder increased the
compressive and flexural strength of the geopolymer concrete. The maximum compressive strength
obtained on the 3rd, 7th and 28th day are 11.8 MPa, 32.5 MPa and 70.1 MPa by the specimens with
10% replacement of dolomite. While, the maximum flexural strength obtained on the 7th and 28th day
are 2.773 MPa and 5.353 MPa by the beams specimens with 10% replacement of dolomite.

Introduction
French professor Davidovits (1994) presented that in the production of geopolymer concrete, alkali
activator is used to react with the silicon (Si) and the aluminium (Al) in the source materials. Source
materials could be from natural minerals and also by-product materials. Examples of source materials
are kaolinite, clays, fly ash, rice husk ash, silica fume and slag. He formed the word ‘Geopolymer’ to
represent these binder as the chemical reaction which takes place is a polymerization process.
Geopolymer is an environmental friendly cementitious binder with many superior properties, such as
high early strength, low shrinkage and also excellent thermal and chemical resistance [1].
The common properties of geopolymer concrete (GC) are that it sets at room temperature,
non-toxic, long life span, higher water resistance, excellent heat and chemical resistance and also
good strength development. The research done has shown that geopolymer concrete is 1.5 times
higher compressive strength than that of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) concrete. Moreover,
experimental result shown that geopolymer concrete has a high early strength. It also has high
workability which same as that of OPC concrete [2].
Pollution has been caused by industrial waste by-product which generated from coal industry
called ash in Indian thermal power stations. Combustion of coal produced ash and it is categorised
into two main types based on its characteristics, which are fly ash and bottom ash [3]. Studies has
done on the mechanical properties of blended high volume fly ash cement concrete. The test result
showed that the use of high volume fly ash cements enhance the resistance of concrete against the
intrusion of chloride ion [4].
Dolomite is use in many fields of application, mainly in construction industries due to its
economic beneficial and excellent physical, mineralogical and chemical properties. Dolomite or
calcium magnesium carbonate which in term of CaMg(CO3)2, known as sedimentary layers in many
regions and as the products of local metamorphism of carbonate mineral rocks [5]. The application
of dolomite includes in the manufacture of ornamental stone, as a raw material in the manufacture of
cement and also as magnesium oxide for refractories. Dolomite belongs to the family of carbonate
rocks. They are the fundamental raw materials in the production of cement, lime and crushed
aggregates [6].

Experimental Procedure
Raw Materials. The aggregate used consisted of both coarse aggregates and fine aggregate which
made up about 70% of the mixture. The ratio of fine aggregate to coarse aggregate is 2 to 3. The
coarse aggregates used in the mixture consisting rocks that were between 12.5 mm to 20 mm in
diameter. The coarse aggregate was in saturated surface dry condition (SSD). While, the fine
aggregate used was Natural Malaysian sand with specific gravity of 2.61 and with the fineness
modulus of 2.76. The fine aggregate was used in dry condition [7]. In this research, 12 Molar of
NaOH was used. While, the sodium silicate solution with SiO2-to-Na2O ratio by mass of up to 2 is
used. The composition is made up of 29.4% of SiO2, 14.7% of Na2O and 55.9% of water by mass [8].
Class F fly ash which used in this study is obtained from CIMA, Perlis, Malaysia. Proportions of
dolomite chosen in this project are 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% of total mass of the geopolymer concrete.
The addition of the mass of dolomite powder is replacing the reduction of the mass of fine aggregate.

Mix Design and Process. The ratio of fly ash to alkaline activator was taken as 1.5, whereas the ratio
of sodium silicate solution to NaOH solution by mass was taken as 2.5. After the preparation of raw
materials, the mixing process is then carried out by using concrete mixer. The alkali activator are first
added then followed by fly ash to form concrete binder. After the binder is completely mixed, the
coarse aggregates, fine aggregates and dolomite powder are then added in simultaneously. Demolding
process is performed on the 2nd day after casting the specimens. After demolding, the specimen
immediately wrapped with a layer of plastic sheet for ambient curing at room temperature. Need to
mention Table 1 in the paragraph.

Table 1: Mix Proportion of Geopolymer Concrete


Cube Dolomite Dolomite NaOH Sodium Fly Aggregate
3 3
Samples (%) (kg/m ) (kg/m ) Silicate Ash Fine Coarse
(kg/m3) (kg/m3) Aggregate Aggregate
(kg/m3) (kg/m3)
Mix 1 0 0 101 253 528 739 1109
Mix 2 5 137 101 253 528 602 1109
Mix 3 10 273 101 253 528 466 1109
Mix 4 15 410 101 253 528 329 1109

Testing and Analyzing. Geopolymer concrete testing is then carried out based on the British
Standard (BS 1881). Density test is carried out by weighting the specimens before the curing process.
With the same specimens, the compressive strength testing is then carried out on the 3rd day, 7th day
and 28th day. While, the water absorption test is performed on the 7th day. In order to get a higher
accuracy of the results, there are total three specimens were tested. Taking the optimum ratio of
dolomite replacement, the flexural strength testing is then carried out on the 7th day and 28th day. Fig.
1 showed the curing process of geopolymer concrete at room temperature.

Fig. 1: Curing of geopolymer concrete in ambient condition

Result and Discussion


Density. The density test is carried out by weighting the specimens before ambient curing at room
temperature. The specimens which chosen to perform density test is the batch of specimens which
would be curing for 7th day. Fig. 2 showed that the densities of geopolymer concrete with 0%, 5%,
10% and 15% of dolomite replacement is range between 2400 kg/m3 to 2430 kg/m3. Specimens with
10% replacement of dolomite has the highest density (2430 kg/m3), whereas specimens with 0%
replacement of dolomite has the lowest density (2406.7 kg/m3). This is because the increased in the
dolomite powder content increased the density of the specimen due to present of fine grained dolomite
powder with brought to micro-filler effect. Moreover, the specific gravity of dolomite powder is 2.86
which is higher than that of local fine aggregate with 2.61. Therefore, density of concrete increased
when the percentage of replacement of fine aggregates with dolomite powder increased [9].

Fig. 2: Density of geopolymer concrete with different percentage of dolomite replacement


Compressive Strength. Compressive strength testing was conducted on fly ash based geopolymer
concrete with different percentage of dolomite replacement for 3rd day, 7th day and 28th day curing
period at room temperature that was about 30 ± 2 ºC. Based on Fig. 3, on 3rd day testing, specimens
with 10% replacement of dolomite has the highest compressive strength (11.8 MPa), whereas
specimens with 15% replacement of dolomite has the lowest compressive strength (9.9 MPa).
Meanwhile, on 7th days, specimens with 10% replacement of dolomite showed the maximum
compressive strength (32.5 MPa), whereas specimens with 15% replacement of dolomite showed the
minimum compressive strength (27.2 MPa). On 28th day, the specimen with 10% replacement of
dolomite showed the maximum compressive strength of 70.1 MPa. While, the specimen with 5%
replacement of dolomite showed the minimum compressive strength of 58 MPa on 28th days. This
may due to there is some error occur while casting the specimens with 5% replacement of dolomite.
Since the highest chemical composition in dolomite is CaO and SiO2, which is same as that in cement,
10% replacement of fine aggregate with dolomite powder may thus increase the strength of
geopolymer. A combination of CaO and SiO2 formed tricalcium silicate and dicalcium silicate which
are the main compounds that enhance the strength properties of concrete. Overall, the result showed
that the geopolymer concrete with 10% replacement of dolomite has the highest compressive strength
on 3rd, 7th and 28th testing days.

Fig. 3: Compressive strength of geopolymer concrete with different percentage of dolomite


replacement

Water Absorption. Fig. 4 showed that geopolymer concrete with 5% replacement of dolomite has
the lowest percentage of water absorption (1.42%) compare to specimens with 10% replacement of
dolomite (1.74%) although specimens with 10% replacement of dolomite has the highest compressive
strength. This pattern can be explained by comparing Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 where the unsatisfactory failure
of geopolymer concrete with 10% dolomite replacement is obviously more than serious that of 5%
dolomite replacement. While, specimen with 15% replacement of dolomite shows the highest
percentage of water absorption (2.16%). This is because dolomite structure has a higher porosity
when increased in percentage of replacement. The higher the percentage of water absorption rate of
concrete, the higher the porosity of the concrete.

Fig. 4 Percentage of water absorption of geopolymer concrete with different percentage


replacement of dolomite powder
(a) (b) (a) (b)

(c) (d) (c) (d)

Fig. 5: Unsatisfactory Failure of Geopolymer Fig. 6: Unsatisfactory Failure of Geopolymer


Concrete with 5% Dolomite Replacement Concrete with 10% Dolomite Replacement

Flexural Strength. There are total four beams were cast and tested in the laboratory over an effective
span of 500 mm. The geopolymer concrete beams were tested until failure. The testing was conducted
on fly ash based geopolymer concrete beam specimens with the optimum percentage of dolomite
replacement of 10% for 7th day and 28th day. Fig. 7 showed that beam specimen with 10%
replacement of dolomite has a higher flexural strength (5.353 MPa) than the control sample (5.0 MPa)
on 28th days. The higher flexural strength has been due to the better microstructure of the beam
specimens with dolomite additive [10].

Fig. 7 Flexural strength of geopolymer beam samples with 0% and 10% replacement of dolomite
on 7th and 28th days

Conclusion
This study presented the optimum replacement percentage of fine aggregate with dolomite powder is
10% at this replacement level where maximum compressive strength and maximum flexural strength
is obtained. Moreover, the specimens with 10% replacement of dolomite has the highest density.
However, the result in water absorption test showed that specimens with 5% of dolomite has lowest
porosity as it has the lowest percentage of water absorption.

References
[1] Davidovits, J. American Concrete Institute (1994), p. 383.
[2] Hardjito, D., & Rangan, B.V. Research Report GC1, Faculty of Engineering, Curtin
University of Technology, Perth (2005).
[3] Karthik, B.N., Phanendra Kumar, D.M., & Mayuri, B. International Journal of Scientific and
Research Publication, Vol. 3 (2013), p. 1.
[4] Wankhede, P.R., & Fulari, V.A. International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced
Engineering (IJETAE), Vol. 4 (2014), p. 284.
[5] Azimi, E.A., Abdullah, M.M.A.B., Ming, L.Y., Yong, H.C., Hussin, K., & Aziz, I.H. MATEC
Web of Conferences (2016), p. 78.
[6] Jide, M.A., & Sunday, A.A. Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and
Engineering, Vols. 1 (2013) p. 33.
[7] Memon, F.A., Nuruddin, M.F., Khan, S., Shafiq, N., & Ayub, T. Journal of Engineering Science
and Technology, Vol. 8 (2013), p. 44.
[8] Rangan, B.V. The Indian Concrete Journal, Vol. 88 (2014), p. 41.
[9] Salim, B. Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 25 (2011), p. 3301.
[10] Preethi, G., & Prince Arulraj, G. International Journal of Innovative Science, Engineering &
Technology, Vol. 2 (2015), p. 1083.

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