This work describes the role of chemical composition and curing conditions in geopolymer strength, leachability of chemical elements and porosity. The study focuses on geopolymer material prepared ...from calcined kaolinite claystone, which is not studied frequently as a raw material for geopolymer production, although it has a high application potential as it is easily commercially available and allows preparation of geopolymers with low viscosity. The composition of geopolymers and their curing methods were selected considering their ease of use in the praxis. Therefore, the potassium water glass itself was used as alkali activator without any KOH or NaOH addition. Chemical composition was changed only by the density of water glass in the range of 1.2 to 1.6 g·cm−3. Geopolymers were cured at a temperature within the range of 5 °C–70 °C to speed up the solidification process as well as by microwave radiation. High compressive strengths were obtained for geopolymers with the highest densities of the water glass (1.5 and 1.6 g·cm−3) in dependence on various curing conditions. Higher strengths were achieved in the case of samples where the solidification was not accelerated. The samples cured at lower temperatures (5 °C) showed lower porosity compared to the other curing types. The lowest leachability of Si and alkalis was reached for the samples with water glass density 1.5 g·cm−3.
This work presents carbon fabric reinforced aluminosilicate matrix composites with content of boric acid, where boron replaces aluminum ions in the matrix and can increase the mechanical properties ...of composites. Five different amounts of boric acid were added to the alkaline activator for preparing six types (including alkaline activator without boric acid) of composites by the prepreg method. The influence of boric acid content in the matrix on the tensile strength, Young’s modulus and interlaminar strength of composites was studied. Attention was also paid to the influence of boron content on the behavior of the matrix and on the internal structure of composites, which was monitored using a scanning electron microscope. The advantage of the aluminosilicate matrix is its resistance to high temperatures; therefore, tests were also performed on samples affected by temperatures of 400–800 °C. The interlaminar strength obtained by short-beam test were measured on samples exposed to 500 °C either hot (i.e. measured at 500 °C) or cooled down to room temperature. The results showed that the addition of boron to the aluminosilicate matrix of the prepared composites did not have any significant effect on their mechanical properties. The presence of boron affected the brittleness and swelling of the matrix and the differences in mechanical properties were evident in samples exposed to temperatures above 500 °C. All six prepared composites showed tensile strength higher than 320 MPa at laboratory temperature. The boron-free composite had the highest strength 385 MPa. All samples showed a tensile strength higher than 230 MPa at elevated temperatures up to 500 °C.
A metakaolinite-based geopolymer binder was prepared by using calcined claystone as the main raw material and potassium as the alkaline activator. Chamotte was added (65 vol%) to form geopolymer ...composites. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) was used to adjust the molar ratio of K/Al and the effect of K/Al on thermo-mechanical properties of geopolymer composites was investigated. This study aimed to analyze the effect of K/Al ratio and exposure to high temperatures (up to 1200 °C) on the compressive and flexural strengths, phase composition, pore size distribution, and thermal dilatation. With an increasing K/Al ratio, the crystallization temperature of the new phases (leucite and kalsilite) decreased. Increasing content of K/Al led to a decline in the onset temperature of the major shrinkage. The average pore size slightly increased with increasing K/Al ratio at laboratory temperature. Mechanical properties of geopolymer composites showed degradation with the increase of the K/Al ratio. The exception was the local maximum at a K/Al ratio equal to one. The results showed that the compressive strength decreases with increasing temperature. For thermal applications above 600 °C, it is better to use samples with lower K/Al ratios (0.55 or 0.70).
In this study, the effect of different types of aluminosilicates on the thermo-mechanical properties of metakaolinite-based geopolymer binders and composites was examined. The metakaolinite-based ...geopolymer binders and composites were produced from three different types of aluminosilicates (one metakaolin and two calcined claystones) and a potassium alkaline activator. Chamotte was added as a filler, amounting to 65% by volume, to create geopolymer composites. Geopolymer binders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, rotary rheometer and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties, thermal dilatation and thermal conductivity were investigated on geopolymer composites with three different aluminosilicates before and after exposure to high temperatures (up to 1200 °C). The results showed that the geopolymer binders prepared from calcined claystones had a lower dynamic viscosity (787 and 588 mPa·s) compared to the geopolymer binders prepared from metakaolin (1090 mPa·s). Geopolymer composites based on metakaolin had lower shrinkage (0.6%) and higher refractoriness (1520 °C) than geopolymers from calcined claystones (0.9% and 1.5%, 1500 °C and 1470 °C). Geopolymers based on calcined kaolinitic claystones are a promising material with higher compressive (95.2 and 71.5 MPa) and flexural strength (12.4 and 10.7 MPa) compared to geopolymers based on metakaolin (compressive strength 57.7 MPa).
Six matrices based on alkali-activated aluminosilicate with different amounts of potassium phosphate were prepared for the production of six-layer composite plates. The addition of potassium ...phosphate in the matrix was 2 wt%, 4 wt%, 6 wt%, 8 wt% and 10 wt% of its total weight. The matrix without the potassium phosphate was also prepared. The aim of this study was to determine whether this addition has an effect on the tensile strength or Young's modulus of composites at temperatures up to 800 °C. Changes in the thickness and weight of the samples after this temperature were also monitored. Carbon plain weave fabric was chosen for the preparation of the composites. The results show that under normal conditions, the addition of potassium phosphate has no significant effect on the mechanical properties; the highest measured tensile strengths were around 350 MPa. However, at temperatures of 600 °C and 800 °C the addition of potassium phosphate had a positive effect, with the tensile strength of the composites being up to 300% higher than the composites without the addition. The highest measured values of composites after one hour at 600 °C were higher than 100 MPa and after 1 h at 800 °C higher than 85 MPa.
The present study focused on investigating the differences in properties between calcined and milled aluminosilicates with different particle size distributions. Two types of clay, i.e., kaolin and ...kaolinitic claystone, were subjected to calcination at 750 °C, and subsequent milling to obtain different fractions with distinct particle size distributions. These fractions were then combined with a potassium alkaline activator and quartz sand in a 50:50 weight ratio to form a geopolymer composite. The geopolymer binders were then characterized using a mercury intrusion porosimeter (MIP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a rotary rheometer. Mechanical tests were conducted on the geopolymer composites prepared from aluminosilicates with varying particle size distributions. The findings indicated that aluminosilicates with a finer particle size distribution exhibited higher levels of dissolved aluminum (10,000 mg/kg) compared to samples with coarser particle size distributions (1000 mg/kg). Additionally, as the particle size distribution decreased, the dynamic viscosity of the geopolymer binders increased, while the average pore size decreased. Finally, the mechanical properties of the geopolymer composites derived from both tested aluminosilicates demonstrated a decline in performance as the mean particle size increased beyond 10 µm.
The, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polycarbonate (PC) flat substrates were treated by the DBD plasma in air for 1 s, 2 s and 3 s. The adhesion of two types of paints (water based and ...solvent based) was studied by the pull-off test. The other methods were utilized to gain the information about the surface of the samples. The measurement of contact angle of water and Arcotest (commercial test using set of fluids with defined surface tension) and the XPS technique were used to obtain the chemical composition of the sample surface. The pull-off test confirmed increased adhesion of both types of paints, which is related to oxygen content confirmed by XPS. The aged (60 days) samples keep their enhanced properties although some return to initial state was observed.
The aim of this work is the study of application of the synergistic effects of various advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in waste water treatment. Attention is paid to decomposition of chemical ...compounds resistant to biodegradation. These chemical compounds are commonly based on pharmaceutical products, pesticides, surfactants and dyes.
In our contribution, the synergistic effect of simultaneously applied photocatalyst and low temperature atmospheric plasma or UV light on decomposition of model chemicals (Acid Orange 7, Hydrocortisone, Verapamil hydrochloride) was studied. TiO2 was used as the photocatalyst. Model chemicals with photocatalytic active TiO2 were exposed to atmospheric plasma discharge (Gliding Arc) or UV source in order to improve generation of active hydroxyl groups and oxidation processes. The relations between different effects of AOPs during chemicals decomposition process were analyzed.
It was observed that decomposition of model chemicals is strongly improved by synergistic effect of: (i) photocatalytic reaction occurring on photocatalyst TiO2, (ii) presence of oxidative radicals, (iii) presence of wide-range UV.
•Advanced oxidation processes (AOP) system is able to decompose resistant organic chemicals.•AOP system is based on atmospheric plasma discharge (APD) and TiO2 photocatalyst.•Acid orange 7 and verapamil hydrochloride were successfully decomposed using AOP system.•AOP (photocatalysis) was successfully applied for decomposition of hydrocortisone.•Decomposition is strongly improved by synergistic effect of photocatalysis and APD.
In this work, geopolymer foam composites containing waste basalt fibre (10, 30, and 50%wt) were exposed to elevated temperatures of 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000
C. With an increase in high ...temperature, the geopolymer foams material exhibits a decrease in compressive strength and bending strength. When heated above 600
C, geopolymer foams materials exhibit a significant reduction in mechanical properties. It shows clearly with the naked eye that surface cracks in case of samples containing 10% of basalt filler. However, when increasing fillers with basalt fibres up to 30% and 50%, the cracking of the sample surface is no longer visible to the naked eye. Especially when the temperature increases, the mechanical properties also increase without decreasing in the sample of 50% by weighing to the binder. The results show that reinforcing the geopolymer foams with basalt ground fibre improves the mechanical properties at high temperatures.
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