Ceramics-Silikáty 54, (2) 160 - 168 (2010) |
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INVESTIGATING THE POSSIBILITY OF UTILIZING LOW KAOLINITIC CLAYS IN PRODUCTION OF GEOPOLYMER BRICKS
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Mohsen Qhatani 1, Mostafa Nasser Yossef 1,2
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1 Materials and Corrosion Lab (MCL), Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Taif University,
888 Hawayia, Taif, Saudi Arabia
2 Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, , Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
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Keywords: Clays, Brick, Geopolymer, Compressive strength, Water absorption
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Low kaolinitic clays raw materials were chemically and mineralogically characterized. The manufacture of geopolymer
bricks based on thermally treated clays (700°C for 2 hours) and NaOH solution or alkaline sodium silicate solutions were
investigated. The activation process was conducted at different temperatures (room temperature, 75°C and 150°C). The
phases formed were studied by X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The amorphous geopolymer
phase was formed at all processing temperatures. The mechanical properties depended on amounts of active aluminum
silicates in the starting material, the type of activator and the processing temperature. The results showed that two of the
studied clays have adequate characteristics for geopolymer brick manufacture when activated with NaOH solution. However,
all studied clays were suitable for geopolymer brick manufacture if activated with sodium silicate solution. Geopolymer
bricks with low production costs and low production technology could be produced from clays deposits in Saudi Arabia. |
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