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Influence of curing schedule on the integrity of geopolymers

  • Advances in Geopolymer Science & Technology
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Abstract

The curing at ambient and controlled relative humidity (RH) with mild heating (40–60°C) of a metakaolinite-based geopolymer of molar ratios Si/Al and Na/Al of 2 and 1 respectively was studied. To obtain these geopolymers in a crack-free state, rapid drying during curing should be avoided. Curing at a lower RH (e.g. 30%) is preferable to that at a higher RH (e.g. 70%). Curing in an RH oven does not offer any advantage over curing at ambient followed by mild heating (40–60°C) in sealed containers. The compositions of the geopolymers were then varied somewhat to see the effect on open porosity for the same curing schedule. The compositions with Si/Al = 1.86 and Na/Al < 0.8 had an increased tendency to crack, probably due to the larger water loss during curing. The lowest open porosity of <1% was obtained for a geopolymer of composition Si/Al = 2.14 and Na/Al = 0.87, but this developed some cracks after 1 year. However, the geopolymer of composition, Si/Al = 2, Na/Al = 1, on which most of the work was carried out when cured correctly did not crack even after 1 year.

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Acknowledgements

We thank David Cassidy, Joel Davis, Elizabeth Drabarek, Hind Essadaoui, Satoshi Kiyama, Halina Kuczma and Phil Walls for technical contributions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Nuclear science and Technology Organisation, Private Mail Bag 1, Menai, NSW, 2234, Australia

    D. S. Perera, O. Uchida, E. R. Vance & K. S. Finnie

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  1. D. S. Perera
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  2. O. Uchida
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  3. E. R. Vance
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  4. K. S. Finnie
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Correspondence to D. S. Perera.

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Perera, D.S., Uchida, O., Vance, E.R. et al. Influence of curing schedule on the integrity of geopolymers. J Mater Sci 42, 3099–3106 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-0533-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-0533-6

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