article · Open Ceramics
Geopolymer concrete is an inorganic material produced in an alkaline environment from alumina-silica gel, but its widespread practical use in on-site construction has been hindered by the requirement for high-temperature curing. Research tested replacing 5% to 20% of fly ash with sugarcane bagasse ash in geopolymer concrete mixtures cured at ambient and varied temperatures. Performance was assessed through slump, compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexure tests, alongside microstructural examinations using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Incorporating sugarcane bagasse ash reduced the necessity for heat curing. After 28 days of curing at ambient room temperature, the hybrid mixtures achieved compressive strengths between 40 and 56 MPa. These outcomes demonstrate that sugarcane bagasse ash can effectively replace fly ash, offering a route to lower energy consumption and lessen environmental burdens during concrete production.
Traditional geopolymer concrete often demands energy-intensive heat curing, limiting its use outside specialised precast factory settings. Demonstrating that sugarcane bagasse ash enables ambient curing while achieving high compressive strengths offers a practical pathway for on-site construction. Utilizing agricultural waste like bagasse ash alongside industrial by-products also reduces energy consumption and the environmental footprint of building materials.
This laboratory-tested approach could interest concrete manufacturers and construction contractors seeking to deploy geopolymer concrete directly on building sites. By replacing up to 20% of fly ash with sugarcane bagasse ash, producers can bypass specialised heating equipment while still reaching structural-grade strengths. The technology represents applied research tested at the laboratory scale, with demonstrated mechanical performance up to 56 MPa under ambient curing conditions.
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Geopolymers are a type of inorganic substance that is created in an alkaline environment using alumina-silica gel. Although extensive research has been conducted on geopolymer concrete's mechanical and durability properties, its practical usage is limited by the constraints of attaining optimal curing conditions and the demand for high-temperature curing. These factors make it challenging to use geopolymer concrete in on-site construction projects. The current study aimed to explore the feasibility of substituting fly ash (FA) with sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) in geopolymer concrete (GPC) cured at ambient temperature, as a means of resolving this problem. SCBA was utilized as a partial replacement for FA, ranging from 5% to 20%. Various tests, including slump test, compressive strength (Cst) test, tensile strength (Sst) test, and flexure (Fst) tests, were performed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were used to study the microstructure. Furthermore, the effect of various curing temperatures was investigated. The results show that substituting SCBA for FA can reduce the necessity of curing at high temperatures. Furthermore, following a 28-day period of curing at ambient temperature, the geopolymer concrete mixtures made with FA-SCBA exhibited compressive strengths ranging from 40 to 56 MPa. These results imply that SCBA could be a suitable substitute for FA in GPC applications, reducing energy usage and environmental effects.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.oceram.2024.100616
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