The Development of Rice husk ash and Bagasse Ash based geopolymeric Materials

Abstract

This research studies the potential for using waste ash from industrial and agricultural by–products as a geopolymer material. This paper presents a study of the resistance to chloride penetration and resistance to sulfuric acid of geopolymer mortar containing ground rice husk ash (RA) and ground bagasse ash (BA). Geopolymer mortars with constant liquid to ash ratio and similar flow were used for the tests. Compressive strength, porosity, chloride penetration test, Rapid migration test of chloride depth, chloride ion diffusion coefficient, immersion test of chloride depth and weight loss with impressed sulfuric acid were investigated. Test results show that the workable flow of geopolymer mortar was in the range of 110–115% and was dependent on the ratio by mass of sodium silicate to NaOH and the concentration of NaOH. Extra water was used to improve the workabililty. In case of rice husk ash geopolymer mortar, the geopolymer mortars with high strengths were obtained with concentration of NaOH of 15M with the sodium silicate to NaOH ratio by weight of 2.5. However, the bagasee ash geopolymer mortars with high strengths were obtained with concentration of NaOH of 10M with the sodium silicate to NaOH ratio by weight of 2.5. The use of rice husk ash and bagasse ash produces geopolymer mixes with good strength and resistance to acid and chloride penetration. The resistance to acid and chloride penetration is higher with an increase in the sodium silicate to NaOH ratio by weight of 2.5.