Author(s)

Henrik L. Funke, Sandra Gelbrich, Lothar Kroll

Institute of Lightweight Structures, Technische Universitat Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany.

This paper reports the development of an Alkali Activated Binder (AAB) with an emphasis on the performance and the durability of the AAB-matrix. For the development of the matrix, the reactive components granulated slag and coal fly ash were used, which were alkali activated with a mixture of sodium hydroxide (2 - 10 mol/l) and aqueous sodium silicate solution (SiO₂/Na₂O molar ratio: 2.1) at ambient temperature. A sodium hydroxide concentration of 5.5 mol/l revealed the best compromise between setting time and mechanical strengths of the AAB. With this sodium hydroxide concentration, the compressive and the 3-point bending tensile strength of the hardened AAB were 53.4 and 5.5 MPa respectively after 14 days. As a result of the investigation of the acid resistance, the AAB-matrix showed a very high acid resistance in comparison to ordinary Portland cement concrete. In addition, the AAB had a high frost resistance, which had been validated by the capillary suction, internal damage and freeze thaw test with a relative dynamic E-Modulus of 93% and a total amount of scaled material of 30 g/m² after 28 freeze-thaw cycles (exposure class: XF3).

Alkali Activated Binder, Geopolymer, Durability, Chemical Resistance

Funke, H. , Gelbrich, S. and Kroll, L. (2016) An Alkali Activated Binder for High Chemical Resistant Self-Leveling Mortar. Open Journal of Composite Materials, 6, 132-142. doi: 10.4236/ojcm.2016.64013.