Developing Environmentally Sustainable and Cost-Effective Geopolymer Concrete with Improved Characteristics

Alexey N. Beskopylny, Sergey A. Stel’makh, Evgenii M. Shcherban’, Levon R. Mailyan, Besarion Meskhi, Diana El’shaeva and Valery Varavka
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Alexey N. Beskopylny: Department of Transport Systems, Faculty of Roads and Transport Systems, Don State Technical University, Gagarin, 1, 344003 Rostov-on-Don, Russia
Sergey A. Stel’makh: Department of Engineering Geology, Bases, and Foundations, Don State Technical University, 344000 Rostov-on-Don, Russia
Evgenii M. Shcherban’: Department of Engineering Geology, Bases, and Foundations, Don State Technical University, 344000 Rostov-on-Don, Russia
Levon R. Mailyan: Department of Roads, Don State Technical University, 344000 Rostov-on-Don, Russia
Besarion Meskhi: Department of Life Safety and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Life Safety and Environmental Engineering, Don State Technical University, Gagarin, 1, 344000 Rostov-on-Don, Russia
Diana El’shaeva: Department of Technological Engineering and Expertise in the Construction Industry, Don State Technical University, 344000 Rostov-on-Don, Russia
Valery Varavka: Research and Education Center “Materials”, Don State Technical University, Gagarin sq., 1, 344003 Rostov-on-Don, Russia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-20

Abstract: Improving the efficiency and quality of construction mainly depends on the cost of building materials, which is about 55–65% of total capital-construction costs. The study aimed to obtain geopolymer fine-grained concrete with improved quality characteristics that meet the construction field’s sustainable development criteria and that have environmental friendliness, economic efficiency, and advantages over competing analogues. The dependences of strength characteristics on various compositions of geopolymer concrete were obtained. It was found that the most effective activator is a composition of NaOH and Na 2 SiO 3 with a ratio of 1:2. The increase in the indicators of the obtained geopolymer concrete from the developed composition (4A) in relation to the base control (1X) was 17% in terms of compressive strength and 24% in tensile strength in bending. Polynomial equations were obtained showing the dependence of the change in the strength characteristics of geopolymer concrete on the individual influence of each of the activators. A significant effect of the composition of the alkaline activator on the strength characteristics of geopolymer fine-grained concrete was noted. The optimal temperature range of heat treatment of geopolymer concrete samples, contributing to the positive kinetics of compressive strength gain at the age of 28 days, was determined. The main technological and recipe parameters for obtaining geopolymers with the desired properties, which meet the ecology requirements and are efficient from the point of view of economics, were determined.

Keywords: geopolymer concrete; compressive strength; tensile strength; optimal composition; temperature treatment; sodium silicate; sodium hydroxide (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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