This paper outlines the production of an inorganic polymer/geopolymer using a
metakaolin by an environmental friendly, energy saving, clean technology to
conserve natural environment and resources. The influence of alkali
activation, i.e. different concentration of NaOH as a component of alkali
activator mixture on the process of geopolymerization of metakaolin is
investigated. Also, process of aging time of geopolymer is followed by
several analytical methods. The structure of metakaolin and metakaolin based
geopolymers and their physicochemical properties were studied using X-ray
diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and
after 28days scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive
spectroscopy (EDS) was applied for the surface characterization of the
samples. A shift of the Si-O or Si-O-X (X=Al, Si, Na...) bands as the
molarity of activator increasing during geopolymerization process was
observed by FTIR. Mass spectra of geopolymers were characterized by MALDI
TOF mass spectrometer. Structural reorganization of geopolymer samples
occurs during the curing/aging in accordance with a geopolymerization
mechanism.
In this research, the starting precursor material is metakaolin, which was obtained by calcining domestic kaolinite clay. Thermodynamic parameters: densities, viscosities, speed of sound and refractive index of four series of alkaline activatorswere determined over the temperature range from 15 to 60oC of process of geopolymerization. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR and Raman Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy-Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) Spectroscopy. Results of FTIR analysis correlated with results of Raman Spectroscopy. Due to the polymerization process the changes in the phonon spectrum is confirmed. The different concentrations of activators do not change notably the Si/Al ratio.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.