Physico-Chemical and Mineralogical Characterizations of Two Togolese Clays for Geopolymer Synthesis

Abstract

Geopolymers are an alternative to Portland cement, well known for their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Finding materials that can validly replace Portland cement is a challenge. It is in this logic that this work was undertaken with the objective of characterizing two local clay resources of Togo as raw materials for geopolymers. The physico-chemical properties of these clays were determined by characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric (TGA) and elemental analysis (ICP-OES). The results show that these clays contain kaolinite and therefore can be used in the formulation of geopolymers. The characterized clays underwent heat treatments transforming the crystalline phases into more reactive amorphous phases and then were activated by an alkaline solution in order to formulate the geopolymer materials. These elaborated materials were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared to identify the types of bonds formed. The results of these analyses show that these two local clays are well suited to be used in synthesizing geopolymers. Our future work will focus on the constraints of consolidation as well as the mechanical properties of these geopolymer materials.

Mineralogical Characterization of Raw Clay from Rujište (Serbia) Used in Traditional Pottery Manufacture

“…The mass ratio of SiO2/Al2O3 ranged from 3.45 to 3.62 for samples 1 and 2, which was significantly higher than the values generally found for pure kaolinite (1.18), montmorillonite, or illite (2.36) [25] and is in good accordance with the XRD and DTA data, indicating the complex mixture of these minerals. These SiO2/Al2O3 ratios are probably due to abundant quartz and variable mineral contents of smectite/illite/chlorite in the samples studied [6,[66][67][68]. The presence of carbonate is indicated by the peaks at 1445, 875, and 730 cm −1 .…”

Chemical Characterization of Slags from an Old Smelter in Chihuahua, Mexico

“…Slags are attractive as a construction material due to its excellent geotechnical properties. However, in the environmental field, the concern has been spreading about the content and leaching of heavy metals, especially those that are harmful to health [11] [12] [13]; therefore, the physico-chemical characterization of materials is important to determine their use [14] [15]. Blast furnace slags are created when iron is made, producing raw materials such as raw iron ore, coke, lime, and limestone.…”