Parametric Study Of Factors Affecting Strength Of Geopolymer Concrete With Slag

Abstract

Sustainable building material is the need of hour today. With increase in urban infrastructure and large use of cement, it is become imperative to find replacement of cement due to its negative impact on environment. Geopolymer concrete is a concrete which uses no cement. A study was conducted on geopolymer concrete with granulated blast furnace slag as source material. Since geopolymer concrete does not have standard method to design and attempt was made to find the parameters which affect the strength of geopolymer concrete. Sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate mixture was taken as alkaline activator solution. It is found that content of slag required for same strength of Ordinary Portland cement concrete was less. Parameters like different molarities of alkaline solution, ratio of alkaline liquid to amount of slag, curing time and curing period were evaluated on the basis of compressive strength comparison. On the basis of this parametric study, geopolymer concrete mix design can be done which will help in evaluating the factors governing compressive strength of slag based geopolymer concrete.