Effect of the concentration of the activator on the mechanical properties of the geopolymer stabilized soil

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Publication Title
Effect of the concentration of the activator on the mechanical properties of the geopolymer stabilized soil

Abstract
Geopolymers are the result of a reaction between a precursor (material rich in silica and alumina) and an activator (alkaline solution responsible for the dissolution of the precursor). Optimizing the quantity of activator is crucial to guarantee the strength development of the geopolymer while limiting the use of chemical substances. This study investigates the effect of different concentrations of the activator, in the range from 1 to 12M with a constant precursor content of 10% of the dry mass of the soil, on the mechanical properties of a geopolymer stabilized silty clay soil. A by- product calcium-rich granulated ground blast furnace slag (GGBS) is used as precursor and sodium hydroxide is used as an activator. Cylindrical stabilized samples compacted at the standard proctor optimum moisture content and maximum dry density and cured in sealed conditions for 7, 28, 60 and 90 days are tested for unconfined compressive strength. A set of unstabilized and slag-stabilized samples are manufactured and tested for comparison. First, the results showed that geopolymers can be used efficiently to enhance the strength of the soil. Also, increasing the concentration of the activator do not necessarily increase the strength of the stabilized soil. The optimum compressive strength corresponds to a concentration of 2M.
Authors
D. Chami; Alessia Cuccurullo; P. Gerard

Published In

18th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ECSMGE2024)

Theme

E - Environment, water and energy

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