CHARACTERISTICS OF QUARTZ STONE POWDER BASED GEOPOLYMER MORTAR CURED AT AMBIENT CONDITION

Abstract

Development of self-curing geopolymers is a key consideration among the researchers. One of the challenges that face geopolymers to field application is applying of heat to enhance its mechanical properties. This study focuses on using self-cured, NaOH activated, quartz stone powder by using different cement dosages in producing geopolymer mortar. For this purpose twelve mixes were prepared. The base material, quartz stone powder, was replaced by Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in dosages of (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) by weight and different sodium hydroxide concentration variations were used. Compressive strength, water absorption and sorptivity were investigated. The results showed that 15% of OPC replacement has optimum influence on some properties of geopolymer mortar. At the same time Sodium hydroxide concentration of 14M achieves the optimum properties. The results revealed that incorporation of OPC and utilization of different NaOH concentrations significantly affected the compressive strength and absorption properties of the mortar.