Preparation and characterization of lightweight geopolymer composites using different aluminium precursors

Production of lightweight building materials attract attention of the scientists worldwide with the need for reducing the structures dead-weight, provide better thermal insulation for buildings, and cost less to transport.The current work focuses on production of lightweight geopolymer composites by the incorporation of aluminium powder and aluminium slag in various ratios for water cooled slag/ kaolinite sand composite, the activators used were 6% of equal ratio from sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate.The properties of the produced lightweight geopolymer composites have been studied through measurement of compressive strength, bulk density, water absorption, FTIR, XRD and SEM imaging.Results demonstrate modification for both physicomechanical and microstructural characteristics by using aluminium powder and aluminium slag forming lightweight composites with density below 2.15 g/cm3 depending on the studied mix composition.