Innovative Fly Ash Geopolymer-Epoxy Composites: Preparation, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties

The preparation and characterization of composite materials based on geopolymers obtained from fly ash and epoxy resins are reported for the first time. These materials have been prepared through a synthetic method based on the concurrent reticulation of the organic and inorganic components that all...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Giuseppina Roviello, Laura Ricciotti, Oreste Tarallo, Claudio Ferone, Francesco Colangelo, Valentina Roviello, Raffaele Cioffi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2016-06-01
Series:Materials
Subjects:
SEM
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/9/6/461
Description
Summary:The preparation and characterization of composite materials based on geopolymers obtained from fly ash and epoxy resins are reported for the first time. These materials have been prepared through a synthetic method based on the concurrent reticulation of the organic and inorganic components that allows the formation of hydrogen bonding between the phases, ensuring a very high compatibility between them. These new composites show significantly improved mechanical properties if compared to neat geopolymers with the same composition and comparable performances in respect to analogous geopolymer-based composites obtained starting from more expensive raw material such as metakaolin. The positive combination of an easy synthetic approach with the use of industrial by-products has allowed producing novel low cost aluminosilicate binders that, thanks to their thixotropicity and good adhesion against materials commonly used in building constructions, could be used within the field of sustainable building.
ISSN:1996-1944