Effect of nano-ZnO on mechanical and thermal properties of geopolymer

• Main Authors: Z. Zidi, M. Ltifi, Z. Ben Ayadi, L. EL Mir, X.R. Nóvoa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2020-01-01
• Series: Journal of Asian Ceramic Societies
• Subjects: geopolymer; nano-zno; ultrasonic pulse velocity; thermal
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21870764.2019.1693682

In this experimental study, we synthesized geopolymer materials with different amounts of nano-ZnO (0.3%, 0.5% and 0.7%). The effects of the nano-ZnO concentration on the mechanical, structural and thermal properties were studied in detail. XRD investigation revealed the formation of a glassy phase in all the samples and a small shift of the intense peak, which confirmed the incorporation of nano-ZnO into the geopolymer matrix. FTIR analyses showed an increase in the geopolymerization after the addition of nano-ZnO to geopolymer paste. The morphology of the inorganic polymers was studied by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The addition of nano-ZnO improved the ultrasonic pulse velocity and increased the compressive strength from 30 to 38 MPa. It was found that the strength reached its maximum value at a critical nano-ZnO concentration of 0.5 at.%. The thermal properties of geopolymer nano-ZnO were also investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), which showed that the incorporation of nano-ZnO decreased weight loss by the geopolymers. The density and the absorption water were also tested and all the results were discussed.