A Study on Strength Properties and Cost Analysis of Industrial Byproduct-Based Ternary Blended Geopolymer Concrete

TLDR: In this paper, the effect of Alccofine as a ternary binder in geopolymer concrete at low molarities of NaOH-based alkaline solution under ambient temperature curing was investigated.

Abstract: Flyash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) and Alccofine are industrial byproduct materials and require large area of land for the safe disposal. These byproducts which are rich in alumina and silica can be value added, by using as binder in geopolymer concrete. The industrial byproducts are activated by NaOH- or KOH-based alkaline solution. Effective utilization of industrial byproducts in the construction industry will reduce the impact on the environment, which is caused due to ordinary portland cement (OPC). Previous studies on geopolymer concrete are at high molarity of NaOH and curing adopted is hot air oven curing for the effective polymerization of binder material and the alkaline activator solution (AAS). The present study is aimed to understand the effect of Alccofine as a ternary binder in geopolymer concrete at low molarities of NaOH-based alkaline solution under ambient temperature curing. Flyash, GGBFS, and Alccofine are the binder materials considered in geopolymer concrete by complete replacement of OPC. The ratio of Na2SiO3 to NaOH is fixed at 2.5 for all the geopolymer concrete mixes. Msand is used as fine aggregate by replacing with river sand in geopolymer concrete. The study also focused on comparing the compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength, and cost analysis of ternary blended geopolymer concrete with conventional concrete of M30 grade. It is observed from the results that the geopolymer concrete has attained better strength properties than OPC concrete at the lesser cost and the impact on environment is reduced.