Sodium silicate

About: Sodium silicate is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 9967 publications have been published within this topic receiving 101210 citations. The topic is also known as: water glass.

Evolution of binder structure in sodium silicate-activated slag-metakaolin blends

Abstract: Structural evolution in pastes produced from alkali silicate-activated granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS)/metakaolin (MK) blends is assessed. In the initial period of the reaction, the addition of MK leads to an increase in the total setting time, reduces the heat release, and affects the reaction mechanism by introduction of a large quantity of additional Al. This effect is more significant when an activating solution with a higher silicate modulus is used, and leads to a slight reduction in the final mechanical strength of mortars but a significant increase in setting time, which is valuable in the development of alkali-activated slag binders as these are known to sometimes harden more rapidly than is desirable. High-energy synchrotron X-ray diffractometry reveals that the main reaction products in alkali-activated GBFS/MK blends are segregated and partially crystalline calcium silicate hydrate and aluminosilicate phases, including a small component with a zeolitic (gismondine) structure. No hydrotalcite-type phases are observed in these samples, which are synthesized from a low-Mg slag. A secondary reaction product (Na-substituted C–S–H) is also identified in pastes activated with a modulus of solution of 2.0. Infrared spectroscopy carried out over a period of 180 days shows the development of the gel structure, with aluminum incorporation leading to an increase in the extent of crosslinking, and higher alkalinity giving a more depolymerized gel structure.

Chemical optimisation of the compressive strength of aluminosilicate geopolymers synthesised by sodium silicate activation of metakaolinite

Abstract: High strength cements can be synthesised by alkali activation of materials rich in Al2O3 and SiO2. In this study, amorphous aluminosilicate polymers produced by sodium silicate activation of metakaolinite were studied, with particular reference to chemical optimisation of the compressive strength according to the relative concentrations of Si, Al and Na in the polymer. The sodium silicate was manufactured from silica fume and sodium hydroxide. The compressive strengths of polymers with Si∶Al molar ratios of 1.0–3.0 and Na∶Al molar ratios of 0.5–2.0 were considered. The polymers were cured at 75 °C for 24 h and their compressive strengths measured after aging for 7 days. The strength was found to depend systematically on the relative amounts of Si, Al and Na, with the maximum being 64 ± 3 MPa for an Si∶Al∶Na molar ratio of 2.5∶1∶1.3. X-Ray diffraction/scattering data indicate qualitatively that the bonding network in the amorphous aluminosilicate alters systematically with composition.