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Efflorescence Formation Mechanism and Control for Geopolymer Paste Specimens Made from Natural Pozzolan and Calcium Hydroxide Binders

Received: 19 May 2023     Accepted: 10 June 2023     Published: 21 June 2023
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Abstract

The use of alkali activated geopolymer binders in the recent years has received much attention because of their outstanding mechanical properties, reduction of CO2 emissions and low energy for production. While number of researches are being done to develop geopolymer binders, their application is still limited. Efflorescence phenomena is one of the limitations of the extensive use of geopolymers. The efflorescence not only affect the materials aesthetics, but it also affects its mechanical performance. The present study outlines the general features of efflorescence, including its formation mechanism, chemical and mineralogical composition. Natural pozzolan from Songwe – Mbeya, Tanzania, calcium hydroxide, sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide were used as raw materials for geopolymerization process. It has been observed that efflorescence is formed on alkali activated paste specimens which were partially soaked in water. The formation of efflorescence products is formed due to unbalanced concentration of alkaline solution within the specimen. The produced efflorescence powders were tested for chemical and mineralogical compositions. The chemical composition test results indicated the significant percent increase of Na2O for efflorescence powder. This may be due to migration of Na+ from the interior of specimen to the surface during efflorescence formation. The efflorescence powder which was tested for mineralogical composition, indicated the present of some amount of calcite, mica, sodium carbonate hydrate and quartz. One of the control process of efflorescence formation on alkali activated geopolymer specimens is by maintaining equilibrium of alkali concentration within the specimens during curing process.

Published in American Journal of Polymer Science and Technology (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajpst.20230902.11
Page(s) 14-20
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Efflorescence, Geopolymer Binder, Sodium Silicate, Alkali Metals, Oxide Compounds, Chemical Composition, Natural Pozzolan, Alkali Activated Materials

References
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[2] Malisa, A. S., & Chengula, D. H. (2022). Study on the Influence of Alkali Activator Solutions on Strength Improvement of Pozzolan Calcium Hydroxide Binders. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 10, 313-330.
[3] L. Biondi, L, Perry, M, Vlachakis, Wu C. Z, Hamilton, A and Mc Alorum, J (2019) Ambient Cured Fly Ash Geopolymer Coatings for Concrete. Materials, 12, 923; doi: 10.3390/ma12060923.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Asson Sifueli Malisa, Duwa Hamisi Chengula. (2023). Efflorescence Formation Mechanism and Control for Geopolymer Paste Specimens Made from Natural Pozzolan and Calcium Hydroxide Binders. American Journal of Polymer Science and Technology, 9(2), 14-20. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpst.20230902.11

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    ACS Style

    Asson Sifueli Malisa; Duwa Hamisi Chengula. Efflorescence Formation Mechanism and Control for Geopolymer Paste Specimens Made from Natural Pozzolan and Calcium Hydroxide Binders. Am. J. Polym. Sci. Technol. 2023, 9(2), 14-20. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpst.20230902.11

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    AMA Style

    Asson Sifueli Malisa, Duwa Hamisi Chengula. Efflorescence Formation Mechanism and Control for Geopolymer Paste Specimens Made from Natural Pozzolan and Calcium Hydroxide Binders. Am J Polym Sci Technol. 2023;9(2):14-20. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpst.20230902.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajpst.20230902.11,
      author = {Asson Sifueli Malisa and Duwa Hamisi Chengula},
      title = {Efflorescence Formation Mechanism and Control for Geopolymer Paste Specimens Made from Natural Pozzolan and Calcium Hydroxide Binders},
      journal = {American Journal of Polymer Science and Technology},
      volume = {9},
      number = {2},
      pages = {14-20},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajpst.20230902.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpst.20230902.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajpst.20230902.11},
      abstract = {The use of alkali activated geopolymer binders in the recent years has received much attention because of their outstanding mechanical properties, reduction of CO2 emissions and low energy for production. While number of researches are being done to develop geopolymer binders, their application is still limited. Efflorescence phenomena is one of the limitations of the extensive use of geopolymers. The efflorescence not only affect the materials aesthetics, but it also affects its mechanical performance. The present study outlines the general features of efflorescence, including its formation mechanism, chemical and mineralogical composition. Natural pozzolan from Songwe – Mbeya, Tanzania, calcium hydroxide, sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide were used as raw materials for geopolymerization process. It has been observed that efflorescence is formed on alkali activated paste specimens which were partially soaked in water. The formation of efflorescence products is formed due to unbalanced concentration of alkaline solution within the specimen. The produced efflorescence powders were tested for chemical and mineralogical compositions. The chemical composition test results indicated the significant percent increase of Na2O for efflorescence powder. This may be due to migration of Na+ from the interior of specimen to the surface during efflorescence formation. The efflorescence powder which was tested for mineralogical composition, indicated the present of some amount of calcite, mica, sodium carbonate hydrate and quartz. One of the control process of efflorescence formation on alkali activated geopolymer specimens is by maintaining equilibrium of alkali concentration within the specimens during curing process.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Efflorescence Formation Mechanism and Control for Geopolymer Paste Specimens Made from Natural Pozzolan and Calcium Hydroxide Binders
    AU  - Asson Sifueli Malisa
    AU  - Duwa Hamisi Chengula
    Y1  - 2023/06/21
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpst.20230902.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajpst.20230902.11
    T2  - American Journal of Polymer Science and Technology
    JF  - American Journal of Polymer Science and Technology
    JO  - American Journal of Polymer Science and Technology
    SP  - 14
    EP  - 20
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-5986
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpst.20230902.11
    AB  - The use of alkali activated geopolymer binders in the recent years has received much attention because of their outstanding mechanical properties, reduction of CO2 emissions and low energy for production. While number of researches are being done to develop geopolymer binders, their application is still limited. Efflorescence phenomena is one of the limitations of the extensive use of geopolymers. The efflorescence not only affect the materials aesthetics, but it also affects its mechanical performance. The present study outlines the general features of efflorescence, including its formation mechanism, chemical and mineralogical composition. Natural pozzolan from Songwe – Mbeya, Tanzania, calcium hydroxide, sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide were used as raw materials for geopolymerization process. It has been observed that efflorescence is formed on alkali activated paste specimens which were partially soaked in water. The formation of efflorescence products is formed due to unbalanced concentration of alkaline solution within the specimen. The produced efflorescence powders were tested for chemical and mineralogical compositions. The chemical composition test results indicated the significant percent increase of Na2O for efflorescence powder. This may be due to migration of Na+ from the interior of specimen to the surface during efflorescence formation. The efflorescence powder which was tested for mineralogical composition, indicated the present of some amount of calcite, mica, sodium carbonate hydrate and quartz. One of the control process of efflorescence formation on alkali activated geopolymer specimens is by maintaining equilibrium of alkali concentration within the specimens during curing process.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Civil Engineering, Mbeya University of Science and Technology, Mbeya, Tanzania

  • Department of Civil Engineering, Mbeya University of Science and Technology, Mbeya, Tanzania

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