Title:
Metakaolin-Based Geopolymer Concretes: From Dry to Fluid Concretes
Author(s):
Raphaëlle Pouhet and Martin Cyr
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
320
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
32.1-32.20
Keywords:
Geopolymer concrete, Metakaolin, Workability, Porosity, Reinforced beams, Masonry units, Industrial precast plant
DOI:
10.14359/51701070
Date:
8/1/2017
Abstract:
This study evaluates if a metakaolin-based geopolymer can be an effective binder to replace Portland cement in concrete. The geopolymer formulation is quite different from that of
Portland cement paste. It involves molar ratios and not the traditional water/cement mass ratio. This study shows that in spite of these differences, it is possible to make geopolymer
concrete with variable properties by adjusting water and aggregate content. It was concluded that several applications can be targeted, from fluid to dry concretes. Compressive strength of geopolymer concretes showed that these materials could have similar mechanical properties to Portland cement concretes, despite a higher porosity. The amount of aggregates seemed to have a negligible effect on the performance of geopolymer concrete, probably due to the absence of ITZ at the binder-aggregate interface. Finally, the viability of this new binder was tested by making reinforced beams and masonry units directly in an industrial precast plant.