Admixtures for use in geopolymers

Abstract

This study examined two novel approaches for the geopolymerisation of fly ash produced at thermoelectric power stations by combustion of coal. The first approach involved the use of cullet, a post-consumer glass waste, to supplement dissolved aqueous silicon for the geopolymerisation of fly ash, thereby reducing the sodium silicate requirement in the activating solution and the overall cost of geopolymer manufacture. The second approach consisted of adding xylitol, a sugar alcohol known to enhance the strength of cement-based concrete, to the geopolymer activating solution.