Properties of a New Insulation Material Glass Bubble in Geo-Polymer Concrete

• Published in: Materials 2021-02, Vol.14 (4), p.809
• Main Authors: Shahedan, Noor Fifinatasha, Abdullah, Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri, Mahmed, Norsuria, Kusbiantoro, Andri, Tammas-Williams, Sam, Li, Long-Yuan, Aziz, Ikmal Hakem, Vizureanu, Petrică, Wysłocki, Jerzy J, Błoch, Katarzyna, Nabiałek, Marcin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggregates; Bubbles; Buildings; Cement; Compressive strength; Concrete; Construction industry; Embedding; Energy consumption; Energy efficiency; Fly ash; Geopolymers; Heat conductivity; Insulation; Load bearing elements; Raw materials; Sodium hydroxide; Sodium silicates; Sustainability; Thermal conductivity; Thermal diffusivity; Thermal insulation; Water absorption; Workability
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma14040809

This paper details analytical research results into a novel geopolymer concrete embedded with glass bubble as its thermal insulating material, fly ash as its precursor material, and a combination of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (Na SiO ) as its alkaline activator to form a geopolymer system. The workability, density, compressive strength (per curing days), and water absorption of the sample loaded at 10% glass bubble (loading level determined to satisfy the minimum strength requirement of a load-bearing structure) were 70 mm, 2165 kg/m , 52.58 MPa (28 days), 54.92 MPa (60 days), and 65.25 MPa (90 days), and 3.73 %, respectively. The thermal conductivity for geopolymer concrete decreased from 1.47 to 1.19 W/mK, while the thermal diffusivity decreased from 1.88 to 1.02 mm /s due to increased specific heat from 0.96 to 1.73 MJ/m K. The improved physicomechanical and thermal (insulating) properties resulting from embedding a glass bubble as an insulating material into geopolymer concrete resulted in a viable composite for use in the construction industry.