The influence of blast furnace slag content on the mechanical and durability properties of raw perlite-based geopolymer mortars

Abstract

In this work, 21 different raw perlite-based geopolymer mortars (RPGMs) were manufactured according to the precursor material and activator content. Blast furnace slag (BFS) was employed in the geopolymer mortars by raw perlite (RP) in 7 different proportions with respect to the CaO/SiO2 oxide ratio of RP and BFS mixture in the RPGMs. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH= 5, 10 and 15 M) was used as alkaline medium for geopolymer synthesis in the RPGMs. The ultrasound pulse velocity (Upv), flexural strength (ffs) and compressive strength (fcs), water absorption, acid and sulfate durability of the RPGMs are investigated. The test results revealed that the BFS improves the mechanical properties of RPGMs for low and medium alkaline medium of 5M and 10M, respectively. The strengths of RPGMs negatively influenced as increasing BFS content for high alkaline medium of 15M. The BFS improved the acid and sulfate durability of the RPGMs.