A Performance-Based Test for Mitigating the Risk of Geopolymer Concrete Surface Efflorescence Due to Alkali Leaching.

Babaee, M; Castel, A

A Performance-Based Test for Mitigating the Risk of Geopolymer Concrete Surface Efflorescence Due to Alkali Leaching.

Babaee, M Castel, A

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Publisher:: MDPI
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Materials (Basel), 2024, 17, (15), pp. 3647
Issue Date:: 2024-07-24

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Babaee, M
dc.contributor.author	Castel, A https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1619-9643
dc.date.accessioned	2024-11-07T05:00:19Z
dc.date.available	2024-07-05
dc.date.available	2024-11-07T05:00:19Z
dc.date.issued	2024-07-24
dc.identifier.citation	Materials (Basel), 2024, 17, (15), pp. 3647
dc.identifier.issn	1996-1944
dc.identifier.issn	1996-1944
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/181798
dc.description.abstract	Geopolymer concretes are considered to be a potential sustainable, low-embodied carbon alternative for Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) concrete. Alkali leaching is considered to be a major esthetic concern for Na-silicate-based geopolymers as it can lead to the formation of efflorescence products on the surfaces of concrete members exposed to humidity. In this context, this research aims to investigate the effect of the alkali content and the FA/GGBS mass ratio on the alkali leaching and formation of the efflorescence products. Paste cylinders were fabricated and cured in ambient conditions. Samples were submerged in deionized water and the concentration of the leached-out ions was measured. Efflorescence potential was also investigated by partial immersion of the samples in deionized water. The results highlight the complexity of the interacting parameters governing the formation of efflorescence products in geopolymer materials. Establishing relationships between the concrete mix variables and the risk of efflorescence seems unfeasible particularly because of the wide range of possible precursors and activators available to design geopolymer concrete mixes. To overcome this barrier, a practical performance-based testing method is developed. For the first time, by testing a wide range of geopolymer materials, performance-based requirements associated with the risk of efflorescence for geopolymer concrete surfaces exposed to humidity are calibrated. Four categories of risk are proposed and typical suitable exposure conditions for geopolymer concrete surfaces are suggested for each risk category.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	MDPI
dc.relation.ispartof	Materials (Basel)
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.3390/ma17153647
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	03 Chemical Sciences, 09 Engineering
dc.subject.classification	34 Chemical sciences
dc.subject.classification	40 Engineering
dc.title	A Performance-Based Test for Mitigating the Risk of Geopolymer Concrete Surface Efflorescence Due to Alkali Leaching.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	17
utslib.location.activity	Switzerland
utslib.for	03 Chemical Sciences
utslib.for	09 Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2024-11-07T05:00:17Z
pubs.issue	15
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	17
utslib.citation.issue	15

Abstract:

Geopolymer concretes are considered to be a potential sustainable, low-embodied carbon alternative for Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) concrete. Alkali leaching is considered to be a major esthetic concern for Na-silicate-based geopolymers as it can lead to the formation of efflorescence products on the surfaces of concrete members exposed to humidity. In this context, this research aims to investigate the effect of the alkali content and the FA/GGBS mass ratio on the alkali leaching and formation of the efflorescence products. Paste cylinders were fabricated and cured in ambient conditions. Samples were submerged in deionized water and the concentration of the leached-out ions was measured. Efflorescence potential was also investigated by partial immersion of the samples in deionized water. The results highlight the complexity of the interacting parameters governing the formation of efflorescence products in geopolymer materials. Establishing relationships between the concrete mix variables and the risk of efflorescence seems unfeasible particularly because of the wide range of possible precursors and activators available to design geopolymer concrete mixes. To overcome this barrier, a practical performance-based testing method is developed. For the first time, by testing a wide range of geopolymer materials, performance-based requirements associated with the risk of efflorescence for geopolymer concrete surfaces exposed to humidity are calibrated. Four categories of risk are proposed and typical suitable exposure conditions for geopolymer concrete surfaces are suggested for each risk category.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/181798