Formulation of Geopolymer Cements from Two Clays Containing Kaolinite and Muscovite: Effect of Temperature on the Physicomechanical Properties of the Products

Abstract

The paper talks about the elaboration of geopolymer with two types of kaolinite clays containing muscovite. The kaolinite materials were first calcined at different temperatures, and mixed with an activator solution, called liquid precursor, at a different solid/liquid mass ratio depending on their normal consistency to produce geopolymer binders. Results show that the geopolymer products obtained from the different clays have good physichomechanical properties: their open porosity and their water absorption rate decrease while their compressive strength and their apparent density increase with the increase in calcination temperature of the clays. The density of GABD binders varies between 2.92 and 2.47 g/cm 3 and that of GARD binders between 1.86 and 2.16 g/cm 3 . Specimens in the GABD series have the best mechanical performance, ranging from 14.43 to 31.37 MPa, while those in the GARD series oscillate between 6.18 and 11.56 MPa. These properties make kaolinite materials from this region suitable for use as construction materials for adequate waterproof structures.