STUDIES ON STRENGTH AND DURABILITY PROPERTIES OF

GEO-POLYMER BRICKS BLENDED

WITH WASTE MATERIAL
ABSTRACT

Cement production is consuming significant amount of natural

resources. To overcome the above ill effects, the advent of newer materials
and construction techniques IS NEED OF THE HOUR. Availability of
Geo-polymer marked opening of a new era for designing bricks for higher
strength. As a result, the use of Geo-polymer has considerably increased
within the construction industry.

For attaining a high strength and

durable bricks with less weight and cost comparison is 1/3 rd of normal
bricks for major applications in the constructions such as high-rise
buildings, there is need to conduct research in this field.

The term geo-polymer was coined in the 1970s by the French scientist
and engineer Prof. Joseph Davidovits, and applied to a class of solid
materials synthesised by the reaction of an alumina-silicate powder with
an alkaline solution. Geo-polymer materials were originally developed as a
fire-resistant alternative to organic thermosetting polymers following a
series of fires in Europe, and products based on this initial work have
since found application as coatings for fire protection for cruise ships as a
resin in high-temperature carbon-fibre composites, in thermal protection
of wooden structures, as a heat-resistant adhesive,as a monolithic

refractory and in various other niche applications. However the primary

application for geo-polymer binders has since shifted to uses in
construction. This is primarily due to the observation, that it is possible to
generate reliable, high-performance geo-polymers by alkaline activation of
fly ash, a by-product of coal combustion.

The primary area of application of geo-polymer technology is currently in

the development of reduced-CO2 construction materials as an alternative
to Portland-based (calcium silicate) cements. various other properties of
geo-polymers

provide

technological

advantages

over

traditional

construction materials, but performance in itself will not be sufficient to

drive a revolutionary change in construction materials technology. A new
material cannot be forced onto an unwilling market; the market itself must
demand a new material, and this is beginning to be the case for geopolymers in construction with greately reduces cost.

Other applications for geo-polymers include as a host matrix in

waste encapsulation, as a low-cost ceramic (either used directly or as a
precursor for calcination), and in fire protection of structures.Geopolymers are a class of materials, whose potential remains to be fully
unlocked. It is only through a detailed understanding of geo-polymer
science that full use can be made of the properties of geo-polymers in
specific applications. However, such science would rapidly become
irrelevant in the absence of commercial success; a material that is well

characterised but not used in the real world is in effect useless. There is a
growing demand for new construction materials that have low greenhouse
gas emissions associated with their manufacture. Therefore, geo-polymeric
brick could potentially be used widely as a replacement for Portland
cement concrete and burnt bricks but this will only happen when proper
research is conducted to establish the feasibility of producing geopolymeric block.

Recent commercial initiatives in this regard are

encouraging, but it will take some time to make geo-polymeric brick a

scalable commodity available on a global basis. In the meantime, it is
imperative that the localised demonstration of geo-polymeric technology
grows, especially for converting coal ash into bricks with a low carbon
footprint.Thus if geo-polymer brick are developed using waste materials it
would not only help reduce the pollution due to waste but also lower the
cost of construction.Accordingly it is proposed to undertake following
research work on geo-polymer bricks.

To conduct a feasibility study on the production of geo-polymer solid

bricks with flyash.

To conduct a feasibility study on the production of geo-polymer solid

bricks with flyash and phosphogypsum together.

To conduct a feasibility study on the production of geo-polymer

hollow blocks with flyash.

To conduct a feasibility study on the production of geo-polymer

hollow blocks with flyash and phosphogypsum together.

To arrive at suitable mix proportions for geo-polymer solid bricks

and hollow blocks with flyash and flyash-phosphogypsum binders.

To conduct compressive strength tests on solid geo-polymer bricks.

To conduct compressive strength tests on geo-polymer hollow blocks.

To conduct water absorption tests on solid geo-polymer bricks.

To conduct water absorption tests on geo-polymer hollow blocks.

To conduct acid resistance tests on solid geo-polymer bricks.

To conduct acid resistance tests on geo-polymer hollow bricks.

To conduct a cost comparison study with natural burnt clay bricks.

To recommend suitable proportions for geo-polymer solid bricks and

hollow blocks for commercial production and use.