AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE WITH BAGASSE … · Bagasse Ash is the raw waste from...

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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)

Volume 9, Issue 7, July 2018, pp. 1066–1077, Article ID: IJCIET_09_07_112

Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=9&IType=7

ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316

© IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed

AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON

GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE WITH BAGASSE

ASH AND METAKAOLIN: A GREEN

CONCRETE Prakul Thakur

P.G Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Chandigarh University, India

Khushpreet Singh

Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Chandigarh University, India

Raju Sharma

Lecturer Department of Civil Engineering, Thapar University Patiala, India

ABSTRACT

In this experimental study, the bagasse ash and metakaolin is used to develop the

geopolymer concrete. The fly ash based geopolymer concrete was prepared with

bagasse ash and metakaolin which were used to replace fly ash at different

percentages i.e. 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% to study the microstructure, mechanical

and durability properties. Geopolymer Concrete was prepared with the use of alkaline

solutions NaOH and Na2Sio3. Geopolymer concrete samples for bagasse ash and

metakaolin based were cured at oven for 24 hours at 90˚C and then kept under room

temperature for curing. Metakaolin contained geopolymer concrete has shown better

mechanical and durability properties as compared with bagasse ash contained

geopolymer concrete. Geopolymer concrete is raw material based concrete that leads

to the usage of materials which are produced as a raw material from industries and

when these raw materials were induced in the geopolymer preparation it leads to the

reduction of carbon emissions and acts as a greener concrete towards environment.

Microstructure studies concluded that the metakaolin contained geopolymer concrete

has denser intermolecular bonding of materials as compared to the bagasse ash

contained geopolymer due to which metakaolin shows better results in mechanical

and durability properties when compared with bagasse ash.

Key words: Geopolymer Concrete, Ordinary Cement Concrete, Fly Ash, Aqueous

Solutions, Precast.

Cite this Article: Prakul Thakur, Khushpreet Singh and Raju Sharma, An

Experimental Study on Geopolymer Concrete with Bagasse Ash and Metakaolin: A

Green Concrete, International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 9(7),

2018, pp. 1066-1077.

http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=9&IType=7

Prakul Thakur, Khushpreet Singh and Raju Sharma


1. INTRODUCTION

Increasing construction leads to the demand of utilization of various resources which reduces

the cause of harmful effects of emissions on the environment. Concrete usage across the

world is second after water usage. Cement powder is conventionally used as the primary

binder to produce concrete mixture. The various environmental problems associated with the

production of cement are well known to the researchers [1]

and there is alarming need to

introduce new practices in producing the concrete so that the environmental issues should be

reduced. The utilization of Geopolymer Concrete which is flyash based concrete and with the

partial combination of GGBS.

These materials are waste products from the industries and can be used for the preparation

of Geopolymer Concrete. Globally the production of cement is estimated over 2.8 billion

tonnes according to recent industry data [2]. The issue with this is the emission of carbon

dioxide gas which is responsible for 5-7% of the total global production of carbon dioxide in

the atmosphere [3]. From past years, increases in cement production have been observed now

days and were anticipated the sudden increase due to the massive increase in industrialization

sector and infrastructure [4]. Geopolymer concrete does not require any Ordinary portland

cement for its production. The binder which is required to produced concrete by the reaction

of alkaline liquid with the source material which is rich in alumina and silica [5]. After doing

the deep study of geopolymer, it showed as a greener material as compared to ordinary

portland cement concrete. It was seen that geopolymer concrete showed good engineering and

mechanical properties [6, 7]. The use of fly ash has which have eco friendly properties and

environmental advantages for reducing the emissions.

The partial replacement of Portland cement with fly ash [8] will lead in the development

of geopolymer concrete will help to make beneficial use of fly ash. Geopolymer concrete has

properties of gaining early strength which will lead to casting of pre structural members of

geopolymer concrete [9]. The bond characteristics of reinforcing bar in geopolymer concrete

have been researched and determined to be comparable or superior to Portland cement

concrete [10, 11]. The use of ggbs in geopolymer concrete which is an industrial waste from

the steel industry and when ggbs is reacted with alkaline solutions it forms cementitious

material which does not emit carbon dioxide into the environment and use of ggbs in

geopolymer concrete enhances the durability and mechanical properties of geopolymer

concrete [12]. GGBS is rich in alumina and silica and CaO. Metakaolin is derived from

kaolite undergoing at the temperature C C

the calcium hydroxide to form the cementitious compounds and it also helps in reducing the

environmental effects caused due to the cement industry. Metakaolin is used to produce the

green concrete [13] and it is rich in silica and alumina content. Bagasse Ash is the raw waste

from the sugar cane industry and it is rich in silica and can be used to produce the eco friendly

concrete as such the bagasse ash is not used with geopolymer concrete to study the effect of

bagasse ash on geopolymer concrete mechanical and durability properties will be investigated

to study the results. Alkaline solutions are used i.e sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide

which leads in the production of early strength geopolymer concrete and geopolymerization

action occurs between the ingredients used for producing fly ash based geopolymer concrete

with metakaolin and bagasse ash contained geopolymer concrete. Sodium hydroxide and

sodium silicate does not contain carbon due to which alkaline solutions will also help to

reduce the carbon emissions in the environment. The combination of Fly Ash and GGBS

with the ratio of 80 (fly ash), 20 (GGBS) for the production of geopolymer concrete. The use

of alkaline solutions is done for the preparation of the geopolymer concrete. The experimental

study is done on the geopolymer concrete with the partial replacement of Bagasse Ash and

An Experimental Study on Geopolymer Concrete with Bagasse Ash and Metakaolin: A Green Concrete


Metakaolin to study the microstructure, mechanical and durability properties of geopolymer

concrete. Metakaolin is clay mineral product and it shows higher strength properties in

concrete [12]. The study on Bagasse Ash with Geopolymer concrete is done to check the best

percentage replacement of Bagasse Ash Bagasse Ash is a mineral admixture which has been

produced as a waste material from the sugarcane industry. The study has shown that the

metakaolin has excellent mechanical properties and shown early gain properties and withstand

easily against the acid attack. Bagasse ash is waste product and shown lesser strength then

Metakaolin but bagasse ash can be replaced up to certain limits to get good strength and

durability properties.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1. Materials Used

The Class F fly ash was used to produce the geopolymer concrete. Fly ash was obtained from

Ropar Thermal Power Plant, Punjab. The specific gravity was calculated as 2.35g/cc. GGBS

was obtained from Mundra Gujarat with loss of ignition 0.5, with bulk density1.15 and

specific gravity of 2.85 g/cc. Metakaolin was also obtained from Mundra Gujarat. Metakaolin

was off white in colour with high reactivity and pozzolanas with specific gravity of 2.6 g/cc.

Bagasse Ash was obtained from Morinda Sugar Mill with black colour and it was purified ash

and specific gravity is 1.13 g/cc. Alkaline solution was made with the combination of sodium

hydroxide and sodium silicate in 1: 2.5. The solution was prepared one day before the casting

and sodium hydroxide was used with 12M and the solid content present in sodium silicate

was 59.5 %.Superplasticizer SP 430 was used with specific gravity of 1.20 g/cc. Coarse

Aggregates were used of size 20mm and 10mm with specific gravity 2.74 g/cc and fine

aggregates were used of Zone II with specific gravity of 2.64 g/cc.

2.2. Mixing Procedure and Curing

The mixing of geopolymer concrete is by the use of alkaline solutions which are made one

day before the casting. The raw material are mixed homogeneously and alkaline solutions are

mixed with the ingredients and the amount of solid content present in the solution is fulfilled

by adding water to it. The powder to alkaline ratio was 0.35 and when the cubes, beams

cylinders are casted they are kept in oven for 24 hours for curing C and then

specimens are kept at normal room temperature for curing. To compare the strength criteria of

normal room temperature curing and oven curing cubes were casted to check the difference

between the compressive strength.

2.3. Test Procedure

Tests were conducted to inspect the microstructure, mechanical and durability properties of

bagasse ash contained and metakaolin contained geopolymer concrete.

2.3.1. Compressive Strength

Compressive strength is one of the most important property of concrete which forms a basic

property for analysis and calculations. For this test, cubes of dimension 150x150x150mm

were casted and cured and three cubes were taken for each testing of concrete for 7 days and

28 days for various percentages of metakaolin and bagasse ash. These cubes were tested on

Compressive testing machine and Rate of loading should be applied approximately140

Kg/sqcm/min as per IS 516. Failure load was noted. Three cubes were tested for each test

period and their average is reported.



2.3.2. Flexural Strength of Beam

Flexural strength is one measure of the flexural strength of concrete. It is measured by loading

an beam of size 100x100x500mm were cased and mean of three cubes for each percentage

and 48 beams were casted. The sample reading is noted from the Universal Testing Machine

and load should be applied 400 Kg/min as per IS 516. Two point loading machine is used and

failure load is noted to calculate the flexural strength of geopolymer concrete for 7 days and

28 days..

2.3.3. Split Tensile Strength Test

Cylinder specimen was used of diameter 150mm and length 300mm to find out the split

tensile strength of geopolymer concrete by casting three samples for each percentage and 48

cylinders were casted to check the specimens strength when tested after 7days and 28days.

2.3.4. Abrasion Test

Abrasion test of concrete is related with the durability properties of concrete in which we

check the wear and tear of concrete over the abrasion testing machine. We cast cube of size

70.6 mm and put on abrasion testing machine and from each side 40 rotations are given and

initial and final values are compared and difference is noted down according to ASTM C 267-

01 (2001).

2.3.5. Sulphate Attack Test

The sulphate attack testing procedure was conducted by immersing concrete specimens of the

size 150x150x150 mm over the specified curing for 28 days. Then, they were cured in 5%

Sodium sulphate solution for 28 days. This type of testing represents an accelerated testing

procedure, which indicates the performance of particular concrete mixes to sulphate attack on

concrete. The degree of sulphate attack was evaluated by measuring the weight losses of the

specimens at 28, respectively.

2.3.6. Microstructure of Geopolymer Concrete

Microstructure for geopolymer concrete was studied by conducting XRD test to determine the

mineral, compounds and crystalline phases present in the sample and SEM- EDS is done for

the face identification of geopolymer concrete. These tests are non destructive in nature and

can be conducted by taking small sample of specimen.

3. RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS

3.1. Compressive Strength Results

Compressive strength was calculated for metakaolin and bagasse ash contained geopolymer

concrete and it was seen that metakaolin has shown increase with increasing percentage ratio

for metakaolin samples. Metakaolin has shown incremental strength and at 20% attained the

optimum percentage for compressive strength and after that there is decline in graph when

metakaolin is added is more percentage. In case of bagasse ash the optimum percentage is

achieved at 10% and after that there is decrease in the compressive strength. Bagasse Ash is

light in weight and due that more increase in percentage leads to reduce the weight of bagasse

ash contained geopolymer samples. The inclusion of metakaolin in cement-based composites

enhances compressive strength through the filler effect in the interfacial transition zone

between the cement paste and aggregate particles. In addition, CH gels are quickly removed

during the hydration of cement with metakaolin and actually accelerate cementitious

hydration [14]. Room temperature Curing and oven dry sample curing is done to compare the

compressive strength results with metakaolin and bagasse ash contained geopolymer concrete.

It was seen in case of metakaolin samples the room temperature curing samples achieved the

requires strength criteria although the strength for oven dry samples were more and in case of



bagasse ash samples the gradual decrease was noted in normal room temperature curing

samples.

Graph 1 Compressive Strength for Metakaolin and Bagasse Ash foe oven dry samples

Graph 2 Compressive Strength for Metakaolin and Bagasse Ash for room temperature curing samples

3.2. Flexural Strength

Flexural Strength for metakaolin contained geopolymer concrete samples attained higher

flexural strength than the bagasse ash contained samples of geopolymer concrete. Metakaolin

samples gained more flexural strength with increasing the percentage of metakaolin to fly ash

at 20% the best results were noted and more increase in metakaolin resulted in decline and in

case of bagasse ash samples at 10% replacement has shown optimum replacement for flexural

strength and further increasing the percentage of bagasse ash to fly ash leads to decline in the

flexural strength.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

10 20 30 40

Co

mp

ressiv

e S

tren

gth

7 Days and 28 Days Testing Results

Compressive strength for Oven Dry Samples

MK 7 Days

BA 7 Days

MK 28 Days

BA 28 Days

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

10 20 30 40

Co

pm

pre

ssiv

e S

tren

gth


Compressive Strength for room temp. Samples

MK 7 Days

BA 7 Days

MK 28Days

BA 28 Days



Graph 3 Flexural Strength for Metakaolin and Bagasse Ash for room temperature curing samples

3.3. Split Tensile Strength

Split Tensile Strength for metakaolin contained geopolymer concrete attained higher strength

with higher percentage and at 20% it maximized split tensile strength and then further

increase in the metakaolin ratio to fly ash leads to decline and whereas bagasse ash due to its

light weight its density decreased and at 10 % bagasse ash shown best optimum percentage to

replace with fly ash based geopolymer concrete and when more percentage of bagasse ash

replaced with fly ash the split tensile strength undergoes decline this occurs due to the light

weight of bagasse ash due to which the weight and density of samples decreased with increase

in the percentage replacement of bagasse ash.

Graph 4 Split Tensile Strength for Metakaolin and Bagasse Ash for room temperature curing samples

3.4. Abrasion Test

In case of abrasion test when the metakaolin and bagasse ash contained geopolymer concrete

samples were put under abrasion testing it was noted that there is constant wear and tear

caused on both the samples. It can be concluded that both the samples have shown same

durability test results with const value of abrasion.

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

10 20 30 40

Fle

xu

ral S

tren

gth


Flexural Strength for Oven Dry Samples

MK 7 days

BA 7 Days

MK 28Days

BA 28Days

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

10 20 30 40

Sp

lit

Ten

sil

e S

tren

gh

t

7 Dys and 28 Days Testing Results

Split Tensile Strength for Oven Dry Samples

MK 7 Days

BA 7 Days

MK 28Days

BA 28Days



Table 1 Results for Abrasion Test

S.NO Sample Initial Reading Before

Abrasion for Metakaolin

Sample Final Reading After

Abrasion for Metakaolin

Abrasion (%) MK

1. 70 MM 69 MM 1.42 %

Sample Initial Reading Before

Abrasion for Bagasse Ash

Sample Final Reading After

Abrasion for Bagasse Ash

Abrasion (%) BA

2. 70 MM 69 MM 1.42%

3.5. Sulphate Attack Test

Durability study is done for metakaolin and bagasse ash contained geopolymer concrete.

Metakaolin samples weight was noted and then weight loss was checked and bagasse ash

samples weight loss was noted and it was seen metakaolin based samples are more resistant to

sulphate attack as compared to bagasse ash based geopolymer concrete.

Table 2 Results for Sulphate Attack

S.NO Metakaolin Samples for Sulphate Attack Bagasse Ash Samples for Sulphate Attack

Initial Reading for

MK

Final Reading of

BA

% Initial Reading for

BA

Final Reading of

BA

%

1 7.135 Kg 7.01 Kg 2.76 6.870 Kg 6.680 Kg 2.76

Graph 5 Sulphate Attack Test for Metakaolin and Bagasse Ash

3.6. SEM and EDS Test

SEM is conducted to know the phase identification of material and to see the bonding of one

material with the other. Metakaolin and Bagasse Ash best samples were used to conduct the

SEM testing with this we can the inner structure of our concrete samples and microscopy of

the material. EDS test gives the composition of various elements present in samples of

metakaolin and bagasse ash. In this test the spectrum are chosen from the samples and there

spectrum gives the result for the phase identification and the elements composition inside the

materials. In figure 1 (a) the black colour impressions can be seen in the SEM picture and the

samples is showing alkaline solution gel binding with the ingredients and EDS spectrum

result shows that bagasse ash is rich in silica content. Metakaolin SEM results is showing that

metakaolin based geopolymer concrete is showing more dense intermolecular face bonding as

compared with ash contained samples. The off white colour of metakaolin can be identified

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

28 Days

Co

mm

pre

ssiv

e S

tren

gth

No. of Days

Compressive Strength after sulphate attack test

MK Sulphate Attack

BA Sulphate Attack

MK Normal Sample

BA Normal Sample



from the picture and EDS graph shows that metakaolin is rich in silica, oxides and Fe. The

microstructure of metakaolin based geopolymer is more densely packed than the bagasse ash

based geopolymer concrete.

Figure 1(a) SEM Picture for 10% of Bagasse Ash

Figure 2 (a) EDS Picture for 10% of Bagasse Ash

Graph 6 (a) EDS result for 10% of Bagasse Ash



Figure 3 (b) SEM Picture for 20% Metakaolin

Figure 4 (b) SEM Picture for 20%of Metakaolin

Graph 7 (b) EDS results for 20% of Metakaolin

3.7. XRD Test

XRD results were obtained for geopolymer concrete for metakaolin contained geopolymer

concrete and it was observed that the highest peaks were obtained for quartz which shows that



it is rich in silica. It was observed that mullite is also present which is rich in silica. Iron oxide

is present in small quantity and argonite is mineral which consists of calcium carbonate and it

is concluded that these minerals are present in equivalent ratios. Bagasse Ash contained

geopolymer concrete XRD results concludes that bagasse ash is also rich in silica and have

highest peaks for quartz and smaller peaks for mullite which is also silica rich mineral. Calcite

indicates the presence of calcium carbonate with smaller peaks and zeolite-H-ZMS-5 which is

from zeolite family indicates the presence of aluminosilicates. XRD analysis concludes that

metakaolin contained geopolymer and bagasse ash contained geopolymer concrete both are

rich in silica.

Graph 8 (a) XRD results for 20% of Metakaolin

Graph 8 (b) XRD results for 20% of Bagasse A

4. CONCLUSIONS

Geopolymer Concrete has shown good mechanical and durability properties for designed

grade of geopolymer concrete with metakaolin contained geopolymer concrete as compared

with bagasse ash based geopolymer concrete.

Metakaolin at 20% replacement and Bagasse Ash at 10% replacement has shown the

maximum mechanical and durability result for geopolymer concrete.

Bagasse Ash at 10% replacement has shown the optimum percentage for best results for

geopolymer concrete. If we add the more percentage for bagasse ash it shows a decline but

higher percentage of bagasse ash can be used to produce the light weight concrete.



Geopolymer Concrete is prepared with the use of raw materials which is eco friendly and it

will act as a green material to the environment.

Oven dry samples and normal temperature samples results were compared and in case of

metakaolin the normal curing samples achieved the required strength of grade M 25 but oven

dry samples attained more compressive strength. Normal temperature curing for metakaolin

contained geopolymer has attained 26.93Mpa strength and in case of oven dry samples

strength attained was 30.75Mpa.

XRD, SEM-EDS test are conducted on the samples to study the microstructure of metakaolin

contained and bagasse ash contained geopolymer concrete.

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