Fly ash based geopolymer concrete with ferrochrome slag aggregates

Abstract

The technology of Geopolymer Concrete (GPC) is gaining importance in the present era because of the reduced carbon dioxide emission and low embodied energy, when compared with the conventional cement concrete. GPC is obtained by the activation of silica and alumina rich source materials in the presence of alkali activator. This paper evaluates the strength and durability characteristics of fly ash based GPC with ferrochrome slag aggregates. The fine and coarse aggregates in the GPC were replaced with ferrochrome slag in various proportions, and it was noted that the coarse aggregate replacement performed better than the replacement of fine aggregates. The optimum replacement percentage that gives the maximum strength in terms of coarse aggregate replacement was arrived at. The result concluded that the incorporation of ferrochrome slag as coarse aggregate at optimum level enhanced the strength characteristics in comparison with the conventional GPC with normal aggregates. The durability characteristics of the various replacement mix was carried out, and the results of the optimum replacement mix was compared with the conventional geopolymer mix. Apart from these, the feasibility of utilising ferrochrome slag as aggregates in concrete were also ascertained by leaching tests.