Geopolymer Porous Nanoceramics for Structural, for Smart and Thermal Shock Resistant Applications
Abstract
We have continued our work to understand and elucidate the microstructure of geopolymers and geopolymer composites, as fabricated and upon conversion to ceramics with heating. The microstructure consisted of nanoporous, nanoparticulate precipitates, and contains roughly approximately 40% nanoporosity of average diameter 6.8 nm in the case of K-based geopolymer. The room temperature compressive strengths were systematically investigated as a function of Group I charge balancing cations (Na, K, and Cs and mixtures of Na-K). Potential applications were explored in the area of refractory adhesives between metal, corrosion resistant coatings on steel, glass and ceramics, porous membranes and foams, ceramic armor composites, iron-based geopolymer analogues, geopolymer composites reinforced with chopped polypropylene or basalt fibers, and polycrystalline ceramics or glass-ceramics. The basic science of amorphous geopolymer structure was probed down to the Angstrom level by state of the art Pair Distribution Function analysis (PDF) of X-ray synchrotron data. It revealed that the building blocks of AlO4- and SiO4 units were formed from solution under ambient conditions. The conversions were studied by a range of ceramic powder characterization and processing techniques.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 02, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA547361
Entities
People
- Waltraud M. Kriven
Organizations
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign