Breakthrough in Sustainable Building Materials: Geopolymer Mortar Exhibits Exceptional Thermal Stability

Researchers from Mepco Schlenk Engineering College have made a significant contribution to the field of sustainable building materials with the development of a geopolymer mortar that exhibits exceptional thermal stability. This alternative to traditional Portland cement-based mortars has been shown to retain up to 67% of its original strength even after exposure to temperatures of up to 900 degrees Celsius. The use of pre-treated and nano-fly ash powder in this geopolymer system eliminates the need for superplasticizer and oven curing, resulting in a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and construction costs.

Key Takeaways:

• The geopolymer mortar exhibits exceptional thermal stability, retaining up to 67% of its original strength even after exposure to temperatures of up to 900 degrees Celsius.
• The use of pre-treated and nano-fly ash powder eliminates the need for superplasticizer and oven curing, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and construction costs.
• The developed green mortar resulted in 46% reduced greenhouse gas emissions and 18.3% reduced cost of construction.
• The geopolymer system is a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to traditional Portland cement-based mortars.
• The research was supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
• The geopolymer mortar has been validated through various tests, including Thermo Gravimetry Analysis, Fourier Infrared Spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopic analysis.

Statistics:

• 67%: The percentage of original strength retained by the geopolymer mortar after exposure to temperatures of up to 900 degrees Celsius.
• 46%: The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions achieved by the developed green mortar.
• 18.3%: The reduction in cost of construction achieved by the developed green mortar.
• 900 degrees Celsius: The maximum temperature exposure under fire explosive environments.
• 1%: The optimal nano-fly ash impregnation concentration for achieving maximum compressive strength.

Sources:

• Sustainability of Pre-treated and Nano-fly Ash Powder On the Thermal Stability and Environmental Impact of Green Mortars Under Ambient Conditions. Journal of Building Engineering, 2023;71.
• NewsRx. New Sustainability Research Study Findings Have Been Reported from Mepco Schlenk Engineering College (Sustainability of Pre-treated and Nano-fly Ash Powder On the Thermal Stability and Environmental Impact of Green Mortars Under Ambient ...). Ecology, Environment & Conservation. September 29, 2023; p 235.