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The effect of the concentration of alkaline activator and aging time on the structure of metakaolin based geopolymer

Ivanović Marija (Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Vinča, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia)
Kljajević Ljiljana (Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Vinča, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia)
Gulicovski Jelena (Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Vinča, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia)
Petkovic Marijana (CQM-Madeira Chemistry Research Centre, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal)
Janković-Častvan Ivona (Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia)
Bučevac Dušan (Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Vinča, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia)
Nenadović Snežana (Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Vinča, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia)

This paper outlines the production of an inorganic polymer/geopolymer using a metakaolin by an environmental friendly, energy saving, clean technology to conserve natural environment and resources. The influence of alkali activation, i.e. different concentration of NaOH as a component of alkali activator mixture on the process of geopolymerization of metakaolin is investigated. Also, process of aging time of geopolymer is followed by several analytical methods. The structure of metakaolin and metakaolin based geopolymers and their physicochemical properties were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and after 28days scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was applied for the surface characterization of the samples. A shift of the Si-O or Si-O-X (X=Al, Si, Na...) bands as the molarity of activator increasing during geopolymerization process was observed by FTIR. Mass spectra of geopolymers were characterized by MALDI TOF mass spectrometer. Structural reorganization of geopolymer samples occurs during the curing/aging in accordance with a geopolymerization mechanism.

Keywords: Metakaolin, Alkali activation, Inorganic polymer, Aging time, MALDI TOFMS