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Ambient Cured Fly Ash Geopolymer Coatings for Concrete
L Biondi1, M Perry2, C Vlachakis3
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XJ, UK. lorena.biondi@strath.ac.uk.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 23, 2019
Summary
Ambient-cured geopolymer coatings offer a cost-effective solution for deteriorating concrete infrastructure. This novel technique enhances durability without high-temperature curing or extra additives, aiding climate change adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Civil Engineering
- Structural Rehabilitation
Background:
- Deterioration of aging concrete infrastructure (over 50 years old) poses risks to critical networks.
- Geopolymers offer superior resistance to environmental stressors (chlorides, sulfates, fire, freeze-thaw) and possess electrolytic conductivity.
- Existing geopolymer applications often require elevated temperature curing, limiting field applicability, especially in cooler climates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an ambient-cured fly ash geopolymer coating for concrete substrates.
- To present a cost-effective fabrication process without additional manufacturing steps or costly additives.
- To evaluate the performance and integrity of these coatings under various conditions.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of ambient-cured fly ash geopolymer coatings.
- Testing under varying humidity conditions.
- Analysis of mixing and application impacts on coating integrity using calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and image processing.
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication of geopolymer coatings cured at ambient temperatures.
- Demonstrated integrity and performance under different humidity levels.
- Identified optimal mixing and application methods for enhanced coating durability.
Conclusions:
- Ambient-cured geopolymer coatings provide a practical and affordable method for concrete infrastructure rehabilitation.
- This technique overcomes limitations of traditional geopolymer applications, enabling wider field use.
- The developed coatings can significantly extend the service life of aging concrete structures, improving safety and resilience to climate change.
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