Durability and fire-resistance performance of slag-based geopolymer composites

Abstract

The fresh and durability properties of alkali-activated mortar were investigated in this study. Ground granulated blast-furnace slag was used as a binder material. Both carbon fibres (CFs) and polypropylene fibres (PPs) were added at ratios of 0, 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25% by weight of the binder. Simultaneously, hybrid fibres were also used (CF 1.0% and PP 0.25%, CF 0.5% and PP 0.5%, and CF 0.25% and PP 1.0%). The fresh properties of the composite were investigated by performing a flow test. Durability properties such as fire resistance, water sorptivity, water absorption, density, porosity, efflorescence and sulfate attack were also investigated. According to the findings, increasing the fibre content reduces the flowability of the mixture. Simultaneously, the best fibre content studied was 1%, which significantly enhanced durability properties. Also, both fibres achieved excellent improvement. However, CF had more influence than PP on durability properties.