Physical and Mechanical Properties of Green Cementless Mortar Incorporating Waste Paper Sludge Ash

Aida Nabila Jamaluddin; Siti Asmahani Saad; Siti Aliyyah Masjuki; Wan Nur Firdaus Wan Hassan; Siti Noratikah Che Deraman; Nadiah Md Husain

doi:10.31436/iiumej.v26i1.3015

Authors

Aida Nabila Jamaluddin International Islamic University Malaysia https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8792-6801
Siti Asmahani Saad International Islamic University Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6338-6700
Siti Aliyyah Masjuki International Islamic University Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3068-6958
Wan Nur Firdaus Wan Hassan International Islamic University Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1674-2450
Siti Noratikah Che Deraman International Islamic University Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5562-8116
Nadiah Md Husain International Islamic University Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumej.v26i1.3015

Keywords:

geopolymer, waste paper sludge ash, NaOH, Na2SiO3

Abstract

As an alternative to conventional construction material such as normal concrete, waste paper sludge ash (WPSA) based geopolymer is seen as a promising and viable option in construction material selection due to its high amount of aluminum (Al) and silicon (Si) content. This research aims to determine the microstructure and mechanical characteristics of WPSA in geopolymers. The alkaline solution that contains 6 M of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (Na₂SiO₃) was used to activate the geopolymer. The hardened 50 mm-sized mortars were prepared and underwent a heat-cured process for 1 day at various temperatures at 24 ?, 60 ?, and 90 ?, respectively. Then, the mortar cubes were placed in the laboratory until the testing days. A compression test was conducted to identify the strength development of the WPSA-based geopolymer mortar at 7, 14, and 28 days, respectively. Chemical composition was analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Furthermore, Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was conducted to ascertain the structural elucidation and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis was done to provide microstructural observations of the geopolymer. Based on the XRF analysis, the WPSA has the highest amount of calcium oxide (CaO) instead of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) and silicon dioxide (SiO₂), and it reduces the performance of WPSA as a cement replacement material. The ratio of SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ is recorded as 1.1:1. Therefore, it is suitable for bricks and ceramics production instead of concrete production. As for the curing process, the heat-cured method is evident in accelerating strength development in the WPSA-based geopolymer mortar compared to the ambient curing method due to the rapid polymerization process in the geopolymer system. It is proven that 60 ? is the optimum temperature for the curing process for geopolymer mortar.

ABSTRAK: Sebagai salah satu alternatif kepada bahan binaan konvensional seperti konkrit biasa, geopolimer berasaskan abu enap cemar kertas (WPSA) adalah dilihat sebagai pilihan yang baik kerana bahan ini mempunyai kandungan aluminium (Al) and silika (Si) yang tinggi. Penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk menentukan struktur mikro dan ciri mekanikal WPSA dalam geopolimer. Larutan alkali yang mengandungi 6 M natrium hidroksida (NaOH) dan natrium silikat (Na₂SiO₃) digunakan untuk mengaktifkan geopolimer. Mortar yang bersaiz 50 mm telah disediakn dan ia melalui proses pengawetan haba selama 1 hari pada suhu yang berza-beza, iaitu 24 ?, 60 ?, and 90 ?. Kemudian, kiub mortar tersebut diletakkan di dalam makmal sehingga hari ujian. Ujian mampatan dijalankan untuk mengenal pasti perkembangan kekuatan mortar geopolimer apabila mencapai 7, 14, dan 28 hari. Komposisi kimia dalam sampel telah dianalisa menggunakan pendarfluor sinar-X (XRF). Tambahan pula, Spektroskopi inframerah fourier transformasi (FTIR) untuk memastikan sifat bahan dan analisis pengimbasan mikroskop elektron (SEM) untuk menyediakan pemerhatian struktur mikro geopolimer. Berdasarkan data dari analisa XRF, WPSA mempunyai jumlah kalsium oksida (CaO) tertinggi berbanding aluminium oksida (Al₂O₃) dan silikon dioksida (SiO₂), dan ia mengurangkan prestasi WPSA sebagai bahan gantian simen. Nisbah SiO₂ dan Al₂O₃ direkodkan sebagai 1.1:1. Oleh itu, ia sesuai digunakan untuk pengeluaran batu bata dan seramik berbanding pengeluaran konkrit. Bagi proses pengawetan, kaedah pengawetan haba terbukti mempercepat perkembangan kekuatan geopolimer berasaskan WPSA berbanding pengawetan pada suhu ambien disebabkan berlakunya proses pempolimeran yang sangat pantas dalam sistem geopolimer tersebut. Telah terbukti bahawa suhu 60 ? adalah suhu optimum bagi proses pengawetan mortar geopolimer berasaskan WPSA ini.

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