Mechanical properties of fly ash geopolymer mortar reinforced with carbon fibers

Portland cement industry releases high amounts of CO2, so efforts have been made for alternative binders. Geopolymers are one of the highlighted elective binders. The aims of this study are to produce fly ash Geopolymer boards reinforced with carbon fibers and investigate the mechanical properties of several blends of fly ash Geopolymer mortar reinforced with carbon fibers (FGC). Carbon fibers (CF) were added at different percentages (WF) of 0.2%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% by weight. The sodium hydroxide condensation of 8 molars, sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide weight ratio of 2.0, the alkaline liquid/binder proportion of 0.47 and the dry heat curing of 70 degrees C for 24 hours were utilized as a piece of blends. Fresh and hardening state properties such as Flow capacity, flexural strength and compressive strength, and physical properties such as bulk density were determined from the 3-day FGC samples after the curing process. The results obtained from this study, show that the uses of CF were significant in improving the compressive and flexural strength due to the bonding characteristics of fibers with Geopolymer pastes. Then again, the used of CF results in slightly decrease of the bulk density. The optimal compressive and flexural strength outcomes were at weight percentage 1% of CF.