Effect of Copper Slag on Micro, Macro, and Flexural Characteristics of Geopolymer Concrete

The present investigation is mainly focused on the effect of copper slag (CS) on micro, macro, and flexural characteristics of geopolymer concrete (GPC). In this study, copper slag was used as a partial replacement of fine aggregates at different levels (0%, 20%, 40%, and 60%) by weight. Fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) were used as binders and a combination of sodium hydroxide (8 M) and sodium silicate solution were used for activating the binders. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses were conducted to examine the microstructure of the GPC. In macrolevel studies, a compressive strength of GPC was determined, and prediction models were developed to assess the compressive strength using nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques. The load and moment characteristics of reinforced geopolymer concrete (RGPC) beams were also studied. From the results, it is concluded that the incorporation of CS shows better performance in the micro, macro, and flexural properties of GPC.