UTILIZATION OF FLY ASH AND CONCRETE RESIDUE IN THE PRODUCTION OF GEOPOLYMER BRICKS

Abstract

This study presents the development of geopolymer bricks synthetized from industrial waste, including fly ash mixed with concrete residue containing aluminosilicate compound. The above two ingredients are mixed according to five ratios: 100:0, 95:5, 90:10, 85:15, and 80:20. The mixture's physico-mechanical properties, in terms of water absorption and the compressive strength of the geopolymer bricks, are investigated according to the TIS 168-2546 standard. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses are used to investigate the microstructure and the elemental and phase composition of the brick specimens. The results indicate that the combination of fly ash and concrete residue represents a suitable approach to brick production, as required by the TIS 168–2546 standard.