Tailoring Properties of Electric Arc Furnace Slag Based Geopolymer Through Fly Ash Incorporation

Abstract

Geopolymers are novel binders and are sustainable alternatives for conventional Portland cement. Geopolymers have emerged as a phenomenon of exceptional interest for the construction industry due to their excellent mechanical properties and sustainability in the past few years. A significant factor in producing geopolymers is the selection of the precursors. In this study, electric arc furnace slag (EAFS) obtained as waste from the steel industry is used as the precursor, and the influence of fly ash (FA) on the properties of the developed geopolymer is investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) are used for material characterization and for analysing the microstructural development.