MICROSTRUCTURAL ANALYSIS AND SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT OF GLASS POWDER BASED GEOPOLYMER PASTE
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Abstract
The present study investigates the microstructural characteristics of geopolymer paste containing Fly Ash (FA), Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS), and waste Glass Powder (GP). Glass powder was incorporated at replacement levels of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% to evaluate its influence on geopolymer gel formation and matrix densification. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analyses were conducted under ambient and elevated temperature curing conditions.
SEM analysis revealed that incorporation of glass powder improved the compactness and homogeneity of geopolymer paste by reducing porosity and microcracks. The geopolymer mix containing 15% glass powder exhibited the densest matrix formation. EDS analysis confirmed increased silicon and calcium-rich geopolymer gel formation with increasing glass powder content. The Si/Al ratio increased from 2.14 for the control mix to 2.87 for the mix containing 15% glass powder, indicating enhanced geopolymerization.
The study demonstrates that waste glass powder can be effectively utilized as a sustainable supplementary precursor material for improving the microstructural performance of geopolymer paste while contributing toward sustainable construction and waste management practices.
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