title: A Comprehensive Study of the Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Fly Ash Based Geopolymer.
abstract: As a cementitious material, geopolymers show a high quasi-brittle behavior and a relatively low fracture energy. To overcome such a weakness, incorporation of fibers to a brittle matrix is a well-known technique to enhance the flexural properties. This study comprehensively evaluates the short and long term impacts of different volume percentages of polypropylene fiber (PPF) reinforcement on fly ash based geopolymer composites. Different characteristics of the composite were compared at fresh state by flow measurement and hardened state by variation of shrinkage over time to assess the response of composites under flexural and compressive load conditions. The fiber-matrix interface, fiber surface and toughening mechanisms were assessed using field emission scan electron microscopy (FESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results show that incorporation of PPF up to 3 wt % into the geopolymer paste reduces the shrinkage and enhances the energy absorption of the composites. While, it might reduce the ultimate flexural and compressive strength of the material depending on fiber content.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Navid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ranjbar
authors.affiliation: DTU Nanotech, Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehrali
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Behnia
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Javadi Pordsari
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Center of advanced Material, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehrali
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: U Johnson
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Alengaram
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohd Zamin
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Jumaat
mesh_terms: D060729:Coal Ash; D019245:Compressive Strength; D008422:Materials Testing; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011126:Polypropylenes
chemical_list: D060729:Coal Ash; D011108:Polymers; D011126:Polypropylenes