Machines. Technologies. Materials.
Vol. 19 (2025), Issue 2, pg(s) 79-82

MATERIALS

Lightweight heavy geopolymer foam based on fayalite slag: Influence of alkali concentration on cellular structure

  • 1 Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IMC-BAS) Sofia, Bulgaria

Abstract

The lightweight cellular building materials has driven significant interest recently due to increasing requirements of energy efficiency of the buildings. This study investigates the potential of fayalite slag, a by-product of copper production, as a precursor for lightweight geopolymer foams. Geopolymer foams were synthesized using a combination of fayalite slag and metakaolin, employing gas forming agents to achieve a porous cellular macrostructure. The influence of alkali concentration was examined on the cellular structure, physical properties and microstructure (FT-IR) of the resulting materials. The findings contribute to the development of sustainable, highperformance geopolymer materials suitable for insulation and fire-resistant applications.

Keywords

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