Abstract
The paper reports the outcome of the research work on mechanical and microstructural changes to palm oil fuel ash engineered alkali-activated cementitious composite (POFA-EACC) mortar exposed to different levels elevated temperatures (300–900°C) for 2 h. POFA-EACC mortar utilised in the study was prepared from POFA activated with liquid sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide and reinforcement was provided by 2% volume fraction of polyvinyl alcohol fibres. The changes in the POFA-EACC mortar microstructure were investigated by means of SEM/EDS, XRD and FTIR. After exposure, the compressive strength of mortar specimens exposed to 300°C and 900°C temperatures for all alkali-activated ratios reduced while specimens exposed to 600°C temperature recorded improved strength for all AA ratios. The increase in strength of the specimens exposed to 600°C is due to the microstructural strengthening aided by post-heating solidification of the molten phase of the POFA-EACC mortar. The highly manifested changes in the phase composition were revealed in the POFA-EACC morphology and residual compressive strength after exposure.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 166-176 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Materials at High Temperatures |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords
- Palm oil fuel ash (POFA)
- alkali-activated mortar
- compressive strength
- elevated
- temperature
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ceramics and Composites
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering
- Metals and Alloys
- Materials Chemistry