Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Geopolymer is an indefinite alumino-silicate material and can be a replacement of

Portland cement because of its lower production energy, does not release greenhouse gases

and used in structures and mortar applications because of its short time strength

development. Geopolymer concrete can be produced from low calcium fly ash and alkaline

solutions which has an excellent property and is well-suited to manufacture precast

concrete products. The most common alkaline liquids used in geopolymerization is the

combination of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (Na2 SiO3 ).

Rice husk ash (RHA) is a by-product from the burning of rice husk. Burning this

rice husk has been found beneficial to make various things that can be used as an admixture

or substitute in cement. With this approach, the entire rice product can be used in an

efficient and environment friendly approach. Our country, which cultivate large quantities

of rice, is having an important issue in disposal of rice husk. Rice husk has a very low

nutritional value and it also takes time to decompose and are not appropriate for

composting. Thus, hundred million tons of rice husk produced globally begins to impact

the environment if not disposed of properly.

An efficient way to dispose the rice cultivation by-products is to incinerate the rice

husk. After the rice husk have been burnt into the kilns, the ash still remains. As the
production rate of rice husk ash is about 20% of the dried rice husk, the amount of RHA

generated yearly is about 20 million tons worldwide (Hwang, 185).

Based on study, the approximate chemical composition of rice husk ash was:

Silicon Dioxide (67.3%), Aluminum Oxide (4.90%), Magnesium Oxide (1.81%), Calcium

Oxide (1.36%), Iron Oxide (0.95%) and Loss on ignition (17.78%). Similar to chemical

composition of fly ash consisting of 20-60% Silicon Dioxide, 5-35% Aluminum Oxide,

10-40% Iron Oxide, 1-12% Calcium Oxide and 0-15% Loss on Ignition. The rice husk ash

is a highly siliceous material that can be used as an admixture in concrete if the rice husk

is burnt in a specific manner. The characteristics of the rice husk ash are dependent on the

components, temperature and time of burning. The carbon content is burnt off and all that

remains is the silica content during the burning process. The high pozzolanic behavior is a

necessity if you intend to use it as an admixture or substitute in concrete. It has been found

and tested that the ideal temperature for producing such results is between 600 °C and 700

°C. Since rice husk ash possess pozzolanic properties same with fly ash, adding chemical

activator such as sodium silicate mixed with varied amount of fly ash can form a

geopolymer concrete.

The reinforcement is used to increase the mechanical strength and rigidity; some

reinforcements are also used to improve high temperature performance and abrasion

resistance. Containers such as flexible foil packs have short useful life, becoming a trash

and a serious problem for environment. Recycling of such packaging is low, compared

with its high production.

 The flexible foil pack beverage containers are made from cellulose (75%), low

density polyethylene (20%), and aluminum (5%). The container can be recycled in three

ways once it is discarded: being incinerated to produce electricity, being recycled for paper

making, and being used for production of sheets and chipboard products. High content of

hydroxyl groups of cellulose fibers makes them susceptible to water absorption.

A possible recycling way for flexible foil packaging is its use as substitute

reinforcement in the elaboration of polymer concrete, improving its properties, such as

lower weight and density, higher mechanical strength, and toughness. (Miguel Martınez-

Lopez et. al, 2015). Since flexible foil pack is cellulose, an idea of fiber-reinforced

composite (FRC) can be associated. Fiber-reinforced composite is a technology that

involves a method of blending, compounding and refining natural fibers to form a high-

strength fiber composite material from cellulosic waste streams in a polymer matrix. Waste

thermoplastics and various group of cellulosic waste including rice husk are the base raw

materials or designated waste used in this instance. Making flexible foil packs as a

reinforcement in a geopolymer concrete will improve the performance of the concrete

itself.

Locally, about 70% of the fly ash produced are stocked. Using fly ash as a

replacement of cement will not only lessen the waste production of it but also can lessen

the material cost of concrete. Fly ash, which is a naturally-occurring products from the coal

combustion process, is a remarkable material that cost-effectively improves the

performance of concrete products. Geopolymer concrete made with fly ash is stronger and
 more durable than traditional concrete. It has also a lower permeability and resists alkali-

silica reaction which results in a longer service life.

1.2 Objective of the study

1.2.1 Main objective

To characterize the properties of fly-ash based geopolymer concrete using

partial substitute of rice husk ash as well as flexible foil packs as reinforcement.

1.2.2 Specific Objectives

 To determine the physical properties of raw materials used in geopolymer

concrete such as rice husk ash, fly ash, and aggregates.


 To determine the mechanical properties of hardened geopolymer concrete

with flexible foil packs such as split-tensile, compressive and flexural

strength.

 To determine the most suitable mix design in fly ash based geopolymer

concrete
1.3 Scope and Delimitation

The main focus of conducting this study is to determine the effect of using

waste materials, specifically rice husk ash and flexible foil packs, in geopolymer

concrete in increasing its strength. These materials to be used are found in local

sources in the Philippines.

This study also covers the use of alkali solution (sodium hydroxide and

sodium silicate) in producing geopolymer concrete in combination with fly ash and

rice husk ash. The study determines the property characterization of fly-ash based

geopolymer with partial substitution of rice husk ash with flexible foil packs as

reinforcement. The use and application of rice husk ash and waste flexible foil packs

are not covered of this study as well as with the alkali solution.

1.4 Significance of the Study

This research aims to contribute for the improvement and innovation of fly

ash based geopolymer concrete by utilizing waste products such as rice husk and

flexible foil packs into a radical and beneficial material.

Waste management is another focus of this research for this aims to restructure

common raw materials used in ordinary concrete by waste products. Main

contributors of waste products in the country are mostly consist of materials made of

plastic and wastes that can't be utilized from agricultural industries which leads to

improper disposal. Since this study involves utilization of agricultural and recyclable

material, specifically those that are considered as garbage that will be used to
partially substitute other constructing materials, this is an eco-friendly way of

addressing the increasing problem that the community faces in regards to waste

production.
 1.5 Conceptual Framework

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT


I. Problem I. Physical Properties of Determination of

Improvement of materials the compressive
physical and 
Specific gravity of strength of fly-ash
mechanical fly ash and rice based geopolymer
concrete with rice
properties of fly- husk ash. husk ash as partial

ash based Fine and coarse substitute and
geopolymer aggregate bulk waste flexible foil
concrete density packs as

Utilization of rice reinforcement

husk ash and II. Geopolymer Concrete

flexible foil packs making Determination of
 flexural strength of
Mixing of raw
materials fly-ash based
II. Material Requirements 
Mixing of alkali geopolymer
 concrete with rice
Fly ash solution husk ash as partial
 
Rice husk ash Molding of substitute and

Sodium silicate geopolymer waste flexible foil
Solution concrete packs as
 
Sodium hydroxide Curing reinforcement

Flexible foil packs
strips III. Testing of Molded

Fine and coarse Geopolymer

aggregates Water absorption
 
Superplasticizer Unit weight
III. Knowledge/Concept

Rice husk ash is
high silica content

Rice husk is an
agricultural waste

Flexible foil packs
have high cellulose
content which is
good for fiber.
1.6 Definition of Terms

Alkali Solution – are concentrated aqueous alkali hydroxide or silicate

solution, with soluble alkali metals, usually Sodium- (Na) or Potassium- (K) based.

High alkali liquids are used to induce the silicon and aluminum atoms in the source

materials to dissolve and form the geopolymeric binder (Madheswaran et. Al, 2013).

Compressive strength - is a measure of the concrete's ability to resist loads

which tend to compress it. The compressive strength is measured by crushing

cylindrical concrete specimens in compression testing machine.

https://www.aboutcivil.org/compressive-strength-of-concrete.html

Concrete - is a construction material composed of cement, fine aggregates

(sand) and coarse aggregates mixed with water which hardens with time. Portland

cement is the mostly used type of cement for production of concrete.

https://theconstructor.org/concrete/

Concentration of a solution – expresses the amount of solute present in a

given amount of solution or dissolved in a given amount of solvent (Alberts et. Al,

2002).
 Flexural Strength – is one measure tensile strength of concrete. It is a

measure of an unreinforced concrete beam of slab to resists failure in bending.

https://www.nrmca.org/aboutconcrete/cips/16p.pdf

Fly Ash - burnt residue of pulverized coal (http://flyash.com/about-fly-ash).

Geopolymer – a kind of inorganic polymer which is a product of alkali liquid

used to react with Silicon (Si) & Aluminum (Al) in by-product material to produce

binders called Geopolymer Cement (Davidovits, 1994)

Geopolymerization – a geosynthesis– a reaction that chemically integrates

minerals. It is a combination of sodium hydroxide (naoh) or potassium hydroxide

(KOH) and sodium silicate or potassium silicate (Divya & Rubina 2007).

Molarity - amount of concentration of a solution expressed in the number

of moles of solute per liter of solution.

(http://www.chemteam.info/Solutions/Molarity).

Rice husk ash (RHA) - is a by-product from the burning of rice husk (Zemke

et. Al, 2009)

 Sodium hydroxide – also known as Caustic Soda, is a white brittle solid

NaOH that is a strong caustic base used especially in making soap, rayon, and paper

(pubchem, 2005).

Sodium silicate - also known as water glass or liquid glass, is a compound

used in making detergents and also used in textile industry as bonding agent

(innovateus, 2011)

Superplasticizer - is an admixture for concrete, which are added in order to

reduce the water content in a mixture or to slow the setting rate of the concrete while

retaining the flowing properties of a concrete mixture.

www.engr.psu.edu/ce/courses/ce584/concrete/library/materials/Admixture/Admixtu

resMain.htm

Tensile strength – is the resistance of am material to longitudinal stress

measured by the minimum amount of longitudinal stress required to rupture the

material. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/tensile-strength