BEHAVIOR OF GEOPOLYMERS SUBJECTED TO FERTILIZERS SOLUTIONS

Abstract

Building components present in fertilizers production line are continuously subjected to the corrosive action of present solutions and their vapors. Cement based structures have shown severe deterioration over time to the extent that has triggered the search for substitute materials. In the present thesis, geopolymer bricks, alternatively based on kaolin and fly ash were prepared using a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate as alkaline activators. These bricks were submerged in solutions of ammonium nitrate, urea and ammonium sulfate at 0.5M, 1M and 1.5M molarities for time periods up to 28 days. The solutions were refreshed on daily basis to assess their corrosion resistance under extremely harsh conditions. Brick samples, consisting of three specimens each, were taken out of the solutions at time intervals of 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, dried and checked for loss in weight and compressive strength.