PSI - Issue 70

Kavitha E. et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 70 (2025) 588–595

590

there is no lot of research was focused on these neem waste as used as fibre so in this investigation the main aim to examine the neem fibre to be replaced as natural fibre in geopolymer binder. 2. Materials and methods The materials used in these studies were Cement, fly ash, GGBS, Sodium silicates, sodium hydroxide and neem fibre. In this research, 50% of fly ash and 50% GGBS were used as the basic raw material for preparing a mortar of geopolymer with 1:3 ratio. Na 2 SiO 3 and NaOH were mixed together was utilized as an alkaline activator with two different molarity of 10M and 12M.These materials were tested to examine their properties based on standard IS codal provision. 2.1. Fly ash and GGBFS In this research work, the one of the binders utilized was (class F) FA, the by product was obtained from Mettur thermal power plant. The FA properties are listed in Table.1. For this study GGBS is obtained from JSW steel works Ltd., Mecheri, Salem and is used as binder in the mortar mixes. It is the by-product obtained as glassy in nature and its ground into minute powder as same as cement particles. The tested value is shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Examined Characteristics of Fly Ash and GGBFS. S.No Characteristics FA

GGBFS

1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9

Specific Gravity

2.24

2.87

Fineness Colour

434 m²/kg Light -grey

-

Off-White 1076 kg/m³

Bulk Density

-

Chemical composition (%) 5 SiO 2

58.21 22.10 5.12 2.83 1.53 2.74

35.2 19.9 0.53 33.7

Al 2 O 3 Fe 2 O 3 CaO MgO

8.4

10

SO 3

2.30

2.1. Manufactured Sand (M-Sand) In this work, the size of M-sand passing through 4.75mm sieve is utilized. The obtained values for the M-sand characteristics are 0.63% for water absorption, 2.37 for fineness modulus (Zone II), and 2.58 for specific gravity . 2.2. Chemical used The polymerization activator solution is prepared by using Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) and Sodium Silicate (Na 2 SiO 3 ) in the crystal pellet form with purity of percentage 97 – 98 is utilized in this work. Na 2 SiO 3 is gel form of liquid which is used in different form and often as liquid glass. In the current investigation, the ratio of Na 2 SiO 3 to SiO 2 is chosen as 2.0.

2.4. Alkaline Activators

At least 24 hours are required for the polymerization solution to activate the geopolymer process which is prepared with mixing of Sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate. In this study the concentration was set at 10M and 12M molarity. 66kg/m 3 of NaoH solution is required to make 10M and 12M molarity solution. The ratio of Na 2 SiO 3 solution with a sodium hydroxide to sodium hydroxide by the mass of 0.4 is used to make the solution.