Title: Innovative products based on Geopolymer composites with waste wood addition (Pre-Geo)
Duration of the project: 01.07.2024 – 31.08.2025
Project code: GNaC 2023_271/2024
Funder: Fondul pentru Finanţarea Cercetării Ştiinţifice Universitare, contract CNFIS-FDI-2024-0598 and “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University from Iasi (TUIASI) own funds
Program: National Research Grants – ARUT
Project type: Research projects to stimulate young researchers from ARUT Universities.
Abstract
Geopolymer composites with wood waste addition are an eco-friendly alternative to conventional Ordinary Portland Cement-based materials. However, the type and characteristics of raw materials (wood or mineral waste) significantly influence the final properties of geopolymer composites. Therefore, in order to obtain alkaline-activated geopolymers containing wood waste, the obtaining technology must be tailored according to the characteristics of the waste locally. In this project, mineral wastes (fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag) from different sources are used to obtain the matrix of the composite, while two types of wood waste (sawdust and wood chips) are used as reinforcing elements. Accordingly, the preparation method of these composite materials will be formulated and optimized, and in order to promote their industrial development, their possible use in civil engineering applications will be studied by obtaining and characterizing different types of products. Therefore, this eco-friendly manufacturing technology will enable the reuse of waste materials in order to develop innovative products.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The overall objective of the PreGeo project is to validate, under laboratory conditions, the technology to obtain a new class of geopolymer composites with wood waste addition, cured at room temperature. Moreover, in order to ensure the transition of this technology to the industrial level, the obtained materials will be used to obtain products for civil engineering applications.
The specific objectives are:
Validation under laboratory conditions of geopolymer composites with wood waste addition by characterizing the chemical, structural, mineralogical, mechanical and thermal properties of three types of geopolymers based on thermal power plant ash.
Obtain products based on geopolymer composites with wood waste addition, taking into account the energy efficiency and feasibility of buildings made of composite materials.
Dissemination of the results obtained through publications in journals, patenting of the obtaining methodology, participation in conferences and exhibitions.
WORKPLAN
In the first stage, geopolymer composites will be obtained according to the schematic representation in Figure 1. In the second stage, the materials will be validated under laboratory conditions by advanced characterization of the materials from microstructural (SEM and optical micrograph), mineralogical (XRD), chemical (EDAX, XRF), mechanical (compressive strength and flexural strength) and thermal (TGA and DTA) points of view. The tests will be performed on samples obtained according to relevant standards. The identification of possible applications for the obtained geopolymers will be conducted following its validation at the laboratory level in terms of chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties. In the last stage, products suitable for civil engineering applications (building facades, floors, decorative panels, bricks, kerbs, paving stones, slabs, etc.) with standardized dimensions will be obtained and validated. All tests will be carried out using the infrastructure of the Technical University “Gheorghe Asachi” of Iasi. The project is structured in three stages (each aiming to fulfill an objective). Therefore, each stage represents an intermediate target. Accordingly, the first stage will aim at obtaining geopolymer composites with the addition of wood waste; in the second stage, the composition with the best mechanical characteristics will be used to obtain prefabricated products with applications in civil engineering, and the third stage aims at implementing the project and disseminating the results.
Figure 1. Schematic representation of the technological flow of geopolymer composites obtaining.
RESULTS
Geopolymer composites with wood waste addition are an eco-friendly alternative to conventional Ordinary Portland Cement-based materials. However, the type and characteristics of raw materials (wood or mineral waste) significantly influence the final properties of geopolymer composites. Therefore, to obtain alkaline-activated geopolymers containing wood waste, the technology must be tailored to the characteristics of the local waste. In this project, mineral wastes (fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag) from different sources are used to obtain the composite matrix, while two types of wood waste (sawdust and wood chips) are used as reinforcing elements. Accordingly, the preparation method of these composite materials will be formulated and optimized, and to promote their industrial development, their possible use in civil engineering applications will be studied by obtaining and characterizing different types of products. Therefore, this eco-friendly manufacturing technology will enable the reuse of waste materials to develop innovative products.
CONTACT
Project Director
Senior Lecturer Dumitru-Doru BURDUHOS-NERGIȘ, PhD, Eng.
Phone: +40741479681
E-mail: dumitru-doru.burduhos-nergis@academic.tuiasi.ro or bunduc.doru@yahoo.com