Modification of mechanical and thermal properties of fly ash-based geopolymer by the incorporation of steel slag

• Steel making slag addition improves the strength of fly ash based geopolymers.
• Slag addition negatively affects the thermal stability of geopolymers above 600 °C.
• Crystallization of amorphous gel phase into gehlenite was observed at 800 °C.

Geopolymeric binders (GB) were produced using fly ash (FA) and electric arc furnace slag (EAFS). The slag has been added in the range of 0–40%. The effects of slag content on the strength, microstructure and thermal resistance were evaluated. It was found that the amount of EAFS up to 30% positively affects the strength evolution of GB. The main reaction product of FA/EAFS blends was amorphous N–(C)–A–S–H gel along with geopolymer-type gel (N–A–S–H). Thermal resistance of GB was considered from the standpoint of their mechanical and dimensional stability after heating in the temperature interval of 600–800 °C. The changes in mechanical and thermal properties of GB after heating are attributed to the changes in their structure. The results have shown that EAFS negatively affects the thermal resistance of GB above 600 °C due to the phase transition and morphological transformation of the amorphous gel phase.