Synthesis of ceramic materials from ecofriendly geopolymer precursors

Geopolymer materials based on metakaolin were produced using KOH and ecofriendly silica sources, such as rice husk ash and silica fume. The geopolymer produced by ecofriendly alkaline activators had mechanical properties that are similar to the geopolymer synthesized with commercial potassium silicate. Upon exposure of the geopolymer to high temperatures, it maintained thermal stability. Its residual compression strength after exposure to 600 °C reached 50 MPa, and at 1200 °C, it was 110-150 MPa. Exposure to high temperature resulted in sintering processes, structural rearrangement and formation of crystalline phases such as leucite, kalsilite and mullite. Additionally, upon production of 1 m3 of ecofriendly geopolymer paste, the global warming potential emissions were reduced by 47.45% (RHA100) and 39.4% (SF100) compared with commercial potassium silicate.