Research of alkali-activated materials and geopolymers suggests their increased ability to transfer the electric charge thus indicating their suitability for self-sensing and other multifunctional composites. In this paper, the electrical properties of metakaolin geopolymer are enhanced by the incorporated steel microfibres that also improve the mechanical and fractural properties of the composite. Selected electrical properties of metakaolin geopolymer mortars with steel microfibres (up to 30 % of metakaolin wt.) were assessed via impedance spectroscopy analysis and followed by testing their compressive and flexural strength. Mercury intrusion porosimetry and SEM imaging enabled to characterize the binder microstructure and quality of fibre-matrix bonding.
A new design concept for a thermoelectric generator with multiscale, multiphase, multifunctional composites
