Influence of Curing Temperature on Metakaolin-Based Geopolymers
Geopolymers, also known as inorganic polymers, are aluminosilicates with cementing characteristics that have great application potential. They are produced by the alkaline activation of aluminosilicates precursors such as industrial wastes, calcined clays, natural minerals, among others and have their properties intimately associated to characteristics of the precursor materials and curing conditions. In this sense, this study aims to evaluate the mechanical behavior of geopolymers obtained from metakaolin according to the curing temperature. The geopolymerization was reached by the mixture of metakaolin with NaOH and the curing of the specimens was held at room temperature, 60°C and 100°C. The specimens were characterized by X-ray diffraction, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and SEM. The mechanical strength was determined by flexural test. The results show that the process of geopolymerization suffers a direct influence of the curing temperature used.