Abstract
Geopolymerization is a process by which Al-Si minerals undergo dissolution and polymerization in an alkaline solution to form a monolithic material with a high mechanical strength (Davidovits, 1991, 1994). In this study, the factors affecting the geopolymerization of Na-feldspar (albite) and K-feldspar (microciine) were investigated. It was found that both Na-feldspar and K-feldspar are reactive in geopolymerization with the resultant geopolymers showing a high compressive strength. The leaching ability, the proper molar ratio of Si/Al in the geopolymeric gel phase and the higher average hardness of the undissolved particles remaining in the geopolymers are found to greatly affect the ultimate compressive strength of the formed geopolymers.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Davidovits, J., 1991, “Geopolymers: Inorganic polymeric new materials,” J. Thermal Anal., Vol. 37, pp. 1633–1656.
Davidovits, J., 1994, “Geopolymers: Inorganic polymeric new materials,” J. Materials Education, Vol. 16, 91–139.
Dietrich, R.V., and Skinner, B.J., 1979, Rocks and Rock Minerals, John Wiley & Son, New York.
Lindsay, W.L., 1979, Chemical Equilibria in Soils, John Wiley, New York.
Nickel, E.H., and Nichols, M.C., 1991, Mineral Reference Manual, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York.
Phair, J.W., van Deventer, J.S.J., and Smith, J.D., 2000, “Mechanism of polysialation in the incorporation of zirconia into fly ash-based geopolymers,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., Vol. 39, pp. 2925–2934.
Van Jaarsveld, J.G.S., van Deventer, J.S.J., and Lorenzen, L., 1998, “Factors affecting the immobilization of metals in geopolymerized flyash,” Metall. Mater. Trans. B., Vol. 29, pp. 283–291.
Van Jaarsveld, J.G.S., and van Deventer, J.S.J., 1999, “Effect of the alkali metal activator on the properties of fly ash-based geopolymers,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., Vol. 38, pp. 3932–3941.
Xu, H., and van Deventer, J.S.J., 2000, “The geopolymerisation of aluminosilicate minerals,” Int. J. Miner. Process., Vol. 59, pp. 247–266.
Xu, H., van Deventer, J.S.J., and Lukey, G.C., 2001, “The effect of alkali metals on the preferential geopolymerisation of stilbite/kaolinite mixtures,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., Vol. 40, pp. 3749–3756.
Xu, H., and van Deventer, J.S.J., 2002, “Geopolymerisation of Aluminosilicate Minerals” Ph.D. Thesis, University of Melbourne, Australia.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Xu, H., van Deventer, J.S.J. Factors affecting the geopolymerization of alkali-feldspars. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 19, 209–214 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403271
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403271