The Effect of Activator on the Properties of Low-Calcium Alkali-Activated Mortars

Properties of the low-calcium alkali-activated mortars (AAMs) made from the metakaolin, waste glass and sand were tested in this research. Mortar specimens with dimensions 40x40x160mm were prepared. The correlation between development of microstructure and concentration of NaOH solution used for preparing of the AAMs was observed. Structure investigation with SEM and FTIR was performed to describe the formation of microstructure in low-calcium alkali-activated mortars. The research results aimed at the improvement of physical and mechanical properties of the AAMs by increasing the activator's concentration from 2 to 10 mol/kg H2O were in concordance with the structure development of AAMs. The 28 days old AAMs with a compressive strength up to 31MPa and water absorption lower than 2% were obtained by using activator with concentration 10 mol/kg H2O.