Dicle Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi, vol.9, no.2, pp.79-88, 2020 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Compressive strength development of class F fly ash geopolymer activated by
sodium hydroxide was compared between initial heat curing at 75ºC for 24
hours and the ambient medium. Class F geopolymeric mortar was produced
with standard Rilem sand, sodium hydroxide, and water. Mortar mixtures
ratios were 3, 1, and 0.288 for sand, fly ash, and water, respectively. Some
samples were cured in laboratory conditions; some samples were heat cured
for 24 hours at 75ºC. Ambient curing medium result with non-measurable low
compressive strength up to 7 days, however significant strength development
observed in longer curing time up to six months. Heat curing developed higher
strength at all times than ambient curing did. It was concluded that heat cured
geopolymer samples could be utilized in construction materials, while
utilization of non-heat cured samples was not practical due to its longer curing
duration needs.