Geopolymers synthesized using natural aluminosilicates have high strength and versatility, which allows them to be used in construction, to create heat-resistant coatings, as well as to bind and store waste. Experts from the Institute of Silicate Chemistry studied the influence of various forms of aluminosilicate particles on the properties of geopolymers.
The particles were heated to 750 degrees Celsius and mixed with alkali, which triggered reactions that led to the formation of a polymer network. Mechanical tests have shown that geopolymers containing nanotubes are 1.5-2 times stronger in compression and 2-2.6 times stronger in bending than materials using plate-like or spherical particles.
“High-strength geopolymers will be useful not only in construction. They can “absorb” and retain hazardous compounds, which will help solve the problem of disposal of solid industrial and radioactive waste. This is especially true for Russia as a country with a developed nuclear sector,” explained Olga Golubeva, head of the laboratory of silicate sorbent chemistry at the Institute of Silicate Chemistry.
Source: Ferra
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