Investigation of freezing-thawing behavior of geopolymer mortars with perlite

In this thesis, it is aimed to use geopolymer mortar to reduce the CO2 emission from cement production. Used as raw material in the preparation of mortar samples; perlite, fly ash, blast furnace slag and sand materials were mixed in different proportions. Sodium hydroxide solution and sodium silicate solution were used as alkali activators in geopolymer mortars. In addition to these, the samples were produced in two different ways, with and without air-entraining additives. The prepared mixtures were placed in cylindrical metal molds with a diameter of 50 mm and a height of 50 mm by applying 50 bar pressure. Sand was replaced with perlite at 25%, 50% and 75% volume by volume and perlite substituted mortars were prepared. The prepared samples were cured in an oven at 85 °C for 24 hours. Samples of 7, 28, and 56 days entered freeze-thaw cycles, respectively. The physical properties of the samples that completed the freeze-thaw cycles were investigated. Then the compressive strength tests (7, 28 and 56 days) of the samples were carried out. In addition, the effects of the produced mortars on freeze-thaw were investigated. In this study, the effects of not only the weight loss but also the physical and mechanical properties of the samples after freezing-thawing were examined. Chemical, mineralogical and SEM analyzes were performed on the materials used in mortar production. The mineralogical analysis of the materials was made with the XRD method, and the chemical analyzes were made with the XRF method. As a result, there was a positive increase in physical and mechanical properties in the series where the perlite ratio was 25% in perlite geopolymer mortars.