Physical and mechanical properties of geopolymer mortars containing diameters of fly ash light weight aggragate under different curing conditions

In this study, geopolymer mortar was produced by using light fly ash aggregates (HUKA) manufactured by cold bonding method. The fresh, physical and mechanical properties of the mortars obtained were investigated. Mixtures were prepared by using HUKA in different grain sizes, fly ash (UK) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (YFC) as binder, NaOH and Na2SiO3 as alkali activator solutions and water. The produced samples were subjected to hot water and normal water curing. Unit volume weight (BHA), dry specific gravity, apparent specific gravity and dry surface saturated specific gravity values of geopolymer mortars were determined while slump-flow diameters were measured in the fresh state. Afterwards, water absorption, porosity, compressive strength, flexural strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UTH) and sorptivity tests were performed at 28 days to investigate the effect of grain diameters of HUKA and curing conditions. According to the results, the decrease in the particle diameter caused an increase in the slump-flow diameter with the effect of water. More positive results were obtained in geopolymer mortars subjected to hot water curing compared to water curing. For this reason, the highest compressive strength was obtained as 53.18 MPa at 28 days for M2_1250_1-3.15 mixture subjected to hot water curing.