Effect of Lime Sludge Addition on Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of Pond Ash Based Geopolymer Concrete

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62638/ZasMat1313

Abstract

This study investigates the addition of varying lime sludge (LS) proportions, and curing durations (3, 7, and 28 days) on the properties of geopolymer concrete (GC). All GC mixes were prepared with an 8 M sodium hydroxide solution and a fixed liquid-to-binder ratio of 0.4. The mechanical properties of the LS-based GC mixes were assessed and than control mix comprised entirely of pond ash (100% PA). Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was performed to investigate the microstructural differences between the control mix (100% PA, LSGC0) and the optimized mix with 50% PA and 50% LS (LSGC5). The results revealed that the LSGC5 mix achieved notable improvements in compressive, split tensile, and flexural strengths compared to the LSGC0 mix. SEM analysis highlighted the formation of a denser and more cohesive microstructure in the LSGC5 mix, attributed to the enhanced generation of calcium-alumino-silicate-hydrate (C–A–S–H) gels, which were less prevalent in the 100% PA mix. These findings demonstrate the efficacy of lime sludge as a sustainable replacement material, significantly enhancing the mechanical and microstructural properties of GC while reducing dependency on traditional cementitious components.

Keywords:

Geopolymer Concrete, Pond Ash, Lime Sludge, Mechanical Properties, Microstructural Properties
Supporting Agencies
K.S.Rangasamy College of Technology

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Published

11-07-2025

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Scientific paper