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. 2019 Nov 4;12(21):3624.
doi: 10.3390/ma12213624.

Effect of Nanosilica on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of PVA Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer Composite (PVA-FRGC)

Hasan Assaedi  1 , Thamer Alomayri  2 , Ayesha Siddika  3 , Faiz Shaikh  4 , Hatem Alamri  5 , Subaer Subaer  6 , It-Meng Low  7
Affiliations

Effect of Nanosilica on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of PVA Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer Composite (PVA-FRGC)

Hasan Assaedi et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

This paper presents the effects of various nanosilica (NS) contents on the mechanical properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber-reinforced geopolymer composites (PVA-FRGC). Microstructure analysis with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the geopolymer composites. The results showed that the mechanical properties in terms of compressive strength, impact strength, and flexural behavior were improved due to the addition of NS to the PVA-FRGC. The optimum NS content was 1.0 to 2.0 wt%, which exhibited highest improvement in the above mechanical properties. Microstructure analysis showed that the addition of NS up to an optimum level densified the microstructure of the matrix as well as the PVA fiber-geopolymer matrix interface.

Keywords: PVA fibers; geopolymer; mechanical properties; nanosilica.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
XRD patterns of fly ash and nanosilica particles.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Compressive strength of PVA fiber-reinforced geopolymer composites (PVA-FRGC) at various nanosilica contents.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Variation of flexural modulus and flexural strength of all composites as a function of nanosilica contents.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Load–midspan deflection of all composites.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Toughness indices of composites.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Variation of impact strength of geopolymer composites as a function of nanosilica content.
Figure 7
Figure 7
XRD patterns of geopolymer composites.
Figure 8
Figure 8
SEM micrograph showing the microstructure of fractured surface of (a) PVA-FRGC-1, (b) PVA-FRGC-2, (c) PVA-FRGC-3 and (d) close-up of PVA-FRGC-1.
Figure 8
Figure 8
SEM micrograph showing the microstructure of fractured surface of (a) PVA-FRGC-1, (b) PVA-FRGC-2, (c) PVA-FRGC-3 and (d) close-up of PVA-FRGC-1.
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