Study on the mechanical and thermal properties of one-part geopolymer composite for high performance in energy piles

Abstract

One-part geopolymer is a single-component, easy-to-use geopolymer material that offers simplified and cost-effective production processes for eco-friendly building materials. This study aimed to optimize the thermal and mechanical properties of one-part geopolymer for geothermal energy applications by incorporating both silicon carbide (SiC) sand and SiC powder. Various mix designs of one-part geopolymer composites were investigated, and their flexural and compressive strength were analysed. Thermal conductivity was measured using a novel home-made test set-up. Results showed that the compressive strength of one-part geopolymer composite can be as high as 83 MPa under ambient curing condition. The relationship between flexural and compressive strength was also studied, with the PCA code providing the best fitting precision. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity of one-part geopolymer composite was significantly increased with the combined application of SiC powder and SiC particles. These findings suggest that geopolymer composites with SiC materials are suitable for geothermal energy applications.

Keywords

• One-part geopolymer
• Silicon carbide
• Strength
• Thermal conductivity