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Potassium geopolymer foams made with silica fume pore forming agent for thermal insulation

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Abstract

Porous potassium based geopolymers with a mutli-scale porosity were synthesized. Silica fume is introduced as an additive to the geopolymer formulation. The free silicon contained inside this silica fume is oxidized in alkaline solution, releasing molecular hydrogen which generates the porosity. Previous work has shown how the porosity can be controlled with temperature, repeated temperature cycles and the mass introduced. Using this protocol, homogeneous foams were made and then studied with scanning electron microscopy. In particular the foam expansion has been followed with time in relation to the microstructure. The thermal conductivity values of the foams were evaluated using a fluxmeter method. The effective thermal conductivities are comprised between 0.12 and 0.35 W m−1 K−1 for apparent densities ranging from 0.40 to 0.85 g cm−3. The corresponding calculated pore volume fractions are in the range of 65–85%. The interest of this material is that it combines the advantages of low bulk density and insulating properties with the characteristics of a geopolymer skeleton. Literature reports a very good fire and acid/base resistance, a low cost of production and the possibility of recycling industrial waste in the form of silica fume.

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Notes

  1. Ferropem : 517 avenue de la Boisse 73025 Chambery Cedex, France.

  2. AGS, 17270 Clerac, France.

  3. CAPTEC, 22, Allée des Ecuries—PA de la plaine, 59493 Villeneuve d’Ascq, France.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Groupe d’Etude des Matériaux Hétérogènes, Centre Européen de la Céramique, 12, rue atlantis, 87068, Limoges cedex, France

    Joseph Henon, Arnaud Alzina, Joseph Absi, David Stanley Smith & Sylvie Rossignol

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  1. Joseph Henon
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  2. Arnaud Alzina
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  3. Joseph Absi
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  4. David Stanley Smith
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  5. Sylvie Rossignol
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Correspondence to Sylvie Rossignol.

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Henon, J., Alzina, A., Absi, J. et al. Potassium geopolymer foams made with silica fume pore forming agent for thermal insulation. J Porous Mater 20, 37–46 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10934-012-9572-3

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