Study on solids-to-liquid and alkaline activator ratios on kaolin-based geopolymers

[Display omitted] ► Solids-to-liquid and activator ratios affect significantly the compressive strength. ► Strength of kaolin-based geopolymers increased with the ageing time. ► The geopolymer do not destroy in water proving the presences of geopolymer bondings. Kaolin and alkali activator were mixed with the solids-to-liquid ratios in range of 0.60–1.20 (Al2O3/Na2O molar ratio of 0.63–1.27). Sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide ranged between 0.16 and 0.36 (SiO2/Na2O molar ratio of 3.19–3.67) were mixed together to prepare alkali activator. The results concluded that compressive strength was affected by both S/L and Na2SiO3/NaOH ratios and strength increased with ageing day. Both these ratio also influenced the workability of the mixes. Besides, the kaolin geopolymers showed good volume stability in water. Compressive strength was highest at S/L and Na2SiO3/NaOH ratios of 1.00 and 0.32, respectively. In term of molar ratios, optimum was achieved at Al2O3/Na2O of 1.09 and SiO2/Na2O molar ratios of 3.58. Microstructures showed that kaolin particles were slightly activated with large part of unreacted raw materials remained in the system. Geopolymer sample reduced in peak intensities over time as presented by XRD analysis and the presence of crystalline peaks in the kaolin geopolymers was Zeolite X. FTIR analysis showed the presence of geopolymer bonding increased over age. In overall, kaolin geopolymers does not undergo complete geopolymerization and showed slow strength development. Vast research works have to be carried out to further improve the properties of kaolin geopolymers.