Experimental optimization of metakaolin and nanosilica composite for geopolymer concrete paver blocks

In the recent past, there is an increased interest throughout the research community to minimize the production of ozone harming substances which directly affect global warming. Cement production and consumption emit 7% ozone‐depleting substances into the atmosphere consistently. In an attempt to address this challenge, one of the efficient decisions being employed as of late incorporates the utilization of geopolymer concrete (GPC). In this paper, metakaolin is viewed as the key component which is rich in silica and alumina, responsible for the strength and durability of the GPC mix product. It is exposed to varying compositions to discover the ideal compositions to find out the optimum loading that gives the best properties and performance to the GPC paver blocks. Additionally, nanosilica which reduces the pores is included little amounts to the optimized GPC mix to comprehend the additional impact it accommodates the advancement of the performance of GPC mix paver blocks. In order to examine the performance of GPC paver blocks, properties such as density, compressive strength, water absorption, and abrasion resistance were evaluated for different loading levels of metakaolin (10, 20, 30, and 40%) and nanosilica (0.5 and 1%) GPC mix samples. It is seen that 30% metakaolin and 0.5% addition of nanosilica give optimum results than other combination of materials in the GPC mix.