Properties of Geopolymer Concrete from Local Fly Ash (FA) and Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA)

Geopolymer is an inorganic polymer from activation of source materials that rich of silica and alumina with alkaline activator. Previous studies reveal that the geopolymer has engineering properties and durability, which is equivalent or higher than the Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) concrete. This paper presents properties of geopolymer concrete prepared with local Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) and Fly Ash (FA) from agro-industrial waste in Riau Province, Indonesia. The POFA and FA were activated by a combination of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate. The specimens were cured at room temperature for 24 hours before steam cured for another 24 hours at 60OC. Hardened properties namely compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength and modulus of elasticity, and water penetration of both POFA and FA geopolymer concrete were determined at 7, 14 and 28 days. Results showed that local POFA and FA as geopolymer source materials could produce mix with strength 19-22.5 MPa at 28 days. The compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength and modulus of elasticity of both geopolymer tended to increase slightly with time. In general, the results suggest that the local POFA and FA are potential as source material to produce geopolymer concrete.