Open AccessThe influence of alumino-silicate matrix composition on surface hydrophobic properties
Author(s) -
Ljiljana Kljajević,
Zuzana Melichová,
Danilo Kisić,
Miloš Nenadović,
Bratislav Ž. Todorović,
Vladimir B. Pavlović,
Snežaenadović
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
science of sintering/science of sintering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.309
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 1820-7413
pISSN - 0350-820X
DOI - 10.2298/sos1902163k
Subject(s) - contact angle , materials science , geopolymer , metakaolin , ethylene glycol , silicate , micrograph , chemical engineering , microstructure , surface energy , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , composite material , scanning electron microscope , cement , fly ash , engineering
The purpose of this investigation is to investigate the hydrophobicity of geopolymers, new alumino-silicate materials and the influence of Si/Al ratio on their surface properties. Contact angle measurement (CAM) as reliable indicator of hydrophobicity was determined for synthesized geopolymers using water and ethylene-glycol as reference liquids. Geopolymers were synthesized from various precursors: kaolin, bentonite and diatomite. Characterization of phase structure and microstructure was performed by XRD, FTIR, SEM/EDX methods. Contact angle measurements confirmed that the geopolymers synthesized from metakaolin are the most porous, which can be explained by the smallest Si/Al ratio. The maximum value of contact angle and free surface energy (110.2 mJ/m2) has been achieved for geopolymer synthesized by diatoms (GPMD). SEM micrograph of GPMD shows a homogeneous surface with some longitudinal cavities in the gel and is significantly different from the micrographs of other two geopolymer samples, GPMB and GPMK.