ISSN 0004-881X

Perlite Waste As A Precursor For Geopolymer Formation

by E. R. Vance¹, D. S. Perera¹, P. Imperia¹, D. J. Cassidy¹, J. Davis¹ and J. T. Gourley²

1) Institute of Materials Engineering, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Menai, NSW 2234, Australia
2) Geopolymer Alliance, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6012, Australia

Abstract

Waste perlite can be reacted with alkaline solutions to form crystalline zeolite 4A and other minor crystalline phases. The fine majority fraction of the waste was fairly reactive and the coarse fraction largely acted as a filler. This geopolymer had poor compressive strength, but when perlite was used in conjunction with flyash, geopolymers of acceptable mechanical properties could be made. Perlite shows significant reaction with 10 Mol/L NaOH solution at  70 degC, with hydroxysodalite appearing as a reaction product.

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