International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 12 | Dec 2025
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
A Review of Experimental Study on the Effect of Curing Conditions on the Strength Development of Geo-Polymer Concrete Pradeep Kumar Yadav1, Mr. Ushendra Kumar2 1Master of Technology, Civil Engineering, Lucknow Institute of Technology, Lucknow, U.P, India 2Head of Department, Department of Civil Engineering, Lucknow Institute of Technology, Lucknow, India
---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract - This review will examine how the curing
terms of mechanical and durability properties compared to other types of concrete.
environment influences both the development of the strength properties in addition to the microstructural evolution of geo polymer concrete, specifically focusing on curing conditions such as temperature, time, and moisture control. Performance of geo polymer systems is highly dependent upon the curing environment which dictates the rate at which reactions occur as well as gelation. Studies have demonstrated that curing of geo polymer systems at higher temperatures (compared to ambient) leads to increased compressive strength during the early ages of a structure and results in denser microstructures. Additionally, studies have shown that optimal curing under ambient conditions or moisture controlled curing may be able to produce comparable long-term strengths with greater practicality when utilizing geo polymer materials for construction projects. This review also provides an overview of how curing conditions affect porosity; the interfacial transition zone between aggregate particles and cement paste; shrinkage of the geo polymer system; and the durability of geo polymer systems to various types of environmental stressors including chemical, thermal, and mechanical. In addition, this review identifies areas of future research that relate to implementing curing strategies in the field; evaluating the long-term durability of geo polymer systems; and developing scalable curing techniques for geo polymer systems.
1.2 Basics of Geo polymer Concrete and Its Chemistry The development of geo polymer concrete occurs from the chemical reaction between materials rich in alumina silicates (fly ash; ground granulated blast furnace slag; meta kaolin) with an alkaline activating liquid. In the chemical development, dissolution of these precursor materials occur followed by polymerization and development of a 3-D inorganic framework predominantly comprised of N-A-S-H or C-A-S-H type gel networks. Geo polymer binder development has been demonstrated to be different than the hydration development of traditional cements in that geo polymer binder development can be affected by the availability of reactive species, temperature, alkalinity levels, and moisture conditions. Provided that proper curing conditions exist, this unique chemistry allows for the development of geo polymer binders exhibiting high early strength properties, enhanced chemical durability, and superior thermal stability properties.
Key Words: Geo polymer concrete, curing conditions, strength development, microstructure, temperature curing, moisture control, durability
1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Need for Sustainable Binder Systems The increasing concern about the environment and the everincreasing carbon footprint associated with the use of traditional Portland cement, have led to an increase in research on alternative binder systems that will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting sustainable building methods. The manufacturing process for traditional cement requires a lot of energy and produces a significant amount of CO2 into the atmosphere; therefore, there has been a growing interest in using industrial byproduct materials which require less energy to manufacture. In light of the above, geo polymer concrete has shown great promise as it can be made from waste alumina silicate materials, while also showing comparable performance in
© 2025, IRJET
|
Impact Factor value: 8.315
Figure-1: Processing flow chart of (A) traditional geo polymer; and (B) one-part geo polymer.
1.3 Curing Conditions Strongly Influence Geo polymer Strength The curing process is the primary factor which determines how much the geo polymerization reaction occurs and how efficiently; therefore, curing is an extremely important parameter in determining the rate of strength development in geo polymer concrete. In order for the reaction to proceed
|
ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal
|
Page 1248