Cold sintering assisted polycondensation of iron-rich aluminosilicates geopolymers: effects of addition
ELIE K. 1, BIESUZ M. 2, LEONELLI C. 3, SGLAVO V. 2
1 Local Materials Promotion Authority/MIPROMALO, Yaounde, Cameroon; 2 Departement of Industrial Technologies, University of Trento, Trento, Italy; 3 Departement of Engineering "Enzo Ferrari", University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
Laterites, iron rich aluminosilicates, are made of amorphous to metastale kaolinite with goethite and hematite minerals. Investigations have proved their dissolution in akaline solution and in the presence of soluble silica, ferrisiliates are formed potentially. We investigated the potential of the ferrisiliates to be processed through cold-sintering and the consequent improvement of the engineering properties under high pressure (100 to 500 Mpa) and hydrothermal conditions. laterites are mixed with RHA and wet ball milled to have homogeneous paste. The paste obtained can be dried at ambient before the addition of alkaline solution. Between the time of the addition of the alkaline solution and the cold sintering process, it can be observed some time that is varying and allow some level of the dissolution of the laterites and RHA. This time that we can call waiting time may have significant impact on the sintering of ferrisilicates as well as on the densification of the final matrices. Compact ; less porous and high strength composites are obtained. Characterisations include kinetic of sintering, phases evolution, microstructure, micromechanics, and mechanical properties as well as microporosity.