Evaluation of the laterite powder-based geopolymer mortar samples reinforced with glass fibers

Today, the production of high-quality construction materials with low production costs is one of the needs of the construction industry. By using geopolymerization technology, it is possible to produce construction materials such as mortar, concrete, and geopolymer bricks with high mechanical strength and desirable quality. One of the aluminosilicate minerals that can be used to produce geopolymeric adhesive material is laterite. To improve the mechanical strength, durability, and physical characteristics of the geopolymer product, its reinforcement using different fibers such as glass fibers has been considered by various researchers. In the current research, using laboratory tests, the effect of reinforcing geopolymer mortar based on laterite powder using glass fibers was studied. The alkaline solution containing 6, 10, and 14 M sodium hydroxide was used to make samples of geopolymer mortar with laterite powder, without and containing glass fibers after 5 minutes of complete mixing, The samples were poured into 50 × 50 × 50 mm wooden molds and 40 × 40 × 160 mm prism molds and vibrated on a vibrating machine. After processing for 3 days in the greenhouse, the compressive and bending strength of the geopolymer samples as well as the water absorption percentage of the samples were measured. The results showed that the concentration of activating solution and glass fibers has a significant effect on the compressive and bending strength of geopolymer samples based on laterite powder with glass fibers. According to the obtained results, the increase in 3, 7, and 28 days compressive strength of geopolymer samples containing fibers varies between 10.9 and 47% compared to geopolymer samples without fibers. According to the results of this research, it is recommended to make geopolymer building materials based on laterite powder containing glass fibers with relatively high strength.