Sustainable thermal insulation of geopolymer blocks using solid waste: palm oil ash and palm oil clinker
Downloads
This paper has analyzed the thermal insulation of geopolymer blocks prepared using palm oil ash (POA) with the addition of alumina powder (AP) and field Para rubber latex (FPRL). The block samples were set up to use 3 and 5 channels and channel width of 2 and 4 mm each with geopolymer binder as POA (containing 5% FPRL and 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% AP) and POC as fine aggregate. The compressive strength, water absorption, bulk density of the geopolymer mortars and thermal conductivity of geopolymer blocks were explored. The AP and FPRL had minimal impact on the compressive strength of the geopolymer mortars and the greater the amount of AP the less water was absorbed. Thermal conductivity of 4 mm wide channel geopolymer blocks was lower than that of 2 mm wide channel blocks and 5 channels blocks had lower thermal conductivity in comparison to 3 channel blocks. The geopolymer blocks had low thermal conductivity relative to the commercial concrete blocks. This study offers valuable information to the application of geopolymers made of POA with FPRL and AP to produce geopolymer materials, POC as a fine aggregate to produce green building materials with enhanced thermal insulation.
Adnan, S.H., Zolkefli, N.K., Osman, M.H., Ahmad Jeni, M.L., Jamellodin, Z., Abdul Hamid, N.A., Alisibramulisi, A., Abdul Roni, N., & Nor Akasyah, M.N.A. (2020). Performance in thermal conductivity of bricks containing palm oil fuel ash and expanded polystyrene beads. IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 498, 012053.
ASTM International (2016). ASTM C33/C33M-16, Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregate.
ASTM International (2016). ASTM C90-16, Standard Specification for Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units.
ASTM International (2016). ASTM C109/C109M-16a, Standard test Method for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using 2-in. or [50-mm] Cube Specimens).
ASTM International (2017). ASTM C129-17, Standard specification for nonloadbearing concrete masonry units.
ASTM International (2017). ASTM C331/C331M-17, Standard Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Concrete Masonry Units”.
Cheah, C.B., Part, W.K., & Ramli, M. (2017). The long term engineering properties of cementless building block work containing large volume of wood ash and coal fly ash. Construction and Building Materials, 143, 522–536.
Chen, Y.X., Klima, K.M., Brouwers, H.J.H., & Lu, Q. (2022). Effect of silica aerogel on thermal insulation and acoustic absorption of geopolymer foam composites: The role of aerogel particle size. Composite Part B, 242, 110048.
Chindaprasirt, P., Jitsangiam, P., Chalee, W., & Rattanasak, U. (2021). Case study of the application of pervious fly ash geopolymer concrete for neutralization of acidic wastewater. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 15, e00770.
Darvish, P., Alengaram, U.J., Poh, Y.S., Ibrahim, S., & Yusoff, S. (2020). Performance evaluation of palm oil clinker sand as replacement for conventional sand in geopolymer mortar. Construction and Building Materials, 258, 120352.
Detphan, S., Phiangphimai, C., Wachum, A., Hanjitsuwan, S., Phoo-ngernkham, T., & Chindaprasirt, P. (2021). Strength development and thermal conductivity of POFA lightweight geopolymer concrete incorporating FA and PC. Engineering and Applied Science Research, 48(6), 718–723.
Engone, J.G.N., Vanhove, Y., Djelal, C., & Kada, H. (2018). Optimizing mortar extrusion using poplar wood sawdust for masonry building block. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 95, 3769–37980.
Fernando, S., Gunasekara, C., Law, D.W., Nasvi, M.C.M., Setunge, S., Dissanayake, R., & Robert, D. (2022). Environmental evaluation and economic analysis of fly ash-rice husk ash blended alkali-activated bricks. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 95, 106784.
Hawa, A., Salaemae, P., Prachasaree, W., & Tonnayopas, D. (2017). Compressive strength and microstructural characteristics of fly ash based geopolymer with high volume field Para rubber latex. Romanian Journal of Materials, 47(4), 462–469.
Hawa, A., Prachasaree, W., & Tonnayopas, D. (2017). Effect of water-to-powder ratios on the compressive strength and microstructureof metakaolin based geopolymers. Indian Journal of Engineering & Materials Sciences, 24, 499–506.
Hawa, A. & Prachasaree, W. (2020). The development of compressive strength, drying shrinkage and microstructure of fly ash geopolymer with field Para rubber latex. Romanian Journal of Materials, 50(1), 462–469.
Hawa, A. (2022). Strength and microstructural of geopolymer mortar from palm oil ash containing alumina powder with palm oil clinker aggregate. Engineering and Applied Science Research, 49(6), 731–743.
Hawa, A., Salaemae, P., Abdulmatin, A., Ongwuttiwat, K., & Prachasaree, W. (2023). Properties of palm oil ash geopolymer containing alumina powder and field Para rubber latex. Civil Engineering Journal, 9(5), 1271–1288.
Hu, W., Huang, Y., Yuan, M., Zhang, J., & Alekhin V.N. (2022). Optimization of the thermal performance of self-insulation hollow blocks under conditions of cold climate and intermittent running of air-conditioning. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 35, 102148.
Ma, W., Kolb, T., Rüther, N., Meinlschmidt, P., & Chen, H. (2024). Physical, Mechanical, thermal and fire behaviour of recycled aggregate concrete block wall system with rice husk insulation. Energy and Buildings, 320, 114560.
Maho, B., Sukontasukkul, P., Sua-Iam, G., Sappakittipakorn, M., Intarabut, D., Suksiripattanapong, C., Chindaprasirt, P., & Limkatanyue, S. (2021). Mechanical properties and electrical resistivity of multiwall carbon nanotubes incorporated into high calcium fly ash geopolymer. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 15, e00785.
Mashri, M.O.M., Johari, M.A.M., Ahmad, Z.A., & Mijarsh, M.J.A. (2022). Influence of milling process of palm oil fuel ash on the properties of palm oil fuel ash-based alkali activated mortar. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 16, e00857.
Oshani, F., Allahverdi, A., Kargari, A., Norouzbeigi, R., & Mahmoodi, N.M. (2022). Effect of preparation parameters on properties of metakaolin-based geopolymer activated by silica fume- sodium hydroxide alkaline blend. Journal of Building Engineering, 60, 104984.
Oua, Z., Feng, R., Mao, T., & Li, N. (2022). Influence of mixture design parameters on the static and dynamic compressive properties of slag-based geopolymer concrete. Journal of Building Engineering, 53, 104564.
Rahman, M.H., Boon, A.L., Muntohar, A.S., Tanin, Md.N.H., & Pakrashi, V. (2014). Performance of masonry blocks incorporating Palm Oil Fuel Ash. Journal of Cleaner Production, 78, 195–201.
Raut, A., Singh, R.J., Muermu, A., & Khan, K.A. (2022). Consumption behavior of novel foamed copper slag based geopolymer masonry blocks. Ceramics International, 48(9), 12098-12111.
Salami, B.A., Johari, M.A.M., Ahmad, Z.A., & Maslehuddin, M. (2016). Impact of added water and superplasticizer on early compressive strength of selected mixtures of palm oil fuel ash-based engineered geopolymer composites. Construction and Building Materials, 109, 198–206.
Salih, M.A., Ali, A.A.A., & Farzadnia, N. (2014). Characterization of mechanical and microstructural properties of palm oil fuel ash geopolymer cement paste. Construction and Building Materials, 65, 592–603.
Sassine, E., Cherif, Y., Dgheim, J., & Antczak, E. (2020). Investigation of the mechanical and thermal performances of concrete hollow blocks. SN Applied Sciences, 2, 2006.
Shi, J., Liu, Y., Wang, E., Wang, L., Li, C., Xu, H., Zheng, X., & Yuan, Q. (2022). Physico-mechanical, thermal properties and durability of foamed geopolymer concrete containing cenospheres. Construction and Building Materials, 325, 126841.
Shilar, F.A., Ganachari, S.V., Patil, V.B., & Nisar, K.S. (2022). Evaluation of structural performances of metakaolin based geopolymer concrete. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 20, 3208–3228.
Singh, R.J., Raut, A., Murmu, A.L., & Jamell, M. (2021). Influence of glass powder incorporated foamed geopolymer blocks on thermal and energy analysis of building envelope. Journal of Building Engineering, 43, 102520.
Somna, R., Saowapun, T., Somna, K., & Chindaprasirt, P. (2022). Rice husk ash and fly ash geopolymer hollow block based on NaOH activated. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 16, e01092.
Sukontasukkul, P., Nontiyutsirikul, N., Songpiriyakil, S., Sakai, K., & Chindaprasirt, P. (2016). Use of phase change material to improve thermal properties of lightweight geopolymer panel. Materials and Structures, 49, 4637–4645.
Tarek, D., Ahmed, M.M., Hussein, H.S., Zeyad, A.M., Al-Enizi, A.M., & Yousef, A. (2022). Ragab, Building envelope optimization using geopolymer bricks to improve the energy efficiency of residential building in hot arid regions. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 17, e01657.
Xu, S., Wu, C., Yue, J., & Xu, Z. (2022). Shrinkage and mechanical properties of fibre-reinforced blast furnace slag-steel slag-based geopolymer. Advance in Civil Engineering, 2022, 8931401.
Zhang, Z., Provis, J.L., Reid, A., & Wang, H. (2015). Mechanical, thermal insulation, thermal resistance and acoustic absorption properties of geopolymer foam concrete. Cement and Concrete Composite, 62, 97–105.
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Engineering and Technological Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
