Transformation of the geopolymer gels to crystalline bonds in cold-setting refractory concretes: Pore evolution, mechanical strength and microstructure

Two K2O–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2 based geopolymer gels with bulk chemical composition corresponding to cordierite (Co) and 1:1 mullite-cordierite (MuCo) were successfully transformed to crystalline bonds in high temperature service of cold-setting made refractory concretes. Kyanite aggregates changed the flexural strength of the gels from 11 to 28 MPa due to the development of good adhesive bonds. Under thermal cycles, up to 1250 °C, the cumulative pore volume remained at 0.09 mL/g, as from the absence of important densification/shrinkage. However, the behavior of the cumulative pore volume curves changed from that of a matrix with a wide range of distribution of pore sizes to that, of matrix, consisting of relatively coarse grains. The latter exhibits a rise at 10 μm as void spaces created around the contact points among the coarse kyanite grains and that at 0.054 μm as pores within the crystalline phases (cordierite, kalsilite, leucite, mullite, enstatite) formed. The microstructural observations confirmed the transformation of gel pores (size around 0.01 μm) to interparticle and intergranular pores due to the crystallization. The flexural strength of refractory concretes increased from 28 MPa to 40 MPa in agreement with the increase in the elastic modulus from 9 to 30 GPa. The crystallization was enhanced by the MgO content (being important in Co compared to MuCo) and the kyanite concentration as particles of kyanite effectively acted as phase separation and nucleation sites. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.