EFFECT OF CURING TEMPERATURE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF HARD STRUCTURE OF ALKALI-ACTIVATED SOIL

Abstract

This study is directed to the feasibility of usage of palm oil fuel ash (POFA) as a precursor of alkaline activation reactions which made by potassium hydroxide in order to stabilize the soil and improve its expediency for the different case of construction. The effect of duration and temperature of curing, for the alkaline activation process, on the Unconfined Compression Strength (UCS) of the soil-POFA mixture is important in enhancing the treated soil properties. Use of 30, 50, and 100°C of heating affected the UCS of the soil mixture. The highest strengths were obtained at 100°C for the alkali activation process. Microstructural analysis using The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and Infrared spectrometric analysis (FTIR) shows the benefits of alkaline activation in terms of decreasing the duration of the alkaline process. The pore distribution analysis showed a trend to rise pore size volume with increasing temperature, which affects the mechanical characteristics. This was due to the fastest crystallization processes which account for strength gain after a short period of heating. It has been also presented the opportunity of observing the alkaline activation process by FTIR Spectra. This paper highlights a more environmentally friendly procedure of stabilizing soils compared with the traditional binders such as cement and lime.