Geopolymer

[Les Moore]

Has anyone done any mapping of Geopolymers?
If they have can they share some info on scale of structure please.
Maps of Na, Si, K etc would be good along with the conditions used.

Yet again, a Metallurgist lost in Geoscience :-)

[Probeman]

I had to look these "geopolymers" up:

Geopolymers are an innovative class of inorganic, synthetic aluminosilicate materials that serve as sustainable, high-performance alternatives to traditional binders like Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). They are produced by mixing reactive aluminosilicate powders (such as fly ash, slag, or clay) with an alkaline or acidic aqueous solution to form a hard, rock-like structure.

How They Work: Unlike conventional cement, which relies on a hydration process that produces calcium silicate hydrate, geopolymers harden through a process called geopolymerization.

The Precursors: Waste materials and byproducts (like coal fly ash and blast-furnace slag) or natural minerals (like kaolin/metakaolin) supply the necessary silicon and aluminum.

The Activator: An alkaline liquid (such as sodium silicate or potassium hydroxide) dissolves the aluminosilicate powder, triggering a chemical reaction.

The Result: The dissolved molecules link together to form a highly durable, covalently bonded 3D network.

Key Advantages over Portland Cement:

Eco-Friendly: The production of traditional Portland cement is responsible for roughly 8% of global carbon emissions. Geopolymer manufacturing emits significantly less greenhouse gas and repurposes industrial waste that would otherwise sit in landfills.

Superior Strength: Geopolymer concrete can cure to be 3 to 4 times stronger than standard concrete and sets much faster.

Extreme Durability: They exhibit high resistance to fire, acids, and saltwater corrosion, and prevent cracking much better than standard cement.

Drawbacks and ChallengesUpfront Costs: Because they require specialized precursors and chemical activators, geopolymer materials can be more expensive by mass than traditional concrete.

Safety and Handling: The highly alkaline activators used to trigger the reaction are corrosive and require specialized training and safety gear for workers during mixing and pouring.

Workability: Geopolymer mixtures can be highly viscous and have shorter setting times, making them tricky to implement in large-scale, traditional construction projects without a specialized workforce.

Common Applications: Because of their unique properties, geopolymers have broken out into several specialized sectors:

Construction & Infrastructure: Used for specialized concrete projects like repairing bridges, pre-cast structural elements, and marine infrastructure that demands high corrosion resistance.

Fireproofing & Thermal Insulation: Because of their incredible heat resistance, they are utilized as industrial fireproofing coatings and high-temperature ceramics.

Waste Encapsulation: Their stable chemical structure makes them highly effective at safely locking away hazardous and radioactive waste.

For a two-minute visual breakdown of how geopolymers function and how they compare to traditional concrete:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOj3p6m9M7Q

[Les Moore]

Thanks, I'll sneak up on the structure with low(ish) kV and low current to avoid the Na from running away :=)

[Probeman]

Thanks, I'll sneak up on the structure with low(ish) kV and low current to avoid the Na from running away :=)

Or you could use the TDI scanning method described here:

https://smf.probesoftware.com/index.php?topic=912.0