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2014 (1)

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Dissertation
Inorganic polymers from abundant natural resources as an inexpensive binder in building materials

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Abstract

The synthesis of inorganic polymers from natural resources that are abundantly present on earth was investigated. The aimed application of the inorganic polymers is the use as sustainable building materials. The realization of an easy process from resources with a high availability enables individuals all over the world to produce their own inorganic polymers. One of the goals of this thesis is to provide clear guidelines and a recipe for these entrepreneurial individuals. The applicability of the investigated inorganic polymers as building materials in the Western world for the replacement of Portland cement was investigated. Therefore the inorganic polymers have been economically and ecologically evaluated. The raw materials used for the synthesis of the inorganic polymers are kaolin soil and biomass ashes. The alkali activation with potassium hydroxide of kaolin and metakaolin, calcined kaolin, is compared. The possibility of producing inorganic polymers, solely from abundant natural resources was investigated. For this purpose, biomass ashes were studied for use as activator. Different methods for the introduction of the ashes into the inorganic polymer mix were investigated. An alkaline solution was produced or the ashes were mixed completely with the metakaolin or kaolin, before adding water. The synthesized inorganic polymers with potassium hydroxide activated kaolin show properties that are comparable with concrete, more specific a compressive strength of 32 MPa. Inorganic polymers from oak and beech ashes, where the clay and ashes were mixed before the addition of water, reach a compressive strength of about 15 MPa with kaolin and 17 MPa for metakaolin. These strengths are comparable with bricks. The inorganic polymers on average performed better in terms of ecological impact with respect to concrete. In terms of cost, the comparison with concrete is less fortunate for the inorganic polymers. Of the produced samples, the kaolin and wood ash inorganic polymers performed best in terms of ecological impact and cost.

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