Effect of Sodium Hexafluorosilicate Addition on the Properties of Metakaolin Based Geopolymers Cured at Ambient Temperature

In this investigation, the effect of sodium hexafluorosilicate addition on the mechanical and microstructural properties of metakaolin-based geopolymers cured at ambient temperature was evaluated. The geopolymers were manufactured using metakaolin as a raw material with Sodium hexafluorosilicate Na2SiF6 powder as an additive, and a mixture composed of NaOH, KOH, and sodium silicate together as an activating solution. The amount of Na2SiF6 ranged from 1 to 5%, a (SiO2 / (Na2O + K2O)) modulus of 1.3 and a Si/Al ratio varied between 1.60 and 1.70. Geopolymer specimens cured at room temperature under air for 28 days were characterized, using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis (ATG-DTG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and compressive tests to assess the microstructure-compressive strength dependency. The findings indicate that the addition of 2% Na2SiF6 improves the compressive strength by 28%, but beyond this value, the resistance progressively decreases, this observation was explained by the fact that this additive rises the Si/Al ratio, which led to an increase in the amount of strong Si-O-Si bonds. The reduced RC has been related to the excess amount of Na in the blend that promotes the formation of efflorescence, leading to crack formation, which negatively affects the mechanical properties.