ASSESSMENT OF STEEL SLAG-SEA SHELL POWDER-BASED GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE ON MECHANICAL AND DURABILITY PROPERTIES

Globally, a high carbon footprint has led to an unconducive and negative environmental impact on all living organisms. The production of cement is one of the sources which generates these footprints. To this effect, finding an alternative to cement to mitigate these footprints is imperative. One of these alternatives is the production of a geopolymer binder (GPB). This study deployed oyster seashell and steel slag as precursors combined with sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) as an activator in geopolymer concrete production. The concrete materials were prepared, cured, and tested. Workability, mechanical, durability and characterization test were conducted on the geopolymer concrete (GPC). The findings revealed an increase in slump value with an increment in a seashell. The optimum GPC compressive strength for 3, 7, 14, 28 and 56 days was obtained with 10% seashell, while seashell replacement exceeded 10 % declined in strength. Low thermal conductivity and less shrinkage were attained with seashell increment. Portland cement concrete achieved better mechanical strength when compared to steel slag geopolymer concrete. However, steel slag seashell powder-based geopolymer gained better thermal properties than Portland cement concrete (PCC) at 20% seashell replacement