Geopolymer Composition for Long Fluidity and Rapid Strength Gain

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing geopolymer compositions face challenges in achieving both good fluidity over a long period and high strength development in a short period of time while minimizing the use of silica fume, which is costly and affects handling and production costs.

Innovation Solution

A geopolymer composition containing an active filler with a high proportion of ground granulated blast-furnace slag and coal ash, a polycondensate-based dispersant with polyalkylene glycol monophenyl ether, and controlled moisture content to enhance fluidity and strength without silica fume or with minimal silica fume.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If silica fume is used to improve fluidity and strength, then workability and strength are improved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefluidityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive silica fume with cheaper industrial by-products (ground granulated blast-furnace slag and coal ash) that can be used effectively in geopolymer compositions. This substitution maintains the required fluidity and strength properties while significantly reducing material costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite active filler system combining ground granulated blast-furnace slag and coal ash in specific proportions. This composite approach allows the mixture to achieve the functional properties previously requiring pure silica fume, while leveraging the cost advantages of using industrial by-products.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If silica fume is used to achieve high strength in short time, then strength development is improved, but handling becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrength developmentVSAvoidhandling
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the geopolymer system by replacing silica fume with ground granulated blast-furnace slag and coal ash. This parameter change alters the reaction kinetics and microstructure development, achieving high strength while maintaining better workability and handling characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If ground granulated blast-furnace slag content is increased to reduce cost, then production cost decreases, but fluidity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidfluidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a heterogeneous active filler composition where ground granulated blast-furnace slag and coal ash are distributed in specific proportions. This localized composition optimization ensures that cost reduction through by-product usage does not compromise the overall fluidity of the geopolymer composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent develops a composite active filler system combining ground granulated blast-furnace slag and coal ash. This composite material approach allows the mixture to achieve both cost reduction and maintained fluidity, as the different by-products complement each other's properties in the geopolymerization process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composition achieves sustained fluidity and rapid strength development in a cured body, reducing production costs and environmental impact by utilizing industrial by-products effectively.

Implementation Method 1

the dispersant is a polycondensate-based dispersant that contains polyalkylene glycol monophenyl ether as a substructure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Implementation Method 2

allowing to cause geopolymer reaction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGeopolymer reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 3

an alkali aqueous solution as an activator and thereby allowing to cause geopolymer reaction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP4647409A1Geopolymer composition, geopolymer cured body, and production method for geopolymer cured body
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 SIKA TECH AG
  • EP4647409A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4647409A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4647409A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention provides a geopolymer composition capable of achieving both good fluidity over a long period of time and high strength development of a cured body in a short period of time by a simple technique while suppressing the mixing amount of silica fume. The geopolymer composition is a geopolymer composition containing an active filler, aggregate, an activator, a dispersant, and added water, wherein the geopolymer composition contains no silica fume or contains silica fume in an amount of less than 1 mass% based on a total mass of the geopolymer composition, a total moisture content of the geopolymer composition is from 10 mass% to 13 mass%, the active filler contains coal ash and 35 mass% or more of ground granulated blast-furnace slag based on the total mass of the active filler, and the dispersant is a polycondensate-based dispersant that contains polyalkylene glycol monophenyl ether as a substructure.