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Improving the physicomechanical performance of geopolymer mortars using human hair as fibers: new horizons for sustainable applications

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Abstract

Blast furnace slag-based geopolymer mortars strengthened with human hair fibers were synthesized in the present study. The mixture of NaOH and Na2SiO3 was used as activating solution. Zero percent, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1%, and 1.25% hair fibers were added by weight of slag. Several analytical approaches, including compressive strength, flexural strength, P-wave velocity, bulk density, porosity, water absorption, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy, were used to assess the physicomechanical and microstructural characteristics of the geopolymer mortars. Overall, the results found revealed that the incorporation of human hair fibers into the slag-based geopolymer matrix brought about a noticeable improvement in the mechanical characteristics of the geopolymer mortars. Similarly, based on FTIR analysis, the geopolymer mortar is characterized by the presence of three principal bonds, namely, the stretching of Al-O, a shift of the absorption band of the Si-O-Si (Al), and the stretching of the O-C-O. Likewise, the mineralogical analysis shows that quartz and calcite are two crystalline phases dominant in the geopolymer matrix. In addition, SEM-EDS analysis shows a dense and continuous morphology devoid of microcracks with a few pores existing on the matrix surface with perfect integration of the hair fiber in the geopolymer matrix. According to these relevant properties, the synthesized geopolymers have potential applications as a suitable substitute for many Portland cement-based materials whose manufacture is energy-consuming and polluting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geo-Biodiversity and Natural Patrimony Laboratory (GEOBIO), Scientific Institute, “Geophysics, Natural Patrimony and Green Chemistry” Research Center (GEOPAC), Mohammed V University in Rabat, Avenue Ibn Batouta, P.B. 703, 10106, Rabat-Agdal, Morocco

    Ayoub Aziz, Khadija Felaous & Abdelilah Bellil

  2. Laboratory of Process Engineering and Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University Hassan II, Casablanca, Morocco

    Anas Driouich

  3. Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water and Environment, Environmental Materials Team, ENSAM, Mohammed V University in Rabat, B.P. 8007 N.U, Rabat, Morocco

    Mohammed Ben Ali

  4. School of Civil Engineering, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Jammu and Kashmir, Katra, India

    Bharat Bhushan Jindal

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  1. Ayoub Aziz
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  2. Anas Driouich
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  3. Mohammed Ben Ali
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  4. Khadija Felaous
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Contributions

Ayoub Aziz: methodology, resources, interpretations, and writing—original draft.

Anas Driouich: methodology and writing—original draft.

Mohammed Ben Ali: resources and writing—original draft.

Khadija Felaous: resources and writing—original draft.

Abdelilah Bellil: methodology and writing—original draft.

Bharat Bhushan Jindal: validation and supervision.

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Correspondence to Bharat Bhushan Jindal.

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Aziz, A., Driouich, A., Ali, M.B. et al. Improving the physicomechanical performance of geopolymer mortars using human hair as fibers: new horizons for sustainable applications. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 68129–68142 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27257-x

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