Effect of alkali activators on diffusivity of metakaolin-based geopolymers

A basic investigation into whether a geopolymer can be utilized as a part of an artificial barrier during radioactive waste disposal was conducted in this study. Geopolymers are comprised primarily alumina and silica, and they exhibit negligible leaching owing to the absence of calcium. Studies on geopolymers are limited compared to those on other cementitious materials because the physical characteristics of geopolymers vary with the production conditions. In this work, metakaolin based geopolymers were prepared, and their diffusion performance was analyzed. The results indicate that the diffusivity of cesium in a geopolymer is affected by the type of alkali activator. Sodium-activated geopolymers had higher cesium adsorption capacity than potassium-activated geopolymers. The cesium adsorption capacity also had a significant effect on the diffusivity of cesium in the geopolymers. It was shown that, in addition to the pore structure and surface area, the mobility of water affects the diffusion performance of the geopolymer.