COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF ALKALI-ACTIVATED MORTARS WITH CONVENTIONAL HYDROXIDE ACTIVATORS AND SUNFLOWER HUSK ASH – COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) are alternative binders with no cement in their composition. They are synthesized from aluminosilicate-rich precursors and alkaline activators – usually hydroxides and silicates. They significantly contribute to the overall CO2 footprint of AAMs, leading to efforts to replace them with alternative alkali-rich waste materials such as agricultural biomass ashes. The paper presents the comparison of slag-based mortars activated with sunflower husk ash (SHA) – a locally available waste material in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia, and KOH and NaOH. The influence of SHA on the mortars was assessed by comparing the 7- and 28-day compressive strength.