Impact of nanoparticles on the performance of metakaolin-based geopolymer composites

Abstract Despite its growing recognition as a sustainable alternative to cement composites, geopolymer mortar faces performance limitations that hinder its practical application, prompting researchers to explore novel enhancement strategies, including incorporating nanomaterials, to improve its properties. Investigating the effects of various weight percentages (1, 2, 3, and 4%) of nano-silica and nano-silicon carbide on the density, microstructure, compressive and flexural strength, and abrasion resistance of metakaolin-based geopolymer mortar composites is the aim of this work. The experimental results carried out in this study demonstrate that nanoparticles can significantly change the properties of the geopolymer mortar. These changes caused increasing density, compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths, as well as wear resistance with improvement rates of 5.5, 44, 43, 52, and 41%, respectively, due to the changes in the microstructure of the geopolymer matrix, resulting from its incorporation. The present study showed that the addition of nanomaterials enhanced durability and resistance to environmental degradation, which means that structures will require less maintenance and fewer repairs, leading to lower environmental impact over the lifecycle of structures.