Durability characteristics of TiO2 blended flyash-based geopolymer tiles reinforced with basalt fibre

Durability is a key consideration in the design of any concrete structure to ensure long-term performance under anticipated exposure conditions. Premature deterioration leading to excessive maintenance or repair cost before the intended service life which has highlighted the importance of enhancing concrete durability. In this study, the test results revealed that the combination of 0.5 % titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) and 0.5 % basalt fibre, cured in a hot air oven at 80 ºC for 6 h, yielded the better performance. The visual and physical integrity test revealed that there is only a minor discoloration rather than visible cracks and there is only a marginal weight gain when immersed in sulphate and chloride solution and a slight weight loss while immersing in acid. After 28 days, the residual compressive strength is of 7.62 %, 5.64 %, 18.87 %, 2.43 % and 21.69 % higher than the control mix in NaCl, Na 2 SO 4 , HCl, HNO 3 and H 2 SO 4 environments. TiO 2 blended fibre reinforced geopolymer specimens recorded a lower water absorption of 6.25 % and an apparent porosity of 12.82 %, indicating a denser matrix. Sorptivity values decreased by 23.48 % (360 min) and 13.13 % (9 Days) for mix GD3 compared to the control. All the above test results revealed that 0.5 % titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) and 0.5 % basalt fibre blended concrete, cured in a hot air oven at 80 ºC for 6 h, showed better performance.