Elaboration of Porous Geopolymer Cement from Sangaré Clay and Shell Egg Powder: Application as Thermal Insulation

Jeanne Atchana^{1, 2,} , Paul Nestor Djomou Djonga¹, Benoit Loura², Valery Gomdje Hambate³ and Jean Bosco Tchatchueng⁴

¹Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 46 Maroua, Cameroon

²Department of Refining and Petrochemistry, P.O. Box 08, University of Maroua, Kaele Cameroon

³Departement of Textile and Leather Engineering, National Advanced School of Engineering of Maroua, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 46 Maroua, Cameroon

⁴Department of Applied Chemistry, National Advanced School of Agro Industrial Food, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 455Ngaoundere, Cameroon

Cite this paper:
Jeanne Atchana, Paul Nestor Djomou Djonga, Benoit Loura, Valery Gomdje Hambate and Jean Bosco Tchatchueng. Elaboration of Porous Geopolymer Cement from Sangaré Clay and Shell Egg Powder: Application as Thermal Insulation. American Journal of Materials Engineering and Technology. 2021; 9(1):21-30. doi: 10.12691/materials-9-1-2

Abstract

This study focuses on the preparation of porous geopolymer cements for thermal insulation applications using commercial calcium carbonate and low-value calcium carbonate-rich waste such as eggshell powders as pore-forming agents. The control and porous geopolymer cements were prepared by adding phosphoric acid (4M) as a chemical ingredient to metakaolin containing 0 and 10 wt% of the foaming agent. Results showed that Sangare clay is sandy with a few silts and traces of gravel. Diffractogram of the clay indicates the presence of: Kaolinite (Kao); Illite (Ill); Quartz (Qz) and Potassium Feldspars (Fds). This was confirmed by the Infrared spectrum of the material where bands characteristic of the presence of kaolinite (3689-3649 cm ^-1) and of other minerals have been found. Characterization of eggshell powder shows that the source of calcium consists mainly of CaCO₃. The apparent densities of geopolymer cement obtained decreased when the aluminosilicate materials (metakaolin) are replaced by proportions of eggshell powders and commercial calcium carbonate (0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10%). It was also observed that the compressive strengths of geopolymer cements based on eggshells are greater than those based on commercial calcium carbonate and the thermal conductivity decreases with the increase of the porogen. These results corroborates with that of the apparent density and compressive strength which decreases with the increase of the porogen. Results shows that geopolymer cements obtained have accumulated high pores in their structures. The values of thermal conductivity of the control and porous geopolymer cement from eggshell ranges between 0.10 and 0.17 W/mK, respectively. It was concluded that the low-value calcium carbonate-rich wastes (egg shell) could be used for producing porous geopolymer cements which could be utilized for thermal insulation applications.

Keywords:
Sangaré clay egg shell thermal insulator and porous geopolymers

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