EFFECT OF DURATION AND TEMPERATURE OF CURING ON COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF FLY ASH BASED GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE

The optimum temperature and duration of curing is essential in geopolymerization reaction to achieve higher strength. As such, fly ash based geopolymer concrete were prepared by varying the curing temperature of 600, 900 and 120°C, for the duration of 6,12,16 and 24 hours. The fly ash was activated by sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide solution with ratio between sodium silicate and alkaline activator was 2.5. The result show that with increase in duration and temperature of curing the compressive strength of fly ash based geopolymer concrete increase