Mechanical characterization of large sized geopolymer samples

International audienceThe development of geopolymers, as mass distribution materials, is increasing rapidly thanks to their relative ease of processing on site. However, the great diversity of their properties, in particular their mechanical resistance, can restrain the use of these materials because of the duration of the samples' characterization by traditional means. The objective of this work was therefore to develop a faster way to estimate the mechanical resistance of geopolymers, whatever their composition, size or shape. The results were studied for different samples, whether they were alkali-activated geopolymers synthesized from pure metakaolin, composites or mortar-type geopolymers. In addition, a method for comparing samples with different sizes and shapes, however not suited for conventional laboratory work, has been developed, allowing a fast, inexpensive and requiring little equipment evaluation of the mechanical properties of geopolymers