Self-sensing high performance fiber reinforced geopolymer composites

Abstract

The current invention is a novel addition to the field and comprises a self-sensing high performance fiber reinforced Geopolymer composite (HPFR-GPC) with self-sensing ability. In one or more embodiment, the self-sensing abilities are created by the addition of high performance fibers into a Geopolymer composites. The HPFR-GPC exhibits smart, high performance, energy efficient, and sustainability characteristics including: enhanced tensile ductility, toughness, and strain hardening (including crack width control); improved piezoresistive effects; utilization of industrial by-product; high resistance to acid attacks; and lightweight, low density. When compared to current available embedded or attachable sensors, the current invention offers lower cost, higher durability, and a larger sensing volume.

1 . A high performance geopolymer composite comprising:
 a. a geopolymer binder;   b. a conductive filler; and   c. additives.   
     
     
         2 . The high performance geopolymer composite of  claim 1  wherein said geopolymer binder comprises aluminosilicate rich industrial by-products. 
     
     
         3 . The high performance geopolymer composite of  claim 1  wherein said conductive filler comprises microfibers. 
     
     
         4 . The high performance geopolymer composite of  claim 3  wherein said conductive filler comprises polyvinyl alcohol fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The high performance geopolymer composite of  claim 1  wherein said conductive filler comprises carbon nanofibers. 
     
     
         6 . The high performance geopolymer composite of  claim 1  wherein said conductive filler comprises microfibers and nanofibers. 
     
     
         7 . The high performance geopolymer composite of  claim 1  wherein said additives are selected from the group consisting of rice husk, fly ash, and sand. 
     
     
         8 . The high performance geopolymer composite of  claim 1  wherein said additives comprise Class F Fly Ash from silica sand. 
     
     
         9 . The high performance geopolymer composite of  claim 1  further comprising a chemical activator solution. 
     
     
         10 . The high performance geopolymer composite of  claim 9  wherein said chemical activator solution comprises Sodium Silicate and Sodium Hydroxide. 
     
     
         11 . A high performance geopolymer composite comprising:
 a. a geopolymer binder;   b. polyvinyl alcohol fibers, wherein said polyvinyl alcohol fibers content is between 0.5 and 3%;   c. a chemical activator solution comprising Sodium Silicate and Sodium Hydroxide;   d. an additive comprising fly ash, wherein said fly ash to said chemical activator solution ratio is 0.5;   e. a superplasticizer, wherein said superplasticizer content is between 1 and 2 percent; and   f. carbon nanofibers, wherein said carbon nanofibers content is between 0.25 and 0.8 percent.   
     
     
         12 . A method for creating high performance geopolymer composite comprising:
 a. placing a weighed amount of fly ash in an aluminum container and placing a weighed amount of silica sand on top of said fly ash in said aluminum container;   b. dry mixing said weighed amount of fly ash and said weight amount of silica sand, creating a fly ash-silica sand mixture;   c. prepare an alkaline solution by mixing a sodium silicate solution with a sodium hydroxide solution;   d. combining said alkaline solution with a superplasticizer and mixing said alkaline solution-superplasticizer mixture;   e. adding a conductive filler to said combined alkaline solution-superplasticizer mixture and combining at a high shear rate, creating a filler-alkaline solution;   f. pouring said filler-alkaline solution into said fly ash-silica mixture; and combining for one to five minutes, creating a filler mixture; and   g. adding polyvinyl alcohol fiber into said filler mixture slowly and oven curing at an oven curing temperature the resulting mixture.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said weighed amount of fly ash to said weighed amount of silica sand ratio is between 0.25 and 1.5. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said alkaline solution has a molarity of 10. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said conductive filler comprises nanofibers. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said nanofibers comprises carbon nanofibers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said carbon nanofibers content is 0.5 to 0.8 percent. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said polyvinyl alcohol fiber content is 0.25 to 3 percent. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said oven curing temperature is between 40 and 80 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said oven curing temperature is 60 degrees Celsius.