Influence of the viscosity of the alkaline activator solution on the workability of geopolymer mortars

ABSTRACT This work evaluated the influence of the viscosity of the alkaline activator solution on the workability of geopolymeric mortars. For this, eight mortars were made using commercial metakaolin as a precursor, sand and two simple types of activator alkaline solution. The workability was evaluated through the flow-table test, based on NBR 13276 (2016), and through the squeeze-flow test, based on NBR 15839 (2010). The results indicated that the type of activator used has influence on the viscosity of the alkaline solution and this affects the viscosity of the geopolymer mortars. Both flow-table and squeeze-flow tests proved to be representative and followed the same downward trend in the mortar workability as the viscosity of the activator solution increases.