Geopolymers have been synthesized from mechanically activated lignite and brown coal fly ash. Mechanical activation of fly ash has been carried out using laboratory ball mill. To determine the structural changes in both, the fly ash and the resulted geopolymer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements were performed. Isothermal conduction calorimetry method was applied to study the geopolymerisation reactions in mechanically non-activated (raw) and activated fly ash samples. The isothermal conduction calorimetry results showed similar peak intensity for mechanically activated (5-30 min) fly ash samples. However, the intensity of peak for 120 min milled brown coal fly ash was the highest. The compressive strength of the specimen was found to be dependent on the grinding residence time as well as composition/type of fly ash.
Present paper deals with the mechanical activation of deposited brown coal fly ash in a high energy density mill. The mechanical activation was carried out in a laboratory scale stirred media mill using various rotor circumferential speed (5 and 7 m/s), and different grinding time (from 1 min up to 180 min). The consumed energy was measured during the grinding process. Furthermore, particle size distribution and specific surface area were determined using laser particle size analyzer. The structural changes were detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Additionally, transformation in mineralogical phases was measured by X-ray diffraction, as well as particle morphology and crystal defects were determined by transmission electron microscopy. As a result of the investigation, relationship between the technological parameters of the grinding and the properties of the ground material was created. It was found that there is a certain mechanochemical effect on the crystal structure of fly ash components in the stirred media mill, as it was revealed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The most efficient grinding parameters were determined.
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