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High Strength Ambient Cured Red Mud Geopolymer using Automotive GlassWaste and GGBFS: Mechanical and Microstructure Properties

Authors

  • Joonaith Chundan Veedu

    Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
    Author

  • Nur Hafizah A. Khalid

    Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
    Author

  • Nor Hasanah Abdul Shukor Lim

    Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
    Author

  • Shafiq Ishak

    Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
    Author

  • Adrina Rosseira A. Talip

    Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
    Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22581/0135

Keywords:

Red mud , Automotive glass waste powder, Ground granulated blast furnace slag, Geopolymer concrete, Ambient curing

Abstract

The Bayer process for refining bauxite ore produces a highly alkaline by-product called red mud (RM). The typical disposal of this product on open land creates a high impact on the environment. To mitigate these ecological issues, utilizing RM in geopolymer concrete (GPC) offers a sustainable solution. This study aims to enhance the mechanical properties of RM-based GPC cured under ambient conditions to produce higher-grade concrete. Red mud was collected from the eastern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and microstructural investigations were conducted to characterize the binder components. Although RM contains silica and alumina, the quantities are insufficient to produce high-strength concrete. Therefore, the geopolymerization process was enhanced by incorporating alumina, silica, and calcium-rich materials such as ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and silica-rich automotive glass waste powder (AGWP). A series of tests aimed at optimizing the molarity (M) of sodium hydroxide (SH) solution, the sodium silicate (SS) to SH ratio, the fluid-to-binder (F/B) ratio, and the binder proportions were also conducted. Experimental results indicate that under ambient temperature (27 - 31 ̊C), the F/B ratio of 0.5, M=10, and SS/SH = 2.5 with binder proportions of RM: AGWP: GGBFS = 50:10:40 produces a remarkable compressive strength of 64 MPa at 28 days of the curing period. Microstructural observations revealed denser gel formation and reduced porosity in ternary blends. The results demonstrate a viable pathway to high-strength, ambient-cured RM geopolymers.

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Published

2026-10-01

Issue

Vol. 45 No. 4 (2026): October Issue

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology

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How to Cite

High Strength Ambient Cured Red Mud Geopolymer using Automotive GlassWaste and GGBFS: Mechanical and Microstructure Properties. (2026). Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology, 45(4), 01-11. https://doi.org/10.22581/0135

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