Replacement of Natural Sand with Expanded Vermiculite in Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Mortars

Increasing the thermal insulation of building components to reduce energy loss buildings has received significant attention. Owing its porous structure, using expanded vermiculite as an alternative natural river sand in development materials would result improvement performance buildings. This study investigates properties fly ash (FA)-based geopolymer mortars prepared with vermiculite. The main aim this was produce mortar lower conductivity than conventional for applications A total twelve batches geopolymers were evaluating their different properties. obtained results show that, at a given FA and content, 10 molar NaOH solution exhibited higher flowability, water absorption porosity, well dry unit weight, compressive strength, ultrasound pulse velocity compared those 15 solution. As is also shown, containing (15%) developed flowability (~6%), weight strength (~7%), (~6%) (~18%), apparent porosity (~9%) without content concentration. findings suggest that incorporating FA-based can provide eco-friendly lightweight composites improved sound properties, contributing toward reduction environmental effects waste conservation sand.