**5. FTIR spectra**

A schematic diagram of FTIR spectroscopy is reported in **Figure 15**. There is a broadband infrared source, which gives radiation. This radiation is split in the beam splitter. The split beam gets deflected onto the sample through a parabolic mirror.

**Figure 15.** *Schematic of FTIR spectroscope.*

#### **Figure 16.**

*Spectra for (a) soft kaolin and (b) metakaolin [15].*

#### **Figure 17.**

*FTIR spectra of unsoaked RFFG sample and RFFG samples soaked in (a) sulfuric acid (pH = 3.0) and (b) deionized water (pH = 7.0) for 1, 56 and 120 days [20].*

**33**

**Figure 19.**

*A schematic of a synchrotron.*

*Summary of Some Selected Characterization Methods of Geopolymers*

The sample is kept in an atomic force microscope. The radiation from the reflection

**Figure 16** gives the difference between the spectra for soft kaolin and metakaolin. There is a distinct change in the spectral lines. Comparison of spectra for red

The vertical dotted lines in **Figure 17** both indicate the position of the asymmetric stretching vibration band of Si-O-T for geopolymer gels. The dip or movement of

Generally, as shown in **Figure 18**, stretching, bending and twisting are clearly

A synchrotron is a high energy device in which particles are accelerated to a very

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82208*

from the sample is detected using a detector.

*Stretching, bending and twisting as seen in FTIR spectra.*

seen as dips in the FTIR.

**6. Synchrotron**

**Figure 18.**

mud fly ash-based geopolymers is given in **Figure 15**.

the Si-O-T bond has to be carefully noticed while interpreting results.

high voltage. **Figure 19** is a schematic diagram of a synchrotron.

*Summary of Some Selected Characterization Methods of Geopolymers DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82208*

#### **Figure 18.**

*Geopolymers and Other Geosynthetics*

**32**

**Figure 17.**

**Figure 16.**

**Figure 15.**

*Schematic of FTIR spectroscope.*

*Spectra for (a) soft kaolin and (b) metakaolin [15].*

*deionized water (pH = 7.0) for 1, 56 and 120 days [20].*

*FTIR spectra of unsoaked RFFG sample and RFFG samples soaked in (a) sulfuric acid (pH = 3.0) and (b)* 

*Stretching, bending and twisting as seen in FTIR spectra.*

The sample is kept in an atomic force microscope. The radiation from the reflection from the sample is detected using a detector.

**Figure 16** gives the difference between the spectra for soft kaolin and metakaolin. There is a distinct change in the spectral lines. Comparison of spectra for red mud fly ash-based geopolymers is given in **Figure 15**.

The vertical dotted lines in **Figure 17** both indicate the position of the asymmetric stretching vibration band of Si-O-T for geopolymer gels. The dip or movement of the Si-O-T bond has to be carefully noticed while interpreting results.

Generally, as shown in **Figure 18**, stretching, bending and twisting are clearly seen as dips in the FTIR.

#### **6. Synchrotron**

A synchrotron is a high energy device in which particles are accelerated to a very high voltage. **Figure 19** is a schematic diagram of a synchrotron.

**Figure 19.** *A schematic of a synchrotron.*

**Figure 20.** *Synchrotron infrared microscopy of metakaolin-based geopolymer [21].*

**35**

times.

*Summary of Some Selected Characterization Methods of Geopolymers*

A **synchrotron** is a special type of cyclic particle accelerator. It is a modified form of cyclotron, in which the accelerating particle beam travels around a fixed closed-loop path. The magnetic field bends the particle beam into a closed path. This magnetic field increases with time during the accelerating process. The increased magnetic field is *synchronized* to the increasing kinetic energy of the particles. The concept of synchrotron facilitated and enabled the building of large scale research facilities to study particles in greater detail. Bending, beam focusing and acceleration can be separated into different components. The most powerful modern particle accelerators use versions of the basic synchrotron design. The largest synchrotrontype accelerator, also the largest particle accelerator in the world, is the 27-kilometer-circumference (17 mi) Large Hadron Collider (LHC) near Geneva, Switzerland, built in 2008 by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). It can

accelerate beams of protons to an energy of 6.5 teraelectronvolts (TeV).

tion, injection, bending and focusing and final ejection.

have been practically applied in research have been explained.

structure and stability.

seeding (b).

**7. Conclusions**

**Acknowledgements**

The block diagram shown in **Figure 19** shows the particles subjected to accelera-

**Figure 20** reports a typical synchrotron infrared spectrum of a metakaolinbased geopolymer. Information on the Si/Al-O bonds can be deduced from this spectrum. Homogeneity of distribution can be determined using this data. This is an important result with consequences in geopolymer mix design for optimal gel

Synchrotron infrared microscopy data for geothermal silica-sodium aluminate geopolymer binders have been generated by John L. Provis et al. **Figure 21** shown above gives the synchrotron peaks without (a) and with 0.5 wt.% nano-Al2O3

A summary of selected characterization techniques that have been used to study geopolymers has been given in this chapter. Some concrete examples of research work on geopolymers have been reviewed, and characterization techniques that

I thank Intech Publishers for motivating me to write this chapter. I thank the management, SSN College of Engineering, for the academic freedom given. I thank all members of my family for their encouragement and help offered at various

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82208*

*Summary of Some Selected Characterization Methods of Geopolymers DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82208*

A **synchrotron** is a special type of cyclic particle accelerator. It is a modified form of cyclotron, in which the accelerating particle beam travels around a fixed closed-loop path. The magnetic field bends the particle beam into a closed path. This magnetic field increases with time during the accelerating process. The increased magnetic field is *synchronized* to the increasing kinetic energy of the particles. The concept of synchrotron facilitated and enabled the building of large scale research facilities to study particles in greater detail. Bending, beam focusing and acceleration can be separated into different components. The most powerful modern particle accelerators use versions of the basic synchrotron design. The largest synchrotrontype accelerator, also the largest particle accelerator in the world, is the 27-kilometer-circumference (17 mi) Large Hadron Collider (LHC) near Geneva, Switzerland, built in 2008 by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). It can accelerate beams of protons to an energy of 6.5 teraelectronvolts (TeV).

The block diagram shown in **Figure 19** shows the particles subjected to acceleration, injection, bending and focusing and final ejection.

**Figure 20** reports a typical synchrotron infrared spectrum of a metakaolinbased geopolymer. Information on the Si/Al-O bonds can be deduced from this spectrum. Homogeneity of distribution can be determined using this data. This is an important result with consequences in geopolymer mix design for optimal gel structure and stability.

Synchrotron infrared microscopy data for geothermal silica-sodium aluminate geopolymer binders have been generated by John L. Provis et al. **Figure 21** shown above gives the synchrotron peaks without (a) and with 0.5 wt.% nano-Al2O3 seeding (b).

#### **7. Conclusions**

*Geopolymers and Other Geosynthetics*

**34**

**Figure 21.**

**Figure 20.**

*Synchrotron infrared microscopy of metakaolin-based geopolymer [21].*

*Synchrotron peaks (a) without and (b) with seeding [21] already given as [21].*

A summary of selected characterization techniques that have been used to study geopolymers has been given in this chapter. Some concrete examples of research work on geopolymers have been reviewed, and characterization techniques that have been practically applied in research have been explained.

#### **Acknowledgements**

I thank Intech Publishers for motivating me to write this chapter. I thank the management, SSN College of Engineering, for the academic freedom given. I thank all members of my family for their encouragement and help offered at various times.

*Geopolymers and Other Geosynthetics*
