Interaction of Na2CO3 and Ca(OH)2 in aqueous system for mild activation of clay materials

Alkali-activated calcined clay is a type of Alkali-activated materials which are generally activated with caustic chemicals such as NaOH, KOH, or alkali-silicate solutions. These chemicals are expensive and chemically aggressive; but, moderately alkaline Ca(OH)2/Na2CO3 solutions may offer an alternative to overcome the cost and aggressive nature of the activating solutions. In order to further develop the understanding of the moderate activation, this work investigates how Na2CO3 and Ca(OH)2 interact in the presence of water in various quantities. The solid are separated after their interaction and characterized by X-ray diffraction, Rietveld refinement and thermogravimetric analysis.