Physicochemical Characteristics of Some Cameroonian Pozzolans for Use in Sustainable Cement Like Materials

Ndigui Billong, Uphie Chinje Melo, Daniel Njopwouo, François Louvet, Jean Pierre Bonnet

Groupe d’Etude des Matériaux Hétérogènes, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Céramique Industrielle, Limoges, France.
Materials Analysis Laboratory, Mipromalo, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Physico-Chemistry of Mineral Materials Laboratory, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

DOI: 10.4236/msa.2013.41003                

Abstract

In the present study, physico-chemical investigations have been carried out on the possibility of using Cameroonian volcanic or clay pozzolans as raw material for geopolymer or pozzolanic binder. The research had made some suggestive results and conclusions. Powders of less than 100 μm of five sampled pozzolans from volcanic or clay origins have been subjected to chemical and mineralogical analysis, BET specific surface, absolute density, granulometry and pozzolanic activity in solution tests. The results obtained showed that, geopolymers or pozzolanic binders can be produced from samples studied. The samples contain significant amounts of glassy or amorphous phase ready to dissolve in an alkaline solution. The high alkali content of volcanic pozzolans makes them more appropriate for geopolymer application. Clay pozzolans are the easier to grind in order to obtain the appropriate fineness and can be used for both geo- polymers and pozzolanic binders.

Keywords

Pozzolan; Characteristic; Geopolymer; Supplementary Cementing Material; Cameroon

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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