Influence of Nano Silica Particles on Durability of Flax Fabric Reinforced Geopolymer Composites.

The durability of natural fibres as reinforcement in geopolymer composites continues to be a matter of concern due to the alkalinity of activators of geopolymer matrices. The alkaline environment is the main reason for natural fibres degradation in cementitious matrices. This paper presents the influence of nano silica (NS) on the durability and mechanical performance of geopolymer composites that are reinforced with flax fabric (FF). The durability investigations were conducted after the storage of samples at ambient temperature for 32 weeks. The study revealed that the addition of nano silica has a positive influence on the physical and mechanical properties of these composites. The presence of NS accelerated the geopolymeric reaction and lowered the alkalinity of the system, thus reducing the degradation of flax fibres.