Characterization of geopolymer materials containing MSWI fly ash and coal fly ash

In this work three samples of MSWI ash have been stabilized in systems containing coal fly ash and able to give geopolymers through a polycondensation reaction. Monolithic products were obtained with both MSWI ashes as received and after chloride partial removal by water washing. The polycondensation products have been characterized qualitatively by means of FT-IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and quantitatively through the determination of the amount of reacted water and silicate. Differently from traditional cement based stabilization systems, those based on geopolymerization show a chemical behaviour almost insensitive to the presence of chlorides and sulphates in the MSWI ash. On the other hand, the microstructure is strongly affected by the content of soluble salts.