Purpose: The aim of this paper is to find out the curing temperature at which we can achieve the best mechanical properties and adhesion between silica-based geopolymer matrix (Q1) and carbon HTS 5631 1600tex 24K fibre. Design/methodology/approach: The carbon fibre was impregnated with silica-based geopolymer by means of home-made “impregnation machine”. This equipment was designed based on simulating the real pultrusion or filament winding technique. Composite samples were made manually in silicon mould and cured under hot vacuum bagging technique at different temperatures. Flexural properties were determined under three-point bending mode in accordance with British Standard BS EN ISO 14125:1998. The sections perpendicular to fibres and surfaces of the composites were analysed by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM) to estimate the adhesion between geopolymer matrices and fibre reinforcement. Findings: Relatively wide range of curing temperature from 70oC to 100oC at which we can obtain high flexural properties, maximal values of flexural strength 570 MPa, flexural modulus 65 GPa and relative deformation of composite was 0.98% when the composite was cured and dried at 75oC. Adhesion of the geopolymer matrix to carbon fibre was very good and hardly to determine the differences by SEM image observation within the range of optimal curing temperature. Research limitations/implications: The curing time was too long to provide the geopolymerization process before it had been completed, this factor caused that it should be carried out in the future and we may use liquid absorption to determine how many cavities are in the composites. Practical implications: The research presents original information on the influence of different curing temperatures on mechanical properties and micro-structure of silica-based geopolymer matrix – carbon composite. The results are useful for further investigations. Originality/value: Determining the optimal curing temperature and micro-structure of silica-based geopolymer system to make it easy to find the curing time and other conditions to get the best properties of this type of materials.
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