Possibilities of Using Geopolymers in Welding Processes and Protection against High Temperatures

Sławomir Parzych; Maja Paszkowska; Dawid Stanisz; Agnieszka Bąk; Michał Łach

doi:10.3390/ma16217035

Possibilities of Using Geopolymers in Welding Processes and Protection against High Temperatures

Materials (Basel). 2023 Nov 3;16(21):7035. doi: 10.3390/ma16217035.

Authors

Sławomir Parzych¹, Maja Paszkowska¹, Dawid Stanisz², Agnieszka Bąk¹, Michał Łach¹

Affiliations

¹ Chair of Material Engineering and Physics, Cracow University of Technology, Jana Pawła II 37, 31-864 Cracow, Poland.
² Wiśniowski Sp. z o.o. S.K.A., Wielogłowy 153, 33-311 Wielogłowy, Poland.

Abstract

Geopolymer materials have long been known for their competitive properties against traditional construction materials. Their special features include high resistance to elevated temperatures and good fire resistance. They are typically used as insulating materials at temperatures not exceeding 100 °C (because they can achieve a thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.060 W/m × K or less under these conditions). Still, they can also be used as thermal insulation at temperatures exceeding 1000 °C. One technology that uses very high temperatures is metal welding technology, where temperatures often exceed as many as 3000 °C. Geopolymers, due to their properties, can also be an interesting new alternative in various welding applications. This paper presents the preliminary results of pot-proofing the resistance of geopolymers to temperatures exceeding 3000 °C. Test results of a foamed geopolymer insulating a steel substrate are presented, and a geopolymer mold for thermite rail welding was made and realistically tested. The results confirmed the feasibility of using cast geopolymer molds for thermite welding of railroad rails. The geopolymer material performed well during the test and no cracks or other damage occurred. The following article presents the potential of using geopolymer materials for welding applications.

Keywords: geopolymers; heat and fire resistance; high temperatures; welding process.

Grants and funding

This work has been financed by the National Centre for Research and Development in Poland under the grant “Development of technology for additive production of environmentally friendly and safe insulation materials and able to accumulate heat based on the alkaline activation of anthropogenic raw materials” (LIDER/16/0061/L-11/19/NCBR/2020).