The preparation and characterization of innovative organic-inorganic hybrid geopolymers, obtained by valorizing coal fly ash generated from thermoelectric power plants, is reported for the first time. These hybrid materials are prepared by simultaneously reacting fly ash and dimethylsiloxane oligomers at 25 °C in a strongly alkaline environment. Despite their lower density, the obtained materials are characterized by highly improved mechanical properties when compared to the unmodified geopolymer obtained without the use of polysiloxanes, hence confirming the effectiveness of the applied synthetic strategy which specifically aims at obtaining hybrid materials with better mechanical properties in respect to conventional ones. This study is an example of the production of new materials by reusing and valorizing waste raw resources and by-products, thus representing a possible contribution towards the circular economy.
Keywords: fly ash; geopolymer; hybrid geopolymer; mechanical properties; microtomography; morphology; polysiloxane.