Kinga Korniejenko

Cracow University of Technology | PK · Institute of Material Engineering

Implementing the idea of a circular economy is one way to reduce carbon emissions and, at the same time, the consumption of natural resources. The use of mining waste as a raw material helps meet the growing demand for construction materials with a smaller carbon footprint. The article shows the possibility of using a coal shale from Marcel mining...

Geopolymers are inorganic materials resulting from the synthesis of silicon and aluminum in a polycondensation reaction. In this study, coal mine waste material from the Wieczorek mine in theŚląskie Voivodeship was used to produce geopolymers. The material was prepared, crushed and milled beforehand due to its large dimensions. The material was sub...

The article summarizes the state of the art in carbon-reinforced geopolymers. It takes into consideration various types of matrices and types of carbon fibers (CFs). The article shows the growing importance of this composite in the investigation conducted in recent years. Today, it is one of the most promising modern research areas, taking into acc...

In recent years, new climate targets in EU have led to a growing demand for construction materials with a lower carbon footprint. This implies a demand for research on materials with comparable properties and reduced CO2 emission to replace those currently in use. Geopolymers belong to the group of alkali-activated aluminosilicates, whose advantage...

Space missions will require the capability to build structures on site using local resources. Before 2040, NASA and the European Space Agency want to ensure the possibility of a permanent human residence in shelters on the Moon or Mars. The article analyzed the state of the art in this area based on the literature research. It shows innovative and...

The semi-solid state casting procedure was used to manufacture as-cast AA5083, 1 and 2 wt.% of aluminosilicate reinforced composite material. After solidification, developed as-cast materials were subjected to shock wave treatment in the subsonic wind tunnel. Various techniques were used to evaluate the change in shock wave exposure, including mech...

The paper presents the possibility of producing foamed geopolymer materials with various foaming agents. Geopolymer is an amorphous aluminosilicate polymer made from the synthesis of silicon (Si) and aluminum (Al), geologically obtained from minerals. Geopolymers contain long chains (copolymers) of aluminum–silicon and aluminum, stabilizing metal c...

In the current work, several composites made with fly ash reinforcements are used to conduct electrical discharge machining (EDM) on stainless steel that is commercially accessible. Four composites were prepared with 2.5 to 10% reinforcement of fly ash with steps of 2.5%, copper is used as the matrix material. The specimens were created using the p...

Three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) is an innovative technology that can lead tobreakthrough modifications of production processes in the construction industry. The paper presentsfor the first time the possibility of 3D printing concrete–geopolymer hybrids reinforced with aramidroving. Reference concrete samples and concrete–geopolymer hybri...

In this study, alkali-free activator-type ternary cementless binders were developed using ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), co-fired fly ash (CFA), and desulfurization gypsum (DG). The properties of cementless binders were verified and used to investigate the feasibility of application to pervious concrete. The results indicated that inc...

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is the third-most abundant waste generated annually in the countries of the European Union. One of the alternatives to the use of these wastes is geopolymeric materials. Partial replacement of commonly used raw materials for the production of these materials can help reduce the number of landfills and the con...

Known for decades, geopolymer materials have been gaining importance in recent years due to the environmental benefits of their use as an alternative to Portland cement-based concretes. However, comprehensive studies of their curing conditions and manufacturing parameters, as well as resistance to the effects of different environments, are needed....

Rolled homogeneous armor steel (RHA) with a high tensile strength, toughness, and hardness is often used in military combat vehicles. RHA is a high-strength low alloy steel suitable for all battlefield usage in military vehicles. The present work examines the prediction output responses in the material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (Ra), an...

The main aim of this work is to improve the structure and properties of the magnesium alloy ML5 by modifying it with alkaline earth metals (ALM). The separate and joint influence of calcium and barium on the macrostructure and microstructure of the alloy of Mg-Al-Zn system was investigated. The qualitative and quantitative estimation of the structu...

Based on the results achieved in systematic studies of structure formation and the formation of multicomponent phases, a scandium-containing filler metal from system alloy Mg-Zr-Nd for welding of aircraft casting was developed. The influence of scandium in magnesium filler alloy on its mechanical and special properties, such as long-term strength a...

Irreversible climate change, including atmosphere temperature extremes, is one of the most important issues of the present time. In this context, the construction industry requires solutions for increasing the energy efficiency of buildings through feedback between temperature adjustment inside buildings and better isolation of the external parts o...

The main aim of this article, carried out in relation to ash-cement mortars, is to determine the effect of complex additives of polyfunctional modifiers, including, in addition to superplasticizers, air-entraining and water-retaining additives, at different values of water–cement ratios. With the use of experimental–statistical models, the complex...

Zeolites obtained from fly ash are characterized by very good anion- and cation-exchange properties and a developed porous structure. This paper presents the results of surface modification studies of synthetic zeolites obtained from calcined coal shale (clay materials). Calcium compounds and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA) were used as...

The main aim of this research is to assess different fly ashes as raw materials for the manufacturing of geopolymers. Three different fly ashes have been investigated. First, a conventional fly ash from the Skawina coal power plant (Poland), obtained at a temperature of 900–1100 ◦C. Second, ultra-fine fly ash from a power plant in China; the side p...

Geopolymer concretes can be a viable alternative to conventional Portland cement-based materials. In their design, it is important to maintain an appropriate liquid-to-solid ratio (L/S), which affects several properties, such as the compressive strength, water absorption, and frost resistance. The objective of this paper is to analyze the influence...

Two geopolymer foams were prepared from a thermally activated coal gangue containing kaolinite. As the foaming agent, aluminium powder and 36% hydrogen peroxide were used to obtain two levels of porosity. The materials’ high temperature performances were investigated: tensile and compressive strength evolution with temperature. This study shows tha...

This paper presents modern copper-matrix composite materials in which volcanic tuff particles are used as a reinforcing phase. The aim of the research was to determine the optimal shares of volcanic tuff additive based on such criteria as softening temperature, relative density, electrical conductivity, and hardness. The properties of the produced...

Modern materials used in civil engineering should fulfill the numerous of requirements connected building standards, but not only. They should also be ecological and durable. Geopolymers are characterized by very good mechanical properties, high resistance against acids, chlorides and sulfates, high thermal resistance, and other properties confirme...

In recent years, 3D concrete printing technology has been developing dynamically. Intensive research is still being carried out on the composition of the materials dedicated to innovative 3D printing solutions. Here, for the first time, concrete-geopolymer hybrids produced with 3D printing technology and dedicated environmentally friendly building...

Circular waste management is the answer to the daily waste of all types. Wind power plants installed in the 1990s are ending their service life of turbine blades, hence the need to properly manage this waste. The aim of the article is to investigate the mechanical properties of mining and industrial waste The article presents the results of researc...

Featured Application: aerospace and automobile industries. Abstract: This work aims to identify the pattern for the major output parameters, material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (Ra) of different combinations of Al6061-based composites. Based on the verification carried out on these patterns using analysis of variance (ANOVA) as the ma...

The purpose of this study is to assess the mechanical and microscopic properties of concrete containing different dosages of polyolefin fibers and slag through tests of compressive strength, resistivity, water absorption, mercury intrusion porosimetry and scanning electron microscopy. Test results indicate that the specimens containing slag have hi...

Additive manufacturing technologies have a lot of potential advantages for construction application, including increasing geometrical construction flexibility, reducing labor costs, and improving efficiency and safety, and they are in line with the sustainable development policy. However, the full exploitation of additive manufacturing technology f...

The main aim of the article is to analyze the state of the art in short steel fiber-reinforced geopolymers, taking into consideration also waste fibers. Steel fibers are currently the most widely applied additive to composites in the building industry. The work is dedicated to the usage of short steel fibers and the mechanical properties of geopoly...

The machining of composite materials has been an area of intense research for the past couple of decades due to its wide range of applications, from automobiles to air crafts or from boats to nuclear systems. Non-conventional machining, especially electric discharge machining (EDM), is found to be a good machining option for meeting the required ou...

This paper presents the results of testing the adhesion of geopolymer coatings and varnishes with ceramic additives to concrete and steel substrates. The measurement method used and described in this article was the pull-off method. The pull-off method test provides an easy way to evaluate the degree of adhesion of coatings to metal surfaces. The p...

The aim of this article was to analyze the fracture behavior of geopolymer composites based on fly ash or metakaolin with fine aggregate and river sand, with three types of reinforcement: glass, carbon, and aramid fiber, at three different temperatures, approximately: 3 °C, 20 °C, and 50 °C. The temperatures were selected as a future work temperatu...

Nowadays, one very dynamic development of 3D printing technology is required in the construction industry. However, the full implementation of this technology requires the optimization of the entire process, starting from the design of printing ideas, and ending with the development and implementation of new materials. The article presents, for the...

This work aimed to determine the effect of the addition of different types of reinforcing fibers on the strength properties of geopolymers such as flexural and compressive strength. Geopolymers are an attractive alternative to conventional binders and building materials; however, one of the main problems of their widespread use is their low resista...

Every year a few hundred million or so tons of industrial waste are generated all over Europe. A considerable share is attributable to exploratory wastes from the mining sector and combustion byproducts. The process of their reprocessing and utilization fits into the following rules subject to intensive development, viz.: zero waste economy (Zero W...

This paper concerns the recycling of waste material from wind turbine blades. The aim of the research was to determine the possibility of using ground waste material derived from the exploited structures of wind turbines as a filler in geopolymer composites. In order to determine the potential of such a solution, tests were carried out on three dif...

The main objective of the article is to develop the concept of flock fragmentation and the averaging method for the application of electrocoagulation in the process of treating wastewater from coke ovens. The designed solution was part of an innovative system for the coke oven wastewater treatment process. The system is dedicated to removing the ha...

The paper deals with the possibility of using Phase Change Materials (PCM) in concretes and geopolymer composites. The article presents the most important properties of PCM materials, their types, and their characteristics. A review of the latest research results related to their use in geopolymer materials is presented. The benefits of using PCM i...

The aim of this paper is to analyze the influence of hybrid fiber reinforcement on the properties of a lightweight fly ash-based geopolymer. The matrix includes the ratio of fly ash and microspheres at 1:1. Carbon and steel fibers have been chosen due to their high mechanical properties as reinforcement. Short steel fibers (SFs) and/or carbon fiber...

The main objective of this study is to investigate the possibility of replacing the traditional construction aggregate, river sand, with corundum material and to evaluate the effect of the proportion of corundum sand on the strength properties of fly ash based geopolymer mortar. Electrocorundum (white) and fly ash from a thermal power plant in Skaw...

Transformation of waste into resources is an important part of the circular economy. Nowadays, the recovery of materials in the most effective way is crucial for sustainable development. Composite materials offer great opportunities for product development and high performance in use, but their position in a circular economy system remains challeng...

The aim of the article is to analyze the structure and mechanical properties in terms of the cracking mechanics of geopolymer composites based on fly ash and river sand, as well as metakaolin and river sand with three types of reinforcement material: glass fiber, carbon fiber, and aramid fiber, in terms of their use in additive manufacturing. Geopo...

Creep and shrinkage of Cement and Concrete Composites (CCC) are significant properties that need to be considered to use these materials in practice. Many previous scientific studies revealed CCC creep characteristics under sustained compression and shrinkage, using traditional test methods from design standards. Because of the complexity of experi...

The research described in this article was aimed at determining the influence of hydraulic additives on the foaming process and the stability of the produced geopolymer foams. These foams can be used as insulation materials to replace the currently commonly used insulations such as expanded polystyrene or polyurethane foams. Geopolymers have low th...

This study examines foamed geopolymer composites based on fly ash from the Skawina coal-fired power plant in Poland. The paper presents the effect of adding 3% and 5% by weight of glass wool waste on selected properties of foamed geopolymers. The scope of the tests carried out included density measurements, compressive and bending strength tests, m...

The aim of the article is to analyze the influence of short coir, glass and carbon fiber admixture on the mechanical properties of fly ash-based geopolymer, such as: flexural and compressive strength. Glass fiber and carbon fibers have been chosen due to their high mechanical properties. Natural fibers have been chosen because of their mechanical p...

For more than 40 years, low calcium alkali-activated cement composite, or in other words, geopolymer, has been around. In recent years there has been increased interest in this material and its properties. It is mainly due to the claim that geopolymer is the cement of the future. This claim is based on environmental factors. For instance, the CO2 e...

Geopolymers based on fly ash are an emerging alternative to ordinary Portland cement, with a low impact on the environment and a potential to increase the sustainability of the concrete-based construction. Reported here is the design and investigation of new wood fiber reinforced geopolymer composites (WFRGC) based on fly ash and wood fiber (5–35 w...

Low calcium alkali-activated cement composite known as geopolymer has been around for more than 40 years. The main benefit of geopolymer based composites is the environmental aspect—it is partially made by utilizing waste products, such as fly-ash, slags, and others. It has been estimated that geopolymer binder production makes up to 6 times less C...

This study investigates novel geopolymers by combining Reactive Ultra-fine Fly Ash (RUFA) with 4M sodium hydroxide as an alkali activator. Comparing with general fly ash geopolymers, RUFA geopolymer pastes are characterized in terms of compressive strength, microstructure, and crystalline phases. The RUFA geopolymer is successfully obtained as alum...

This paper presents the results of research on geopolymer composites based on fly ash with the addition of melamine fibers in amounts of 0.5%, 1% and 2% by weight and, for comparison, without the addition of fibers. The melamine fibers used in the tests retain their melamine resin properties by 100% and are characterized by excellent acoustic and t...

This study investigated the influence of the steel and melamine fibers hybridization on the flexural and compressive strength of a fly ash-based geopolymer. The applied reinforcement reduced the geopolymer brittleness. Currently, there are several types of polymer fibers available on the market. However, the authors did not come across information...

This article shows the possibility of using industrial and mining waste for creating new eco-friendly materials – geopolymers. The main objective of the article is to analyze the possibilities of using new composite received from waste materials from mining industry in practical applications, especially in construction industry. The article present...

Special Issue "Characteristics of Raw Materials Used for Alkaline Activation and Geopolymerization Processes"

The main objective of this study is to develop the advanced composites for civil engineering applications as material for the building industry, especially for an insulation purpose. The research processes include several steps. Firstly, the prototype elements, such as bricks and elevation elements were performed from eco-friendly composite -flax f...

The article describes the state of the art in reinforced geopolymers, taking into consideration various types of polymer fiber reinforcements, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or polylactic acid. The description is focused on the usage of polymer short fibers and the mechanical properties of the geopolymer composites. However, to show a wider r...